How to remove electricity from clothes
Clothes can accumulate static electricity after finishing the washing machine program and especially after the dryer, as well as when the garment rubs against others or plastics. This type of electricity is especially noticeable with the small discharges received when touching the fabric of clothing, causing an annoying and even painful sensation in some cases. They are very uncomfortable cramps, but also avoidable. We also perceive it when we notice that the hair stands on end and the hair rises or curls.
You probably want to know how to remove electricity from clothes, but you also need to understand why this electrical charge is produced. This way, you will be aware of the situation and will be prepared to avoid it and also to remove it from your clothes if it appears again. If it appears, use fabric softener or white vinegar in the washing machine, separate the clothes by fabric, use an anti-static spray, put short cycles in the dryer or dry outdoors, among other options. Discover everything about static electricity in clothing by reading this FoxWiki article.
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Why do my clothes have static electricity?
The crash or Prolonged friction between garments made of synthetic material is the cause of producing static electricity on clothes. Due to this contact, an exchange of electrons occurs on the inside of the garments, which ends up causing the electrical charge.
The machines in which a collision between synthetic material clothes constantly occurs are the dryer and the washing machine. Additionally, dry places, such as the dryer, increase the likelihood of generating static electricity in clothing. Another time when static electricity can be noticed is when we put on or take off a garment, for example, a sweater and our hair stands up, even long hair can stand up.
Use fabric softener in the washing machine
We begin to reveal how to remove static electricity from clothes indicating that it is important that you know the existence of different methods. One of them is the use of fabric softener while you wash the clothes, as it will prevent the electric charge from being generated while giving them a pleasant smell.
To apply the fabric softener, you must put it before starting the washing cycle or, depending on the type of washing machine you have, stop the cycle before the last rinse and add a small amount of the product in the corresponding compartment or on the clothes. Keep in mind that you must use the amount indicated on the packaging, if you exceed it you will have to run a rinse cycle again to remove any remaining fabric softener. Once the washing program is finished, your clothes will no longer accumulate as much static electricity.
Use white vinegar in the wash cycle
Remove electricity from blankets or blankets during the wash cycle it is possible with White vinegar. This product, in addition to being used to clean a wide variety of appliances, is also useful for eliminating the electrical charge generated in clothes and softening them.
In this sense, for the vinegar to be effective, add 1/2 glass of vinegar to the washing machine drawer for rinsing. This way, you will ensure that clothes and blankets are free of static electricity once they are dry.
In this other post we tell you much more about How to clean with white vinegar.
Separate garments by fabric
Another effective trick to remove electricity from sweaters and other clothes is separate them by materials or fabrics. Some, such as nylon or polyester, are especially prone to generating this static charge, much more so when compared to cotton, which is a natural fabric.
To prevent all clothes from ending up with a lot of static electricity, the solution is to separate the clothes by each material before putting them in the washing machine. For garments that have a mixture of synthetic and natural materials, try to wash them with garments made of natural fabrics instead of with synthetic ones. In this way, the problem can only appear in the laundry in which you wash only synthetic clothing. Although you can solve the problem with another of the methods explained here.
Use an antistatic spray
When the washing cycles of the washing machine are finished, choose to apply a antistatic spray to your clothes. These sprays have a composition that eliminates static electricity from clothing.
Anti-static spray can be sprayed on dry or wet clothing. Another alternative to spray is hairspray, but you must apply this product with a certain distance from the clothes so as not to damage them or cause stains.
Put short cycles in the dryer
If you use the dryer to dry clothes, a trick that will help you avoid static electricity is to program short cycles. If until now you put dryer cycles about 1 hour, reduce the time to 40 or 30 minutes.
When the 40 minutes are up, use coat racks (preferably wooden hangers) to hang the clothes inside the home until excessive heat goes away. In this last step, try to avoid rubbing the clothes with other clothes or with plastic materials. Keep in mind that heat increases static electricity, so when it comes out of the dryer very hot it is better to avoid friction.
You may also be interested in learning tips to dry clothes well without using this appliance. To do this, we recommend this other article on How to dry clothes without a dryer.
Let the clothes air dry
Drying clothes in the open air is a very simple method to implement to remove electricity from clothes or, at least, prevent too much of it. Garments do not generate this charge if they are exposed to open air. because they are not placed in an appliance with a dry environment or low humidity.
Although the ideal is let it dry in the sun, on a terrace, balcony or window, this does not mean that you are obliged to hang or dry your clothes on the street if you do not have this space or if you do not like to put your clothes so exposed to others. You can do it at home in a somewhat humid room like the laundry room or bathroom. If you choose this trick, the clothes will take longer to dry, but you will end up getting it dry and they will not have much of a static electricity charge.
Put metal in contact with clothing
As it is a material that traps static electricity from clothing, metal is a good ally to avoid it. Choose one of these methods to put the metal in contact with clothing and remove static electricity:
- Insert a pin into the clothes.
- Put a ball or several balls of aluminum foil inside the dryer. In this way, all the electricity will accumulate in the aluminum.
- Use metal hangers to hang clothes.
- Carry metal objects such as a coin or a thimble in one hand when you go to put on clothes. In this way, the electricity produced in the friction will go to the metal.
Use distilled water
When you take all the clothes out of the dryer, spray it with a little distilled water. By applying this product, you will prevent clothes from becoming too dry, sticking to each other or to other surfaces, which could generate static electricity. Let it dry completely in the open air.
Now that you’ve learned all this about how to remove electricity from clothes you may also be interested in reading this other FoxWiki article on How to make clothes smell good, so you will have your perfect clothes.
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