If you're planning an open-air drive on a sunny day, it can be frustrating to find that the zipper on your Jeep's soft top won't budge. Lubricating your soft top zipper can return it to working order and prevent stuck zippers from happening in the future. You can lubricate your soft top zipper with common household items such as bar soap and shampoo.
Any type of shampoo or liquid soap is usable as a zipper lubricant for your Jeep. Place a drop of the shampoo onto a cotton swab and dab it along the edges of your zipper. It may be necessary to apply more if the zipper doesn't slide free immediately. If you're concerned about the residue from the shampoo, hose off the side of the Jeep. Otherwise, rain will eventually wash it away.
While certain commercial spray lubricants are designed specifically for convertible top zippers, if you do a lot of off-roading dirt can end up stuck in the zippers, negating the lubricant. Instead of buying expensive lubricant, keep a bar of soap in your glove compartment and run it along the edges of the zipper for lubrication before you hit the trails.
If you don't do a large amount of off-road driving, purchasing a zipper lubricant is an acceptable option. Most zipper lubricants come in a tube that you rub along the edge of the zipper to apply.
When you apply any lubricant to your Jeep soft top zippers, do not yank too hard as it could cause the zipper to break. Move the zipper as much as it will budge in a slow, mechanical motion. You may have to work the zipper, adding additional soap or shampoo as necessary. Keep in mind that if the zipper is stuck on the fabric of your soft top this will require a different method to remove other than lubrication.
