How to Get Rid of Static Cling From Clothes

When you take laundry out of the dryer, you might notice your clothes clinging to each other or sticking to your skin. That is static cling. It happens when fabrics become electrically charged as they rub together. Some of that charge can also transfer to your body. The result is that the same build-up that makes clothes stick can give you a small shock when you later touch metal or even another person.

Static electricity shows up often in laundry, especially in dry air. Clothes attract each other, hair can stand on end, and sometimes you feel that sudden zap. All of these effects come from the same build-up of electrical charge on fabrics and skin.

What You Need to Know About Static Cling 

Static cling happens when two fabrics touch, rub, and then separate. During this process, electrons move from one material to another. One fabric becomes positively charged, while the other becomes negatively charged. Because opposite charges attract, the fabrics cling together. This effect is called the triboelectric effect, and research from Northwestern University has explored this process in detail.

You’ll notice static cling most often after drying clothes, not while washing. That’s because water in the wash allows charges to escape, while drying removes that pathway. Once dry, the charges remain on the fabric surfaces, so they cling to each other or to your skin.

The static cling is made worse by dry air. Research from Science World in Canada shows that moisture in the air is a natural conductor, which helps these electrical charges dissipate harmlessly. When the air lacks humidity, that static electricity has nowhere to go, causing a buildup of static electricity on your clothes. The end result is a garment that wants to stick to everything, including your skin 

Fabric Materials That Can Cause Static Cling 

You've probably noticed that some clothes are way more clingy than others. That's because certain fabrics are much better at creating that electrostatic charge.

A guide from Chiuvention explains that materials can be ranked on what's called a triboelectric series, which shows how likely they are to gain or lose electrons when friction is applied.

Fabrics that are most prone to static cling are often synthetic fabrics. These man-made materials are terrible at retaining moisture, making them perfect candidates for static build-up. The biggest culprits include:

• Polyester
• Nylon
• Rayon
• Spandex
• Acrylic

To avoid static cling, you can consider natural fibre materials like cotton and wool that are better at absorbing moisture from the air. This moisture helps prevent the buildup of static electricity, which is why your 100% cotton tees are rarely the source of the problem. When you mix synthetic fibres with natural ones in the dryer, you create the ideal conditions for electrons to jump ship and for static to form.

How to Reduce Static Electricity Based on Science 

You're dressed and ready to go, but your clothes are putting up a fight. Here are a few quick ways to remove static on the spot, all backed by science.

1.  Lightly spray your clothes with water. This is the fastest way to stop static. Fill a small spray bottle with water and give the clingy garment a very fine mist. The water introduces moisture, which acts as a conductor to instantly neutralise the electrostatic charge. You don't need to drench it, just a light spritz will do.

2. Run a metal clothes hanger over the fabric. This might sound strange, but it works. Metal is an excellent electrical conductor. As you slide a metal hanger over the surface of your clothes, it picks up the excess electrons and discharges the static. This will help eliminate static cling in seconds.

3. Moisturise your skin. If your clothes are clinging to your body, the problem might also be your skin. Dry skin can contribute to static buildup. Applying some lotion or a good moisturiser will help. Moisturising your skin adds a conductive layer that prevents the garment from sticking to you.

The Best Way to Prevent Static Cling on Your Clothes 

The best way to deal with static is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here’s how you can adjust your laundry routine for cling-free clothes.

1. Separate your fabrics before washing. Since synthetic fibres are the main cause, try washing and drying them in a separate load from your natural fibre clothes like cotton and wool. Less friction between different types of materials means less opportunity for a static charge to build up.

2. Avoid over-drying your clothes. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make. When you take your clothes out of the dryer bone-dry, you've removed all the moisture that naturally helps reduce static. Try to remove them while they are still ever-so-slightly damp and let them finish air-drying.

3. Use laundry detergent that can maintain the moisture of the laundry. You can use the Lucent Globe Laundry Detergent Sheet, which contains glycerin, glyceryl cocoate, and saponins. Those ingredients can help maintain and increase the moisture of the fabric, which in turn can reduce the formation of static charges. It can help to reduce the friction between the fabrics. 

Use a tool for fighting static in the dryer. You have a few options here.

• Wool dryer balls help separate clothes so they dry faster and with less friction.
• Use fabric softener sheets. They dissolve in the wash water and release softening agents that bind to your clothes. This thin coating reduces stiffness, lowers friction between fibres, and helps cut down on static cling once the clothes are dry.
• Toss in a ball of aluminium foil. A tightly rolled ball of foil, about the size of a golf ball, acts as a conductor in the dryer, helping to discharge the static build-up as your clothes tumble.
• Increase the humidity in your home. If you have consistently dry air, consider air-drying your clothes on an indoor drying rack. This naturally keeps a bit of moisture in the fabric. Alternatively, using a humidifier in your home, especially during the dry winter months, can make a huge difference in preventing static everywhere.

Key Takeaways

To keep your clothes from clinging, just remember the science.

1.  Static cling is caused by an imbalance of electrons when fabrics rub together, made worse by dry conditions.

2. Moisture is your best friend. The following also helps: sprayed water in the form of a mist, fabric softener, or increased air humidity, as moisture helps dissipate static charge.

3. Synthetic fabrics are the main culprits. Materials like polyester and nylon are far more prone to static cling than natural fibres like cotton.

4. It can be prevented by separating fabrics, avoiding over-drying. Using tools like dryer balls or a simple metal hanger can help reduce static before it even starts.