Life Hack: How to remove static from clothes, including some quick fixes
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Static is caused by the friction between different fabrics when they rub against each other. One common cause of this is the use of the tumble dryer, where an electrostatic charge builds up in the clothes, particularly those made from synthetic fabrics, making them stick to your body.
In more scientific terms, your clothes develop static charge as an effect of electrons (negatively charged subatomic particles) moving from one material to the other, resulting in an imbalance between negative and positive charges in the two fabrics,” laundry brand Lenor says.
“As objects with opposite charges attract each other, the two fabrics will soon be as inseparable as fish and chips. Static cling in clothing is especially noticeable in low humidity environments when the air has a reduced moisture content, which would otherwise act as a natural conductor and earth any potential static charge.”
As much static is caused by how you wash and dry your clothes, this is where you can make the most impact.
If you’re cleaning synthetic fabrics, try to wash and dry those separately from natural fibres, so the static does not build up.
After you remove your clothes from the washing machine, air dry them if possible, either on a clothesline, clothes horse or on wire hangers — dry cleaners use them for a good reason. Air drying prevents static build-up, which can be caused by dryness and heat. Avoid using the tumble dryer as it will likely create a large static build-up.
If you have to use a tumble dryer, you can pop in a dryer sheet to prevent static from building. In addition, simply giving your laundry a good shake when you remove it from the tumble dryer can prevent static from settling into the clothes before they are moved to another surface.
If you’re rushing out the door and are dealing with static in what you’re wearing, there are a few things you can do to minimise or remove it. Moisturing will increase humidity in the surface of your skin, preventing fabrics from clinging.
Spritzing a light layer of water onto the fabric, focusing on areas where they cling to you, can remove static quickly. Make sure you don’t spray too much, you only want the fabric to be slightly wet.
Metal can remove static, so rubbing a wire hanger over your clothes can help, or rub it between the fabric and your skin to prevent the fabric from clinging. Other small metal objects can do this too.
You can also rub a dryer sheet directly on your clothes: turn it inside out and rub the sheet against the fabric for the best results.
