How to Get Rid of Static Cling

Static cling refers to the phenomenon of sticking a light object to another surface because of static electricity. Examples of this phenomenon are hair strands attracting plastic comb, clothes adhering to the skin, balloons sticking on wall, and dust clinging to plastic surfaces. This is an unsightly and bothersome situation when it happens with skirts, pants, or t-shirts that we are wearing.

Static cling is developed due to static electricity, which means "electricity at rest". In such a case, electric charges (or electrons in simpler words) are deposited on light objects, which upon contact with another object tend to adhere with each other.

Static cling is present between two dissimilar objects, as similar materials having same charge do not attract each other. In order to understand the causes better, let's take the example of two different materials under friction.

When two objects of different material makeup (for example, clothes and dryer) rub against each other, the charges of a material attract the charges of the second one, so that the atoms of the respective materials are balanced and stabled.

In this process, transfer of the charges takes place (plastic dryer loses electrons and clothes gain them), resulting in static electricity. Cloth fabrics, like wool, nylon, and silk develop positive charges; whereas rubber, plastic wrap, and polyester are negatively charged materials.

You often come across embarrassing situations where your trouser clings to your skin. As you now know the causes of static cling, do not blame the cloth fabric. On the brighter side, there are certain methods that you can practice for getting rid of this. Some of the effectual natural ways to get rid of static cling are mentioned below:

• Body Lotion:
  Whenever you plan on wearing woolen or nylon clothes, especially during winter months, apply a good body lotion before putting on your clothes. The lotion will act as a barrier between the cloth and your skin, thus preventing static cling from developing.

• Hair Spray:
  Similar to lotions, hair sprays work best in getting rid of static cling. Prior to wearing garments, you can lightly spray this on the inside of the fabric and also on your body. Wait for a few minutes and allow the hair spray to dry properly, and then wear your clothes.

• Fabric Softener and Water Solution:
  In a spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of fabric softener with 2 quarts of water. Shake the solution well and spray lightly on the inner sides of the garment. Allow the fabric to absorb the solution and wear it. This will effectively remove static electricity from the clothes.

• Dryer Sheets:
  Instead of dealing with static cling at the time of wearing clothes, why not solve the problem beforehand? While drying the damp clothes in an electric dryer, you can add a piece of dryer sheet to avoid static cling. Air drying the clothes is also a good measure to avoid this problem.

The chances of experiencing static cling are much higher in winter when the air is dry, with very low humidity levels. This is because moisture conducts electrons and prevents the buildup of static electricity.

Taking this into consideration, you can take special precautions to get rid of static cling during dry climates and spare yourself from awkward situations.