How to Stop Static on a Dress Clinging to You

Co-authored by Jordan Stolch

Last Updated: August 9, 2024 Fact Checked

You've got the perfect outfit! But once you put it on, there's so much static that the dress is clinging to you uncomfortably and in an unflattering way. That's a bummer. Luckily, static is directly related to dryness and there are a few pretty easy ways to stop a dress from clinging immediately and in the long term.

Getting Rid of Static Cling on Clothes

Rub the clothes down with a dryer sheet.
Spray your dress with a static-eliminating spray.
Spritz your clothes with water.
Touch some grounded metal to discharge.
Wash your clothes on a gentle cycle.
Hang your clothes instead of folding them in drawers.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Removing Static Quickly

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1
Rub the dress with an anti-static dryer sheet. Grab a regular dryer sheet, like the kind you use when you're doing laundry. Hold the skirt of the dress away from your legs and rub the underside of the fabric with the dryer sheet. This should help remove the static quickly and easily.^{[1]
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Jordan Stolch
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Expert Interview. 3 November 2020.}
- This will be more difficult if the static is toward the center of your chest or an area that is hard to get the dryer sheet under. Do your best.
- Sometimes, simply rubbing the fabric against another piece of fabric will work!^{[2]
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  Jordan Stolch
  Image Consultant & Style Advisor
  
  Expert Interview. 3 November 2020.}
Spray the outside of the dress anywhere you can feel the static clinging to you. You can use an old Windex bottle or a bottle you use to spray your plants, just make sure it’s something that doesn’t spray too much water. The plan is to slightly wet the fabric in any area where you feel the static cleaning to you.This will help remove the static quickly, but don’t spray too much or over too large of an area. ^{[3]
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Research source} You don’t want to be damp on your way to whatever event you are wearing a dress to. Don't worry, the static won't come back once your dress is dry again.

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This spray is available at some pharmacies and can help you quickly remove any static from your dress easily. Once again, you'll want to use the spray to spray the outside of your dress in any place that you feel the static. The spray will put you back about $20.00, but some people swear by them.^{[4]
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Jordan Stolch
Image Consultant & Style Advisor

Expert Interview. 3 November 2020.} If you have time to go buy the spray or if you have the spray on hand this is a great option to get rid of the static.
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Research source} Hold the aerosol spray far enough away from your body that it isn't a completely direct hit on your dress. Arms length should do the trick, and be careful to close your eyes so you don't accidentally spray yourself in the face. You can also rub lotion on your hands and then rub your body underneath the static parts of your dress. Once again, make sure you don’t rub too much. Unscented lotion is probably the best bet too, as you don’t want to smell really strongly of moisturizing lotion. ^{[6]
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Research source} Any piece of metal that goes directly into the ground should instantly remove static. Try to avoid touching metal objects that are not grounded, such as doorknobs. You might give yourself a big static shock and sometimes these can be pretty painful. A metal fence is a great example of a piece of grounded metal.
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Research source} The lotion prevents static from building up on your skin. If the static can’t build on you then it won’t stay on the dress either. This option because more difficult if the dress has static all over it, but if the static is localized you should give this option a shot. You can also use some talcum baby powder but this is much messier than moisturizer and has a very recognizable smell. If you choose to follow this option just get some on your hands and rub it gently on your skin wherever the static sticks your dress. Use very little.
Synthetic fibers are the ones that end up getting so filled with static. It gets complicated quickly, but basically natural fibers retain moisture more easily and therefore prevent there from being too many charged electrons flying around on your dress. If you want to prevent static electricity issues going forward, it's probably just to buy a dress made out of natural fibers. Problem solved! ^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Removing Static With Time

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^{[10]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} This might help you fend off all static problems in the future. All you have to do is buy a humidifier at your local hardware store and set it up in your house. Static is especially common in the winter when the air is very dry. The static will die down over time with a humidifier. If you don’t want to buy a humidifier, you can also just hang your dress up in your bathroom after you take a shower. The humidity will be higher in there and it will take care of the static.
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Hand or machine-wash the dress on the gentlest cycle available. But first check the label to see if the dress can be washed. Look for a label in the dress that has washing instructions. It should tell you if you are allowed to machine wash and dry the dress or if it will ruin the fabric. Definitely check this before putting your dress in the wash. If you do decide to put it in the wash, adding baking soda to the washing machine can help reduce static cling. ^{[11]
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National Eczema Association
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Go to source}
- If you are machine drying the dress, put a dryer sheet in with the dress, then take the dress out of the dryer while it's still slightly damp.
Have the hook hanging on the door frame. If you hang-dry your clothes anyway, like on a clothesline, make sure that it is on a hanger for the last 10 minutes of drying rather than hanging directly on the clothesline. This will prevent it from getting wrinkled and will prevent static build up.
This sounds silly, but it will really reduce the static that you collect on your body. If there’s no static on you there will be no static on you dress, so walk around barefoot if you know you’re going to have to put your dress on soon. You can also put aluminum foil around the bottoms of your shoes to prevent static build up, but walking around barefoot is probably easier. ^{[12]
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Science Direct
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Join the Discussion...

Easiest methods to remove static from clothes?

39

WikiEmuLeaper240

I've heard dryer sheets aren't good for your clothes and I never liked using them in the first place, but gosh my clothes are just so staticky la... Read More

Ayad Mirjan
Dry Cleaner & Laundry Specialist

Use wool dryer balls during the dryer cycle. I recommend 3 dryer balls per load. Wool balls absorb moisture from clothing in the dryer, maintaini... Read More

WikiButterflyJumper845

I use an anti-static spray. Works like a charm! If you don't have any on hand, try wiping your clothes down with a damp rag. Moisturizing your sk... Read More

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Is there a quick way to get static out of my dress?

Jordan Stolch
Image Consultant & Style Advisor
Jordan Stolch is an Image Strategist, Style Advisor, and the Founder of MiKADO - a concierge personal styling firm. With over a decade of experience, Jordan specializes in helping people eliminate the confusion and insecurities associated with how to dress in order to build a powerful image and use clothing to their strategic advantage. Jordan trains entrepreneurs, business leaders, and corporate executives in the foundations of "power dressing", from some of the country's preeminent companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Berkshire Hathaway, Universal Music Group, Starbucks, and Disney. She works with clients both in-person and virtually, teaching them how to take the confusion out of style so they can operate at a higher level. Jordan earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and studied Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIDM).

Jordan Stolch

Image Consultant & Style Advisor

Expert Answer

Oftentimes, you can help stop cling by simply rubbing the fabric against another piece of fabric. If that doesn't help, try rubbing a dryer sheet against the fabric to help stop cling.

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How do I keep a dress from sticking to pantyhose?

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A petticoat is a good idea, or buying a different fabric blend of pantyhose.

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How do I get my hair to stop clinging to stuff?

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Put a drop of baby oil in palm of your hand. Rub the palms together gently, then gently start at hair roots (one hand on each side of head) and smooth hair with palms. A hairdresser told me this for frizzy, thick hair. There are also professional oils with nice fragrances you can use.

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Tips

When you hang the dress to dry, keep it away from other clothes and in a well-ventilated area.

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Do not wash a garment that is dry-clean only! Many formal outfits will be completely ruined if you don’t follow the washing directions.

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Laundering clothes in hard water can cause static in the clothes when dry, so installing a water conditioner to prevent static hassles.

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