How to Stop Static Cling: Anti-Static Underwear and Other Tips

Do you ever step outside and immediately wish you’d worn something else because your skirt keeps getting bunched up between your legs? Or wake up at night feeling uncomfortably tangled up inside your sleepwear?

The culprit, in many cases, is static cling – a build-up of static electricity that causes your clothing to ‘stick’ to your body in all the wrong places. But there are solutions! Read on to learn about our anti-static slips and sleepwear, plus some tips to stop static cling in the rest of your wardrobe.

What causes static cling in clothing?

When dry fabrics (particularly synthetic ones, but really any material) rub together, or rub against your skin, that repeated friction causes a static charge to build up. That charge then makes them to want to cling to other objects, such as your body.

Because static rarely builds up in damp fabrics, this issue is most prevalent during the winter, when indoor heating saps moisture from the air. Hot, dry summers can be a problem too, though you’re more likely to sweat then which counteracts the dryness. But no matter the season, your garments can also get all charged up if you’re blasting them on the maximum tumble dryer heat setting while they’re undergoing intense friction from being tossed about inside the drum.

You could also be charging up your sleepwear with static at night if you’re someone who moves about a lot. We’re in bed for hours on end each night, which means plenty of time for static cling to build up from the friction between your pajamas and the bedsheets.

How to stop skirt static with a slip

One of the simplest and most effective ways to stop your dress or skirt sticking to your legs during the daytime is to wear a slip below it. Not only does a straight-cut slip create a physical barrier that makes it harder for the skirt to bunch between your legs, but any slip – whether it’s woven cotton, slippery satin or ultra-sleek nylon – will reduce friction because it provides a smooth, flat base layer for the skirt or dress to glide over, for a cling-free fit.

Pant liners have the same effect under flowy, wide-leg pants, which can be prone to static cling too due to the fabric movement.

“They prevent chafing and create a much smoother line than regular underwear when you’re in a skirt/dress… I feel like it hangs better and is less susceptible to static cling.”

~ Brooke, Velrose® Crochet Edge Snip-It Adjustable Length Culottes

How to stop static cling during the laundry cycle

Adding fabric softener alongside detergent coats clothing fibers with a thin, positively-charged layer that both instantly neutralizes static charge, and lubricates the surface to reduce friction next time you wear it. A dash of white vinegar works too.

After the wash cycle, air dry clothes if possible. If you do tumble dry them, remove them as soon as they’re dry or just before. Throwing a dryer sheet, wool dryer balls, or balls of tightly-scrunched aluminum foil into the drum along with your laundry all also help to prevent static build-up.

Other ways to stop static cling

Using a humidifier at home in winter will keep air moisture levels high while you’re running the heating. Since clothing static builds up right next to your skin, you can also introduce more moisture into the equation simply by putting on lotion. Less static plus softer, more hydrated skin? It’s a win-win!

And if your skirt suddenly starts sticking while you’re out and about? In a pinch, you can also temporarily remove static by dampening your hands with water and running them over the clothing wherever it’s clinging.

Shadowline® Lace Trim Nylon Full Slip

Discover our anti-static underwear and sleepwear

There’s one final tip we have to avoid your clothing or sleepwear sticking: choose pieces which are inherently anti-static, such as nylon Shadowline® pieces!

Since their invention, our signature Opacitrique® and Satintrique® fabrics have always been given a special anti-static finish. So if you roll over at night in our glamorous Silhouette collection nightgowns, the fabric will glide with you, and if you’re cooking breakfast or doing chores in a Petals collection pajama set, the only thing you’ll notice about your loungewear is its silky-smooth comfort.

And when it’s time to go out, our Shadowline® adjustable-strap full slip, lace strap full slip, pettiskirt half slip or lace hem pant liner will provide enhanced anti-static protection as well.