3 Natural Ways to Prevent or Reduce Static Electricity

We’ve all been through it. We head out the door and find our clothes are clinging to us, our hair is standing on end, and we’re walking around ‘shocking’ everything we touch. Yep, static cling is a pain, and once you’ve got it, it can seem impossible to get rid of. But why is this happening to you?

To keep it simple, static cling occurs when fabrics rub together, especially when they’re in a very dry environment. Fixing this can work in several ways, some easier and more natural than others. So what exactly are the best ways to handle it?

We’ve gone in for the easiest remedies to either prevent or get rid of static cling in the most natural, chemical-free ways possible. The results? They’re all really simple, and they’re below for your perusal–so without further ado, let’s get started:

Ways to Prevent or Reduce Static Electricity and Static Cling

 Hang clothes to dry naturally

Many of our grandmothers used to hang clothes outside to dry on clotheslines, stretched across the yard or between their houses and garages. On a sunny day during the warmer months of the year, you could be sure the clothesline would be in use instead of the dryer in the basement. But what if we don’t have the time to hang everything up outside, or we just don’t have grandma’s space?

The Outdoor Parallel Style Clothes Dryer with Steel Arms from Household Essentials could be just what the doctor ordered. Featuring 30 lines for hanging out wet clothing, towels, or linens, this handy dryer is made of sturdy steel and offers a whopping 210 feet of drying space. (There’s also a slightly smaller one available with 182 feet of space). The top rotates, so you can easily reach in to remove or adjust each garment. One easy motion opens or closes the dryer, and it stays compact and out of the way when not in use. If this helps solve your problem today, get one on Amazon. 

There’s also a portable indoor/outdoor variety, very similar and made by the same company, also available on Amazon.

 Add a few dryer balls to the mix

There are a few ways to treat your laundry while still in the dryer to limit or prevent static electricity. The most popular way, unfortunately, is to toss in a wasteful, one-time use dryer sheet full of chemicals. Although this does work, we’re only interested in natural alternatives here, so we’d rather try adding 1-2 organic wool dryer balls instead:

These SnugPad Wool Dryer Balls offer an alternative to heavily-scented, chemical-laden dryer sheets, while also effectively absorbing moisture and eliminating static cling in your dryer by maintaining a higher humidity level. They’re organic, made of premium New Zealand wool, and come in a pack of six. The best part? They’re reusable! If you’d like to try these out, get them on Amazon.

Toss in a shot of vinegar

You can use pretty much any kind of white vinegar for this, (and it’s really cheap at the dollar store, just fyi) as long as it isn’t too heavily concentrated. You just need to add ¼ to ½ cup of regular white vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine and let it work–and no, it won’t end up making your laundry smell like vinegar. The vinegar aroma dissipates and leaves your garments simply smelling clean and fresh!

If you aren’t sure what kind to get, you can order this organic white vinegar. It’s not heavily concentrated like some varieties, so you can use it for a range of purposes– like making your salad dressing and cleaning your bathtub, and using it as your fabric softener. So why not grab the whole gallon while you’re at it? Go ahead and get it on Amazon.

Extra Tips to Get Rid of Static Cling

While these are three of the best natural ways to reduce or eliminate static electricity, there are other natural ways to address the problem as well. For example, you can:

  • Opt for natural fabrics like wool or cotton rather than synthetics whenever possible–or at least try to remember to dry them separately. The synthetics are more likely to develop static cling while drying, so they’re best hung up to dry while the natural garments finish up in the dryer. 
  • You can also reduce your drying time significantly by hanging clothes up (we grab one garment out at a time as it spins, shake it out so it’s smooth and wrinkle-free, and hang it on a hanger) during the last minutes of the dryer’s spinning, rather than letting them continue to spin until they are well past dry, causing static electricity. 
  • Try spritzing yourself lightly on the hair and/or clothing with a mister full of pure water when you’re full of static electricity. The light moisture attracts any positive or negative charges causing your static cling problem. 
  • You can also put a little fragrance-free, natural lotion on and rub it in to fight ongoing static cling issues with your clothing wherever they’re occurring.

With these in mind, we’re certain you’re armed with the easiest and most natural ways to handle static cling. Be sure to start with the most affordable methods and, if you have time, we’d love to hear how everything went and what worked best for you. Thanks for stopping by!

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