So you’re dog-tired and climbing to bed when all of a sudden you felt a zap out of nowhere. Is there some kind of sorcery happening inside your room? Is there a ghost? Nope, it’s just a matter of static electricity. Fortunately, knowing how to get rid of static in bed sheets is fairly simple and we discuss such points below.
Why is there static electricity in my sheets?
Static cling on bed sheets is mainly due to dry air. It occurs when two materials generate friction by rubbing together, which is the case between your skin and sheets. And since the air is dry, friction can easily build up, leading to the zap you get at night.
Moreover, static charge can build up on your sheets overnight as your skin rubs on its surface. And until it’s discharged, it will linger on the fabric.
Fabrics like polyester, rayon, nylon, and acetate are prone to static cling. Meanwhile, natural fabrics like silk, wool, and cotton are less likely to develop a strong static charge even with very dry air.
Although it can be annoying, it’s easy to remove static electricity from your sheets. Below, we discuss the easy steps you can take.
How to get rid of static in bed sheets
You don’t have to endure nightly shocks from your bed sheets. From now on, you can use the following steps to remove the static cling, so you’ll have a comfy and peaceful night’s sleep.
1. Run a humidifier in your room
The easiest and most effective way to get rid of static cling on your sheets is to use a humidifier in your room. A humidifier will release moisture into the air to combat dryness, which is the leading cause of static charge.
Aside from combatting static charge, a humidifier can also help you sleep better. It soothes nasal congestion and dryness, so your nose won’t bleed during winter.
Just note that humidifiers are different from diffusers. While diffusers may help to some extent in reducing static cling, it’s not as effective as having an actual humidifier at work.
Before you go ahead and use a humidifier, make sure that you also watch out for over-humidification. Excessive moisture isn’t good either since it can trigger mold formation in your room. Make sure that you get a hygrometer if your humidifier doesn’t have this built-in feature.
2. Switch to a different fabric
Another way to get rid of static cling is to switch to new sheet fabrics. Consider getting natural fabrics like silk or cotton since these are poor conductors of static cling. Wool is also a good choice, depending on the comfort level you want to achieve.
As mentioned earlier, try to avoid bed sheet fabrics like acetate, rayon, and polyester. If you want to still use these fabrics, consider getting a blend instead.
3. Use your dryer wisely
If possible, try to skip the dryer because it worsens the static cling to your bed sheets. Instead, you should consider air-drying outdoors. You can also air-dry your clothes indoors during winter by placing a fan directly into it.
However, if you really need to use the dryer, you should cycle a moist towel in it for at least 15 minutes. This will help fight off the dryness, so your fabrics won’t easily generate a static charge.
4. Use dryer sheets on your laundry
Dryer sheets aren’t just for making your sheets soft and good-smelling. It can also help reduce static cling, so you won’t get shocked every night.
You can also purchase dryer sheets that are made especially for this benefit. This way, you can still use your dryer like before without worrying about static, especially during winter.
Aside from adding it to your laundry, you can also place a few dryer sheets on top of your blanket before you hop to bed. This will reduce the static cling, not to mention that it will leave a fresh scent on your sheets.
5. Reduce the friction from your skin
Another way to avoid getting zapped by static cling is by removing the friction on your skin. You can easily do this by applying lotion all over your body. This moisturizes your skin, which is quite similar to keeping your room damp with a humidifier.
When static charge gets in contact with your moisturized skin, it’s less likely to cause a zap. If paired with the other methods here, you can get rid of static for good.
6. Add vinegar to your rinse cycle
Adding vinegar to your rinse cycle can also help reduce the formation of static cling on your sheets. You can mix vinegar to rinse your bedding.
Aside from reducing static electricity, white vinegar can also neutralize malodors without harsh chemicals. However, you should perform a patch test on colored fabrics first as the acidity of vinegar can affect colorfastness.
7. Discharge the static from your bed
Lastly, it will help a lot to discharge the static electricity on your bed before you sleep. To do this, you just need to run the flat portion of a wire hanger throughout your bedding. The metal part will help neutralize static cling before you take a full night’s slumber.
Others use a mist spray between their bed sheet and blanket to prevent the formation of static charge during the night.
Final words
Knowing how to get rid of static in bed sheets will save you from discomfort at night. While static cling is harmless, it’s still bothersome, especially during winter. The good news is that there are many ways to reduce this problem using common household items.