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 How To Sew With Zippers
And
How To 'un-jam' A Futon Cover Zipper

A characteristic of futon furniture that makes futons a practical interior decorating item is that the covers can be replaced or, depending on the style and fabric, can be washed.

Designed to withstand the vigor of machine washing, futon covers are available in an assortment of prints, solid colors and sizes. It is easy to clean machine washable futon covers. If there is an accidental spill on the furniture, washable futon covers do not require professional cleaning like regular upholstery.

Usually, a futon cover that is machine washable has two large zippers. The full cover looks like a large sheet made of denim or some other material, and has a seam in the middle. To install it, spread out the cover, align the mattress against the seam, and the fold the cover over so that the entire futon mattress is covered. There are two zippers, one on each corner. Zip up the cover and that is all there is to placing a cover on a futon mattress. To remove the cover for cleaning, simply unzip it and pull it off the mattress.

It is no secret that zippers will jam occasionally, and this may also happen with futon covers, especially after a few rounds of washing. Trying to get the zipper to work can be frustrating.

It might be tempting, but do not try to force the jammed zipper because tugging it too hard could inadvertently break the zipper tab off or destroy the teeth. After the teeth have been coated, try zipping and unzipping the unit a few times. This will usually make the zipper work more smoothly. If a candle is not available, a bar of hand soap works, although not quite as well.

If the problem is not 'stickiness' because of age, dirt or other factors, a string or piece of material from the futon cover might be caught in the zipper unit. Carefully remove the caught material or string that is jamming the zipper. The inner fabric is typically what gets caught, so a pair of tweezers might come in handy in order to grasp the material or thread.

Gently pull the inner lining, thread or other material that is caught in the unit away from the zipper. Light tugging is okay, as long as the zipper tab is not yanked. Forcing the zipper tab up or down will make the problem worse. Depending on how embedded the futon cloth or thread is in the zipper unit, teeth might get separated when the fabric is removed. Gently push the zipper teeth back into place and the zipper should work. Check the length of the zipper and push the lining away from the zipper to prevent future snags. Re-zip and the problem should be fixed.

The zippers that are sewn into machine washable futon covers are quite sturdy, even on the cheap futon covers. Nevertheless, having a couple of extra sets can come in handy if the zipper breaks.