Static electricity is caused by electrical charges that build up on clothes due to friction and dry conditions. There are several ways to get rid of static electricity quickly, although you may have to change the way you wash and dry your clothes if static electricity is a big problem in your wardrobe. For a quick dissipation of static electricity, rub a metal object against the clothes to dissipate the electric charge. You can also apply lotion to your skin or spray hairspray on your clothes. As a long-term solution, you should change the way you wash your clothes. Add vinegar or baking soda to the washing machine, and dry the clothes manually in the sun to prevent static electricity from building up.
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Method 1 of 5: Eliminating Static Electricity Using Metal
Step 1. Swipe clothes that contain static electricity on a metal coat hanger
After the clothes are washed and dried, take a clothes hanger made of wire or metal. Before wearing clothes, place metal hangers on top of clothes. The metal will dissipate the electrical charge on the clothes and dissipate static electricity. If clothes are to be hung, hang clothes that are attached to each other and contain static electricity with metal hangers.
- You can also slip a metal hanger between the leather and the garment after you've put it on.
- This method is especially effective when dealing with delicate fabrics such as silk. However, metal wire hangers can cause damage to some types of clothing, such as thick sweaters. If you think a wire hanger might damage your clothes, simply rub the hanger against the fabric before you store it.
Step 2. Slip safety pins into clothing to absorb static electricity
Get a metal safety pin and flip the garment over so the inside is on the outside. Unpin it and stick it into the seam of the garment so it's not visible from the outside. Turn the garment over again so that it is back in its normal position, then put it on. The safety pin will absorb the static electricity in the clothes.
- It doesn't matter if you take your clothes out of the dryer or closet. The safety pin will still work to eliminate static electricity.
- Do not place safety pins in the front or near open seams as they may be visible to others.
Step 3. Use a thimble (glove) or metal brush on the fabric
Rubbing metal objects on clothes can dissipate static electricity. After the clothes have dried, place a metal thimble on the fingers. Rub your fingers on the surface of the clothes to reduce static electricity. If you wish, you can also use a metal brush to replace the thimble, although this is not a good option as the fabric can get caught in the bristles.
Like other methods that use metal, basically this action aims to remove an electric charge so that static electricity does not occur. If you don't have a metal thimble, you can stick any metal object to get the same result
Tip:
If you don't want to keep your thimble on when you're out for a walk, put it in your pocket and wear it when needed. It can also reduce the static electricity that builds up on your clothes when you walk around.
Step 4. Rub a metal object on the shirt to collect the electric charge
If you don't have a thimble, hanger, brush, or safety pin, you can use any metal object to dissipate the electrical charge. Metal objects you can use include forks, spoons, bowls, gears, screwdrivers, and other metal objects. Make sure the metal object is clean before you rub it on clothes.
Method 2 of 5: Spraying Clothes
Step 1. Eliminate static electricity by spraying hairspray on clothes
You can use any hairspray. Position the hairspray 30-60 cm from the clothes and spray the clothes for 3 to 4 seconds. The clothes will be coated with hairspray, but not wet. Hairspray is specifically designed to remove static electricity from hair, and the same material can also be used to prevent static electricity from building up on clothes.
- Do this right before you put on your clothes so the hairspray doesn't smudge or fade.
- Hairspray generally doesn't stain fabrics, but is likely to leave a residue. If you're worried about the clothes getting damaged or dirty, spray some hairspray inside the clothes by turning them over first.
Tip:
You should leave some distance when spraying hairspray so that the liquid does not leave marks on clothes. For best results, focus on the areas of clothing that feel most attached to your body.
Step 2. Spray fabric conditioner onto clothes to minimize static electricity
Mix 1 part fabric softener with 30 parts water and put it in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the two ingredients well. Position the spray bottle about 30–60 cm from the garment and spray the garment for 4 to 5 seconds. This can minimize the effect of static electricity on clothes. For best results, do this right before you put the clothes on.
- Most fabric softeners don't stain fabrics, especially when mixed with water. If you're worried about the clothes getting dirty, turn them over before you spray them.
- You can also use a stain and wrinkle remover product.
Step 3. Wet dry clothes with water only
Put warm water in a spray bottle. Position the spray bottle from clothing about 30–60 cm. Spray enough water without getting clothes wet or damp. The water will neutralize the static electricity that keeps clothes from sticking together.
For best results, do this right before you put on the clothes
Method 3 of 5: Changing the Way of Washing Clothes
Step 1. Add 120 ml of baking soda to the washing machine
The baking soda will act like a fabric conditioner, which will absorb an electric charge when the clothes are washed. Before running the washing machine, pour 120 ml of baking soda into the washing machine. Add detergent and wash clothes as usual.
- If you plan to use a tumble dryer, some of the electrical charge may reappear after the baking soda is gone. This method is very suitable when combined with other methods to eliminate static electricity. You may not need to combine it with other methods if the laundry is allowed to dry on its own instead of machine drying.
- If the laundry is light (less than 1.5-2 kg), reduce the amount of baking soda to 60 ml.
- Baking soda will effectively create a barrier between each piece of clothing, preventing the formation of positive and negative charges that hold clothes together.
- Baking soda also has the added benefit of neutralizing odors.
Step 2. Add 120 ml of white vinegar to the washing machine
After running the washing machine once, pour 120 ml of distilled white vinegar into the washing machine. Run the washing machine again to rinse. The vinegar will soften the fabric and make it less stiff and dry. It will also reduce the build-up of static electricity.
- Do not use vinegar and bleach at the same time. These two materials produce harmful gases when mixed. Do not use this method with baking soda. You can combine this method with tinfoil and fabric softener.
