Use pliers to pull off any remaining piece of the pull tab if it has broken. The pull tab is the piece you grab to open or close the zipper.
Find a paper clip, piece of string, wire or similar item.
Thread the paper clip or string through the hole on the zipper crown. The crown is the piece on top of the zipper slider through which the pull tab hooks.
Open the zipper using the paper clip in place of the pull tab.
Examine the area where the zipper is sticking. Look for material caught in the zipper slider or debris in the zipper teeth.
Gently attempt to pull out any material that is stuck in the zipper slider. As you try to pull the material out, gently pull the slider back and forth until it breaks away from the material. If you cannot pull it out, cut it away with scissors.
Use a toothbrush to clean out dirt and debris from the zipper teeth. Clean until you can easily pull the zipper slider back and forth past the sticky spot.
Firmly pull the zipper back and forth if you notice that the zipper teeth are damaged or broken. You may be able to get the zipper to jump past this damaged area. If not, use scissors to cut the fabric around the zipper to open it. You cannot repair damaged zipper teeth, so you will have to replace the zipper or buy a new suitcase, even if you can get the zipper to jump past the broken part this time.
Pull the slider to the end of the zipper, away from the split area.
Use pliers to gently squeeze the corners on the narrow end of the slider, tightening it around the zipper teeth.
Slowly pull the zipper through the split area to pull it back together.
