Laundry Thought of the Day: Fasten Zippers Before You Start the Washer
A zipper left open in the washing machine exposes its teeth, slider, and pull to other garments. During agitation and tumbling, those hard components can catch loose threads, scrape delicate fabric, or strike nearby clothing. The practical rule is simple: zip zippers before washing, unless the garment’s care label gives different instructions.
Buttons require different treatment. Closed buttons can place repeated tension on buttonholes and stitching, so shirts, blouses, and similar garments are usually better washed with their buttons undone.
Essential Concepts
- Close zippers before placing garments in the washer.
- Turn zipped garments inside out when the fabric permits.
- Leave ordinary buttons unbuttoned to reduce stress on stitching and buttonholes.
- Never force a damaged or misaligned zipper closed.
- Follow the garment’s care label when it conflicts with general laundry practice.
Why Open Zippers Can Damage Clothing
A zipper has several exposed parts that may cause abrasion or snagging during a wash cycle:
- Teeth: The interlocking elements along both sides of the zipper
- Slider: The moving component that joins or separates the teeth
- Pull: The tab attached to the slider
- Stops: Small components that prevent the slider from leaving the zipper track
When a zipper is open, two rows of teeth can move independently. Metal teeth may have firm edges, while molded plastic teeth can protrude enough to catch lace, loose knits, or frayed seams. The slider and pull may also swing freely as the washer drum rotates.
Closing the zipper joins the teeth into a single strip with a smoother profile. The slider remains exposed, but it has less freedom to move around. Turning the garment inside out provides another layer of protection because the zipper hardware faces inward rather than rubbing directly against other clothes.
The risk varies with the load. Heavy jeans washed with sturdy cotton items may cause no visible problem. A metal zipper mixed with hosiery, lace, fine knits, or loosely woven fabric presents a greater chance of snagging. Laundry zipper care matters most when hard hardware and delicate textiles share the same cycle.
Close the Zipper Without Straining the Garment
Fastening a zipper takes only a few seconds, but the zipper should close normally. Check the track before pulling the slider.
Fabric, lining, or loose thread can become trapped beside the teeth. Pulling harder may damage the slider, distort the teeth, or tear the surrounding fabric. Remove the obstruction and realign the zipper before washing. A garment with a broken zipper may be safer in a mesh laundry bag until it can be repaired.
For jackets, pants, skirts, and dresses, close the zipper completely rather than leaving it halfway open. A partially closed zipper still exposes teeth and gives the slider room to move. If the garment has a hook-and-eye closure above the zipper, fasten it only if the hook is secure and unlikely to pull against fragile fabric. A mesh bag is a sensible precaution for garments with small hooks or decorative hardware.
Turn the Garment Inside Out
After closing the zipper, turn jeans, trousers, hooded sweatshirts, and washable jackets inside out when their construction allows it. The fabric then covers much of the zipper hardware during washing.
Turning clothing inside out may also reduce direct friction against printed surfaces, embroidery, and dark outer fabric. It cannot prevent every form of wear, and it does not replace proper cycle selection. A heavily loaded washer can still produce substantial friction between garments.
Use a Mesh Bag for Delicate Items
A zippered mesh laundry bag separates vulnerable clothing from exposed hardware. Place lingerie, fine knitwear, hosiery, or garments with loose decorative elements inside the bag before washing.
The bag should have enough room for the item to move. Packing several delicate garments tightly into a small bag can limit water circulation and cleaning. Close the bag’s own zipper fully and tuck the pull beneath its elastic cover if one is provided.
Why Buttons Are Usually Left Open
Zippers and buttons respond differently to washer movement. A closed zipper distributes force along a continuous track. A fastened button concentrates tension at the button, its thread, and the edge of the buttonhole.
During washing, fabric twists and pulls in changing directions. If a shirt remains buttoned, those forces can stretch buttonholes or loosen the thread holding each button. Collar buttons, cuff buttons, and front plackets are particularly exposed because the surrounding fabric moves freely.
Unbutton shirts and blouses before washing. Open cuffs and collar buttons as well. Avoid pulling a buttoned shirt over the head, since that can strain the placket before the garment even reaches the washer.
The same guidance does not apply equally to every closure. Use the construction of the garment as the guide:
- Zippers: Close them.
- Ordinary buttons: Leave them open.
