Static cling. Why you get "shocked" when you get dressed

Have you ever put on a sweater and had your hair stand on end? Get an "electric shock"? Or discovered a baby sock stuck to your back when you popped out to the corner shop? You were ready to put the kids to bed, you took the freshly washed pajamas out of the dryer, but they were stuck together with static electricity.

Fortunately, you don't have to put up with uncomfortable "shocks" when you get dressed or put your children to bed in itchy pajamas. You can get rid of static electricity in clothes to bring comfort into your home.

Why do clothes get static?

Static electricity occurs due to the accumulation of electrical charge when fabrics rub against each other during tumble drying. People talk specifically about static in winter, and that's true. This phenomenon is more frequent in winter, due to dry air. The good news is that there are several ways to eliminate this discomfort.

8 things that help you get rid of static electricity

Fabric softeners and anti-static balls or sheets are the best way to prevent the persistent problem of static electricity.

1. Anti-static dryer balls (or anti-static dryer sheets)

One way to prevent static electricity is to use anti-static dryer balls in your tumble dryer. After you've moved the clothes from the washing machine to the dryer and before starting the drying program, place a few anti-static dryer balls in the drum. Then start the dryer, and the balls will begin to tumble with the clothes. When the clothes dry, they will smell wonderful and will no longer be static.

2. Use an anti-static fabric softener when washing clothes

Add fabric softener during the wash cycle to eliminate static electricity, as it reduces the phenomenon of clothes "sticking" together. In addition, softener makes clothes softer, forms an invisible protective layer, and softens fibers due to its lubricating formula.

3. Increase the humidity level in your home

Static electricity develops where the environment is very dry. Therefore, a very good way to counteract it is to increase the humidity in your home. In addition, a humidifier has other health benefits. If you don't want to buy a humidifier, a good trick to increase humidity in the house is to have houseplants. The natural properties of houseplants can help balance the humidity in your home.

4. Separate natural fabrics from static ones

Separating clothes by color is useful before washing, but you can do more. You can separate clothes by fabric type because this can help prevent static electricity. Separate clothes by natural or synthetic fabric type. Natural fibers include materials such as cotton, silk, wool, linen, hemp, bamboo, leather. Synthetic fabrics include clothes made of polyester, spandex, microfiber, nylon. It is important to check the garment care labels for specific care instructions.

5. Avoid over-drying clothes

Over-drying can increase the buildup of static electricity. There are several ways you can avoid over-drying clothes, including reducing drying time in the dryer, removing clothes as soon as they are dry, or selecting a lower temperature in the dryer. In addition, you can use the sensor drying option, selecting "normal dry" instead of "intensive dry".

6. Line dry clothes outdoors

Whenever possible, line dry clothes or hang them on a drying rack in the fresh air. This prevents clothes from rubbing against each other during the spin cycle, which is one of the main causes of static electricity. Line drying allows for proper air circulation, which can help eliminate static electricity, moisture, and unpleasant odors from clothes. In the cold season, you can use a foldable indoor clothes dryer.

7. Gently rub clothes with a dryer sheet or anti-static sheet

If clothes are statically charged when you take them out of the dryer, you can gently rub the inside with a dryer sheet or anti-static sheet. Dryer sheets are specially designed to neutralize static electricity and actually help reduce it. All you have to do is simply rub the inside of the garment with an anti-static sheet (paying special attention to the sleeves and trouser legs).

8. Moisturize your skin

Clothes stick together when static electricity accumulates, a phenomenon that can be caused by dry skin rubbing against clothes. Therefore, if you keep your skin hydrated with a cream or lotion, you can prevent this friction and reduce the amount of static electricity that accumulates in clothes. Use lotion especially on your hands and feet and let it absorb into your skin before getting dressed. However, test the lotion on a small area first and don't use too much, as clothes can stain or fabrics can be damaged.

Other remedies for static clothes

• Buy clothes that don't get static. Choose cotton or wool materials, as these are less prone to static electricity buildup compared to synthetic fabrics.
• Try the aluminum foil trick. To do this, make a ball out of aluminum foil and put it in the dryer with your clothes. The idea is that the foil helps discharge static electricity, and the clothes will no longer stick together.
• Make sure you have an anti-static clothing spray at home. It acts immediately and leaves no residue.

Myths about static electricity in clothes

• One of the myths is to add salt during washing to reduce static electricity. But this is wrong because salt does not have anti-static properties and is not effective in reducing electricity.
• Another myth is that static is only caused by synthetic fabrics. Although synthetic fabrics are more prone to static than natural fibers, static electricity can actually occur on any type of fabric, including cotton or wool clothes.
• It is said that to reduce static electricity, a good idea is to put clothes in the freezer. This can add more moisture to the clothes, which could reduce static, but the effects of putting clothes in the freezer are likely minimal and short-lived. Instead, what you can do more easily is lightly spray clothes with water (although, again, the effect may be short-lived). Static electricity occurs when electrons transfer and create a certain accumulation of static electricity. Putting clothes in the freezer means temporarily reducing this phenomenon, but you won't be able to eliminate it. Moreover, it is inconvenient to do so.
• It is also believed that placing a safety pin in the pocket of clothes can reduce static electricity. Metal is a conductive material and can help dissipate static electricity, but it is unlikely that a single safety pin could have a significant effect in reducing the static cling of clothes. What you can do instead is use metal hangers.

In conclusion, the most effective and quickest remedy is to use fabric softener and anti-static balls when drying clothes. Whenever possible, hang them on a line to dry and avoid synthetic fabrics.