How to Remove Static From Clothes and Fabrics

Removing Static from Clothes and Fabric With Vinegar

White vinegar is a natural fabric softener and can help reduce static cling. It’s an affordable and effective solution, especially since most people already have it at home.

Step 1: Add 1 cup of vinegar to the spray bottle and top off with warm water.

Step 2: Spray static clothing generously with the vinegar and water solution.

Step 3: Allow the clothing to dry for 30 minutes to an hour before wearing.

How to Get Rid of Static on Clothes You're Already Wearing

If you're already dressed and dealing with cling, here are two quick fixes.

A static release spray is the fastest option. Truly Free Home Wrinkle & Static Releaser works in about five minutes. Simply spray the garment lightly, smooth the fabric with your hands, and let it dry. It also takes care of wrinkles, which is useful when you're getting dressed in a hurry. The best part? Our formula is made with plant-derived ingredients, so it doesn't leave behind the heavy, harsh fragrance chemicals or residue that conventional anti-static sprays tend to carry.

If you don't have a spray on hand, run a metal hanger along the inside of the garment to temporarily discharge the static. A small safety pin attached to an inside seam works on the same principle; it gives the charge somewhere to go. And if you're out of the house with nothing available, a quick dab of hand lotion rubbed between your palms and smoothed over the clinging area adds enough moisture to break the charge.

More Ways to Get Rid of Static Cling

Humidity is static's biggest enemy, so anything that adds moisture to the air or the fabric helps. Running a humidifier during the drier months keeps the moisture in indoor air from dropping too low, which benefits your skin and your clothes. Air drying delicates and synthetics instead of running them through the dryer eliminates friction. And storing clothes in a closet with some breathing room, rather than packed tightly against plastic bins or hangers, helps minimize the kind of surface contact that builds a charge over time.

How to Prevent Static Cling Before It Starts

The best way to deal with static is to keep it from building up in the first place, and that starts in the dryer.

Don't over-dry clothes. This is the biggest one. The longer clothes tumble in hot, dry air, the more static they generate. Pull clothes out while they still have a tiny bit of moisture left, and they'll finish drying on the hanger or folded in the drawer without any cling.

Use wool dryer balls. They physically separate fabrics as they tumble, which minimizes the surface-to-surface friction that creates static. Wool dryer balls also help clothes dry faster, so you can shorten the dryer cycle.

Skip dryer sheets. Conventional dryer sheets reduce static by coating fabrics with a thin layer of waxy chemicals. The problem is that residue builds up over time and can reduce the absorbency of towels and irritate skin. A plant-based softening rinse added during the wash cycle softens fabrics and helps reduce static without leaving a film behind.

Separate synthetics from naturals. If you have the time, drying polyester and nylon separately from cotton and linen reduces the electron transfer that causes cling in the first place.

Static cling doesn't have to ruin your day. With these quick, easy, natural fixes, you can banish it for good.