How To Get Rid of the Static Cling
This time of year in the northern climes is when the dry winter air turns a lot of our clothes all clingy and static-laden. The primary reason for using fabric softeners and dryer sheets is to eliminate that static. Unfortunately, most commercial softeners have some really nasty ingredients. One recent study found that many brands emitted chemical fumes like toulene, styrene and phenol when used.
So what are simple and frugal folk to do? Luckily, there are some easy and all natural solutions to help eliminate the cling…
- Add either a 1/4 cup vinegar or a 1/4 cup or less borax to your laundry wash cycle.
- Add a 1/4 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
- Switch to one of the “green” fabric softeners available from companies like Seventh Generation, Ecover or others.
- Make it a point to use clothing made from natural fibers. They don’t suffer from the static as much as synthetics.
For a couple of more simple ideas on how the beat the static, check out this article from Care2.com, which includes a cool trick to use on already clean clothes with a metal hanger.
Thanks to my b5 blogging sister, Adelle, from Daily Jots and Hankering for Yarn for the tip.
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POSTED IN: Around the House, Doing it Yourself, Eco Simplicity
4 opinions for How To Get Rid of the Static Cling
Jenn
Jan 31, 2006 at 7:25 am
If you do decide to use fabric softener, their is a cheaper way then using all those little sheets. This would also be a way to stretch some of those more expensive “green” brands as well.
Get a container with a lid (I use an old cottage cheese container) buy a bottle of liquid fabric softener and a package of cheap cellulose sponges (I got mine at the dollar store) Cut 1 or 2 sponges into 1/8ths. Fill the container about 2/3 full with a mixure of fabric softener and water (I use about a 1p softener to 8p water ratio) Throw the sponges in and place near where you do your laundry. When you throw the laundry in the dryer, you just squeeze out a little sponge until just damp and throw it in. Viola! Some people prefer putting the solution in a spray bottle and squirting it on a washcloth.
One bottle of fabric softener has lasted me almost 2 years.
Kevin Humphrey
Jan 31, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Wow…that’s an awesome tip, Jenn. Thanks for sharing it. :)
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