- To remove the white vinegar odor from clothes, soak a washcloth in the vinegar, then mix it into the laundry being rinsed. This way, the smell will be less intense, even if you add vinegar directly to the rinse water.
- If your washing machine has a softener dispenser, you can pour vinegar in it before starting to wash the clothes. The addition of vinegar also makes the color of the clothes brighter and bright white.
- The best ingredient is white vinegar, but in a pinch, you can use apple cider vinegar. However, don't use apple cider vinegar on white or light-colored clothes.
Step 3. Put the tinfoil kneaded into a ball in the washing machine with the clothes
Squeeze a sheet of tinfoil into a small ball. Squeeze the foil firmly with both hands repeatedly. Put the foil ball in the washing machine and wash the clothes as usual. The foil will remove the positive and negative charges generated by the washing machine.
The use of this tinfoil can be combined with other methods. However, do not mix vinegar and baking soda in the washing machine
Warning:
Just put the foil in the washing machine tub. Do not put the foil in the dryer. If put in the dryer, the foil may catch fire. Be sure to discard the foil when you transfer the clothes from the washer tub to the dryer.
Step 4. Use fabric softener to prevent the build-up of static electricity
Liquid softener can prevent the build-up of static electricity when clothes are washed. Add 2-3 tsp. (10–15 ml) of liquid fabric softener into the washing machine according to the directions on the package. When spun in the washing machine, wet clothes will produce a static electric charge that makes them stick together. Fabric softener contains chemicals designed to prevent static electricity from building up.
- Softener sheet works in the same way as fabric softener. Use softener wipes if you don't want to deal with softener. Softening wipes are generally added to the dryer.
- You can combine fabric softener with the other methods listed in this section.
Method 4 of 5: Drying Clothes
Step 1. Add a dryer ball (a rubber ball that helps dry and soften clothes) into the dryer before you put the wet clothes in
Dryer balls have the same function as fabric softener. This product is designed to soften clothes without using chemicals. Insert 1-2 dryer balls into the dryer when you transfer wet clothes to the dryer, then run the dryer as usual.
The dryer ball will also reduce the frequency of collisions between individual clothes in the dryer. A static electric charge will build up on the fabric when the clothes touch each other. By minimizing touch, the build-up of static electricity will also be reduced
Step 2. Insert a damp washcloth in the last 10 minutes of the drying process
When you have 10 minutes left while you're drying, pause the process. Change the dryer setting to the lowest heat, and place a damp washcloth in the dryer. Run the dryer again until it's done. The water will absorb some of the static charge from the dryer and keep the clothes soft and not sticking together.
Basically, this method is the same as soaking clothes in water after you dry them
Step 3. Shake the clothes when you take them out of the dryer
When you take them out of the dryer, quickly shake the clothes 2-3 times. This will prevent static electricity from building up when the garment is placed on another fabric surface.
This only works if you take your clothes out immediately after they're done drying
Step 4. Allow the clothes to dry on their own to prevent static electricity from building up
Instead of drying clothes in the dryer, let the laundry dry on its own by hanging it on a clothesline or closet hanger. After washing, remove the clothes from the washing machine and hang them on a clothesline using hangers or clothes pins. Alternatively, you can run the dryer for only half a turn so the clothes don't dry completely. Next, let the clothes dry on their own.
- Most of the buildup of electrical charge that causes static electricity to occur when wet clothes are thoroughly dried using heat. Clothes won't turn out very dry if you let them dry on their own. It can also prevent the formation of excessive electric charge.
- For increased success in removing static electricity, hang the clothes on metal hangers and let them dry on their own.
Method 5 of 5: Changing Daily Habits
Step 1. Moisturize the skin to prevent the clothes from sticking
You can use any type of moisturizing lotion to get rid of static electricity. Before you put on your clothes, apply moisturizer to your legs, body, and arms. Spread the moisturizer on until there are no more clumps of lotion left. Moisturizers remove static electricity when clothing absorbs it from the skin.
- By applying moisturizer, the skin is not dry. Dry skin will attract cloth that contains an electric charge.
- You can rub lotion on your hands before removing the clothes from the dryer or folding them. This prevents the transfer of electrical charge from the hands to the cloth.
Tip:
If you don't want to put a lot of lotion on your skin, rub a little lotion on your hands and spread it all over your body to add some moisture.
Step 2. Use a moisturizing conditioner to maintain the hairstyle
If the static electricity on your clothes tangles your hair, use a conditioner or hair product. When you shower, rub conditioner into your hair after you wash it. If you want to use a moisturizing hair product, dry your hair and apply the product all over your hair before styling it.
- Silicone-based conditioners can effectively prevent the transfer of static electricity to the hair. However, there is still debate whether silicone is good for hair or not.
- Your hair won't dry out if you moisturize it. Dry hair tends to attract an electric charge, which causes static electricity to build up.
Step 3. Use leather shoes instead of rubber-soled shoes
Most shoes do have rubber soles. This can cause problems related to static electricity because an electric charge can build up inside the rubber. If your clothes often contain static electricity, try replacing rubber-soled shoes with leather-soled shoes.
Wearing leather shoes will also keep you grounded because an electric charge will not build up in leather shoes, unlike rubber-soled shoes
Tips
- If you frequently experience problems related to static electricity, turn on a humidifier in the location where you wash and dry clothes. Humidity will reduce the electrical charge in dry air so your problem will be solved.
- Synthetic fabrics are more likely to generate static electricity than fabrics from natural fibers, such as wool and cotton.
