Stop Static Electricity on Clothes in 3 Seconds with a Safety Pin
- Lifestyle
- Exienent
- · Updated
The quickest way to stop static on clothes is to pin an ordinary metal safety pin inside the hem of the garment, or to sweep a metal wire hanger over the fabric before you put it on. Both give the built-up charge a path to leak away, so it doesn't build up into sparks and cling. Neither costs anything, and both use items you probably already have.
Why do clothes get so much static in winter?
Static builds up when the air is dry and fabrics rub against your skin or against each other. Knitwear, fleece, and synthetic fibers are the worst offenders: putting them on or taking them off can bring that crackling sound, small sparks, and the feeling of a tiny electric shock. A skirt or pair of pants clinging tightly to your legs is the same problem in a different form.
Anti-static sprays are one answer, but they can have a harsh smell and need to be reapplied every time you get dressed. The two hacks below avoid both problems. They are simple enough to sound too good to be true, yet they rely on a basic electrical principle.
How does a safety pin stop static cling?
A metal safety pin pinned inside the bottom hem of a garment acts as a small discharge point, letting static escape before it accumulates. It is the most foolproof of these methods and can show results right away.
How to do it:
- Slightly pin the safety pin on the inside of the bottom hem of the garment that has bad static (skirt hem, pants inseam, bottom of a knit sweater, etc.) so it's not visible from the outside.
- That's it. It's hard to believe, but that's really all there is to it.
Why does it work? When we wear clothes and move around, our skin and the fabric, or fabrics against each other, rub together, generating electrons that stay on our bodies. The sparks that fly when these accumulated electrons are discharged all at once are static electricity. A metal safety pin at the hem acts as a kind of 'lightning rod': the charge lingering on your body and clothes slowly discharges through the metal into the air, which keeps static from building up in the first place.
The pin doesn't show from the outside, so it can stop a skirt from wrapping around your legs without changing how the outfit looks.
Can a wire hanger remove static from clothes?
Yes. Brushing a metal wire hanger over a garment draws off the charge trapped in the fabric, and it takes only a few seconds on a busy morning. It must be a metal hanger; plastic or wooden hangers won't work.
How to do it:
- Lay the knitwear, sweater, or coat you want to wear flat on the bed or floor.
- Lightly brush the surface of the clothes from top to bottom with the metal wire hanger, as if you're combing it. (If you're already wearing the clothes, lightly swipe it over your clothes as if you're sweeping your body.)
- Swiping both the inside and outside once or twice is enough.
Why does it work? The hanger works on the same principle as the safety pin. The highly conductive metal absorbs the static electricity trapped in the fabric and dissipates it into the air. It is especially useful right before putting on a winter coat or knit sweater, since layering generates peak static, and it helps prevent the crackling sound when you put them on and take them off.
What else helps if you don't have a pin or hanger?
Moisture and a handheld piece of metal are the two easiest backups.
- Apply Lotion to Stockings/Tights: Before putting on a skirt or pants, apply a thin layer of body lotion or hand cream on your bare skin or stockings. The biggest cause of static electricity is dryness. Moisturizing your skin reduces friction, which can noticeably decrease static.
- Hold a Coin Before Grabbing a Door Handle: If you dread the spark from a car door or front door handle, hold a metal object like a coin or key tightly before you touch the handle. The static from your body exits through the coin first, sparing your fingertips the sting.
Is it worth trying instead of anti-static spray?
I think so. Instead of buying expensive anti-static sprays or pouring in extra fabric softener, a safety pin and a hanger can keep static under control through the dry season at no cost. Try one of them before heading out tomorrow morning and see the difference for yourself.
