Remedies for Static Cling

Perhaps you recently reached over to shake your friend's hand and felt a jolt of electricity spiral up your arm. Or maybe you walked into your office, took off your coat and noticed that your skirt was bunched up with your slip. Whatever the case, static cling can be annoying, embarrassing and relentless. However, there are several techniques that you can use to eliminate static cling from laundry, clothing, yourself and the air in your home. So say goodbye to stand-up hair and sudden jolts by using these simple remedies.

Home Tips

One of the leading sources of static cling is an overly dry home or office. You can alleviate dryness in the air by keeping your home or office filled with moisture. Run a humidifier on a regular basis, and place plants throughout your home or office. Not only are plants aesthetically pleasing, but they naturally emit a great deal of moisture in overly dry areas.

Laundry Tips

The laundry is another main static cling culprit. While loading clothes into the washing machine, try to put like fabrics together, such as cotton and polyester. Keep in mind that the key to eliminating static cling resides with the clothes dryer. Avoid placing synthetic fibers, such as nylon, into the clothes dryer. Synthetic fibers generate a great deal of static and can infiltrate the fibers of your other clothing. Be sure to also avoid over drying your clothes by taking them out of the clothes dryer just a few minutes early. This is a simple way to reduce a significant amount of static cling.

Personal Care Tips

Keeping your hair and body moisturized is also critical to eliminating static cling. After showering or bathing, always apply a generous amount of moisturizing lotion to your skin, which will help to keep static cling from attaching to dry skin. Apply conditioner to your hair on a regular basis to prevent excessive dryness, which also attracts static cling. If possible, avoid using plastic combs and brushes in your hair, as these help contribute to static cling.

Clothing Tips

In general, if you have a problem with static cling, try to wear more natural fibers, such as cotton, and avoid synthetic fibers, like nylon. Synthetic fibers naturally attract static cling. If you notice static cling on your clothing while getting dressed, secure a small safety pin to the seam of your slip, skirt lining or pants lining. This is an easy way to repel static cling, especially when wearing nylons. Lastly, rub a fabric softener sheet along the fabric of the offending garment to get rid of static cling on the spot.

Traveling Tips

While traveling, always keep a small container of hair spray on hand to use in emergency static cling situations. If you experience static cling on your clothing while traveling, spritz a small amount of hair spray onto the offending garment from a distance (so that you do not leave a stain). Once the hair spray infiltrates the fibers of your garment, the static cling should cease.

References

• More expert clothing care and laundry tips