Michelle Elise is known in repair cafe circles as the "Zipper Queen." She finds that most broken zippers just need some TLC, not replacing.

Experts share repair tips to save money and extend the life of everyday essentials from clothes to furniture in minutes ...

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." So next time your zipper acts up, don’t panic, and don’t automatically assume you need to toss your item.

Everyone has dealt with a zipper that didn’t close as expected. Sluggish operation and quirky components can make it seem like you have no choice but try to find a pricey professional sewer to replace ...