Help! My Futon Zipper is Jammed

One of the favorite features of futon furniture is the fact that the covers can be replaced or, depending on the style and fabric, can be washed.

Designed to withstand the vigor of machine washers, futon covers are available in an assortment of sizes, colors and prints. While these washable covers can be mixed and matched to add some variety to interior decor, the main feature is that they are easy to keep clean. Unlike regular upholstery that may require professional cleaning, the occasional mess created by kids or pets is no problem with machine washable covers.

Typically, a machine washable futon cover 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.

Sometimes a zipper is simply 'sticky' and is not caught in anything. If that is the case, a quick fix is to rub a candle along the length of the zipper. After the teeth have been coated, try zipping and unzipping the unit several 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' due to 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 string or material 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 cloth or thread. Gently pull the inner lining, thread or other material that is caught in the unit away from the zipper. Light tugging is acceptable provided that the zipper tab is not yanked. Forcing the zipper tab up or down will make the problem worse. Depending on how embedded the futon material or thread is in the zipper unit, teeth might get separated removing the fabric. 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 zipper units that are sewn into machine washable futon covers are generally quite durable and can survive the beating of machine washers. Nonetheless, having a couple of extra covers can come in handy if the zipper breaks.

Looking for design ideas? At Futon Heaven (http://www.futonheaven.com), our gallery showcases hundreds of futon cover designs, from elegant floral designs to simple, plain fabrics. Designed for both futon couches and chairs, many of these inexpensive futon covers come with complimentary pillow sets. Check out the gallery at http://www.futonheaven.com/futon_store/