Static electricity on the laundry is a major drawback and is a fairly irritating aspect of this household chore. However, you can prevent it from building up both before and after washing by using sprays or devices and learning how this phenomenon develops.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: with Liquids and Sprays
Step 1. Add white vinegar to the laundry after the final rinse cycle
Simply pour 120-240ml into the washing machine while the fabrics are rinsed; in this way, you get perfectly clean laundry without a trace of static electricity. This is perfect for cotton clothes or bed sheets, but is not very effective with polyester and fleece.
Vinegar helps the fibers get rid of detergent residue during the rinse cycle
Step 2. Use spray products to apply at the end of drying and which reduce the phenomenon of electrostatic charge
You can do some research online or ask the supermarket clerk to find the most effective product. Generally, the liquid contains compounds that discharge the electricity present on the tissues; simply direct the nozzle towards the garment to be treated and press the trigger, a vaporized mist will come out of the can.
If you don't want to buy the spray, you can make your own by mixing fabric softener with water in a spray bottle; usually, a cap of softener diluted in a standard bottle of water is sufficient to obtain a blend that is as effective as commercial products
Step 3. Use fabric softener
This product is a mixture of chemical substances that makes the fabrics softer, perfumes the laundry and is able to prevent the electrostatic effect on the laundry; the most famous brands are Coccolino, Vernel, Lenor. Each product must be used according to the instructions on the packaging, but usually it is sufficient to pour it into the washing machine during the rinse cycle and let it finish normally.
- Check your washing machine to see if it has a built-in fabric softener dispenser. If this compartment is present, the product is released into the water at the right time; if not, you can simply pour the liquid into the drum after adding the cloths.
- You can also buy a combination detergent; it is a product that guarantees the same results without having to manually pour the softener into the washing machine.
Step 4. Spray the clothes with distilled water after taking them out of the dryer
Spread a fine mist of water on fabrics as soon as they are dry to prevent them from drying out and sticking to each other developing an electrostatic charge. Fill a regular spray bottle with distilled water and spray it thoroughly onto clothing from a distance of 60 cm.
Method 2 of 3: Change the Washing and Drying Settings
Step 1. Dry the clothes by hanging them out in the open air
This method avoids the formation of electrostatic charges. If you must necessarily use the dryer, take them out as soon as they are dry enough or when they are still a little damp; a too aggressive cycle of the appliance causes the formation of static electricity.
Electrostatic charges develop due to the friction between two electrically insulated materials and the ideal environment for their formation is dry or low humidity; in other words, the dryer is the right place for this kind of electricity to accumulate
Step 2. Sort the cloths by fabric
Some are more prone to this phenomenon than others. Synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon, ryon and acetate, tend to generate static charge after washing; natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, linen and silk, on the other hand, are less prone to this annoying inconvenience. Washing and drying synthetic laundry with natural laundry risks that the clothes "stick" to each other, so it is worth dividing them.
Alternatively, you can consider hanging synthetic fabrics outdoors and using the dryer only for natural fabrics
Step 3. Use a humidifier
A humid environment prevents electrostatic adhesion between garments, which occurs when they are very dry. As you put the laundry to dry on the line or drying rack, turn on a humidifier so that the air is more conductive than dry fabrics, which then become a less favorable "target" for electrostatic charges. Practice this technique especially during dry seasons, such as winter, to prevent electricity from building up on clothing and body as well.
A drying rack is a small to medium-sized support made of wood or plastic with several threads or sticks parallel to each other on which you can lay the clothes to dry
Step 4. Reduce the cycle time of the dryer
Instead of going through the one-hour program, take out the laundry after 45 minutes and hang it on the wire or hangers to finish drying. This way, you save money on your electricity bill, reduce your carbon footprint and keep static charges under control.
Method 3 of 3: with dryer additives
Step 1. Use sheet softeners
These products contain positively charged ingredients that are released in the presence of static electricity, so that the charges cancel each other out. To use a softener in sheets, just put one (or two if the load is very heavy) in the drum of the dryer together with the damp clothes before operating the appliance.
- The sheets not only remove electrostatic charges, but also leave a pleasant scent on the fabrics.
- You can use them to scrub the clothes after taking them out of the dryer and thus eliminate any electricity; for example, you can use them on the dress after wearing it when you notice that it still generates some electrostatic attraction.
Step 2. Attach a few safety pins to the fabrics before putting them in the dryer
This foresight allows the electricity to be channeled to the metal. Imagine the pins as if they were lightning rods for the electrical charges that develop in the basket of the car; attach them to a sock when the laundry is still wet and before transferring it from the washer to the dryer.
The method of rubbing a metal hanger on the surface of dry fabrics uses the same principle. Although it is a long job, it is still effective in getting rid of the static charges that build up during drying
Step 3. Consider using dryer balls
These are spheres of aluminum paper, plastic or wood that are placed in the drum together with the laundry to reduce the electrical phenomenon. Since static charges develop due to friction, an object of this type gets between the tissues, preventing electricity from accumulating and generating surface adhesion; furthermore, these balls keep the laundry separate and bulky.
You can use craft balls instead of commercial ones; try wearing a clean tennis ball or even a pair of clean, soft tennis shoes
Step 4. Use an aluminum foil ball
While it may look similar to dryer balls, this method uses a different principle by letting electrostatic charges build up on the foil and not on the clothes. Take the normal aluminum foil you use in the kitchen, cut a piece of 0.2-0.3m2; roll it up loosely to form a ball and smooth it out by rolling it between your palms until it takes on a spherical shape. Each ball should be 8-10cm in diameter; put 3-4 balls in the drum together with the laundry.
Step 5. Wash the fabrics with soap tree berries
These natural elements have natural antistatic properties; put a handful (5-6 berries) in a muslin bag and place them in the washing machine drum along with the laundry to be washed.
When using berries, you can reduce the amount of detergent or completely avoid adding it, as they are rich in saponin and are effective for washing fabrics (as well as eliminating static electricity). Remember to use them with very hot water for best results
Advice
- There are also ball softeners.
- If you don't have fabric softener on hand, you can replace it with baking soda, borax, or distilled white vinegar.