- Hook-and-loop tape: Close it so the rough side cannot catch other fabrics.
- Snaps: Fastening may reduce contact with exposed edges, but weak or decorative snaps may be safer left open.
- Hooks and eyes: Fasten secure hooks and place delicate garments in a mesh bag.
- Drawstrings: Tie them loosely or secure the ends so they do not retract or wrap around other items.
Zipper Material Changes the Type of Risk
Metal, molded plastic, and nylon coil zippers do not behave identically in the washer.
Metal zippers are hard and may scrape soft fabric. Their pulls can strike the washer drum or other hardware, producing noise that sounds worse than the actual contact. Metal components may also corrode or discolor under unsuitable washing conditions, especially if the care label calls for hand washing or dry cleaning.
Molded plastic zippers are lighter, but individual teeth can still catch open-weave material. High heat may deform some plastics, so dryer settings deserve attention after the wash cycle.
Nylon coil zippers have flexible teeth formed from coiled filament. They often feel smoother than metal or molded plastic zippers, but the slider and pull can still snag nearby fabric. Closing the zipper remains the safer general practice.
A Short Laundry Preparation Routine
A brief inspection before loading the washer can prevent laundry damage without adding much work:
- Empty every pocket.
- Close all zippers without forcing them.
- Unbutton shirts, blouses, cuffs, and collars.
- Close hook-and-loop fasteners.
- Tie loose drawstrings or secure their ends.
- Turn suitable garments inside out.
- Place delicate pieces in mesh bags.
- Check the care label before washing unfamiliar garments.
Inspecting pockets belongs in the same routine because coins, keys, pens, and folded paper can damage clothing or leave debris throughout the load. The inspection also gives an opportunity to spot a loose zipper pull, torn seam, or missing button before agitation makes the problem worse.
Mistakes That Reduce Garment Protection
Closing a zipper does not compensate for poor loading or an unsuitable wash cycle. Clothing still needs enough room to move through the water. An overfilled drum compresses garments against one another and increases friction.
Mixing heavy zippered workwear with fine fabrics also raises the risk of damage. A closed zipper is safer than an open one, but denim, thick seams, rivets, and large metal pulls can still abrade delicate material. Wash vulnerable fabrics separately or contain them in mesh bags.
Excessive heat creates a different problem. Some synthetic zipper components, waterproof coatings, elastic materials, and bonded seams tolerate only low temperatures. The care label should determine water and dryer settings.
Dry cleaning instructions also take precedence over household laundry rules. Closing a zipper cannot make a non-washable garment safe for machine washing.
FAQ About Washing Clothes With Zippers
Should jeans be zipped before washing?
Yes. Close the fly zipper, fasten any secure hook closure, and turn the jeans inside out. Leave the waistband button unbuttoned if closing it would place tension on the buttonhole during washing.
Can a closed zipper still damage other clothes?
Yes, although the risk is lower. The slider and pull remain hard components, and heavy garments can abrade lighter fabrics. Separate delicate clothing or use a mesh laundry bag.
Should jacket zippers be closed before washing?
Most washable jackets should be fully zipped first. Empty the pockets, secure hook-and-loop tabs, loosen adjustable cords, and follow the care label. Some insulated or technical garments have special washing directions.
What if the zipper will not close?
Do not force it. Check for trapped fabric, bent teeth, thread, or misalignment. Wash the garment in a mesh bag only if its care instructions permit machine washing, then arrange repair before regular use.
Should zipper pulls be pinned down?
Usually not. Safety pins can open, rust, or catch fabric. Turning the garment inside out or placing it in a mesh bag is safer. Some laundry bags and garments include a small fabric cover that holds the zipper pull in place.
Does the same rule apply in the dryer?
Keep the zipper closed unless the care label directs otherwise. Closed teeth are less likely to catch other items during tumbling. Use the recommended temperature because high heat can harm plastic components, elastic, coatings, or nearby fabric.
Make Zipper Care Part of Loading the Washer
The habit is easy to remember: close zippers, open buttons, and contain delicate items. That distinction reflects how the closures are built. Interlocked zipper teeth present fewer exposed edges, while unbuttoned plackets avoid concentrated pulling at buttonholes and stitching.
A few seconds of laundry preparation can reduce snags, abrasion, stretched buttonholes, and avoidable repairs. Before starting the washer, check the closures rather than treating every fastener the same way.
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