Getting a Charge out of the Laundry

Click here to listen to this feature

Anyone who's used an automatic clothes dryer has faced the problem of static cling.  As the clothes are removed, the socks seem determined to hang onto the shirts, whatever happens.  Static cling is caused by static electricity.

When materials that don't conduct electricity are rubbed together some electrons are dislodged.  This leaves the material with a little positive charge.  You can note this effect in other situations as well.  If the air is dry, walking across a carpet can build up a significant charge.  The charge can't go anywhere until you reach for the doorknob, or shake hands with someone.  Then it often discharges with a spark!

Combing your hair on a dry day can pull electrons from your hair to the comb, it leaves every strand with a little positive charge.  So the hairs repel each other, sticking up, to make you look like you've had a fright.  In a clothes dryer, the air is dry and the clothes are constantly rubbing against each other.  Because they're different materials, they can build up opposite charges and attract each other.

Antistatic cloths cut down the static electricity by keeping the clothes slightly moist, thus allowing the electric charge to escape.  Sheet fabric softeners use waxy substances to give your clothes a thorough lubrication as they are drying.  Once your clothes are coated, they lose interest in each other, and the static cling problem is solved.

So next time you do the laundry, try to avoid getting a charge out of it.