No matter where you’re headed, you can stop static electricity* from plastering your clothing to your body. Here are a dozen methods for taming clinging clothes:

1. My favorite solution is to carry half of a fabric-softener sheet in a little zip-top craft bag. It takes up very little room in my purse, weighs next to nothing, and can be employed quickly after I’ve already left my hotel room. Simply run the dryer sheet over your skin where the clinging is taking place—or on the underside of the fabric itself—and static electricity will disappear. The softener sheet lasts a long time and smells great, too.
2. You can also pack a can of an anti-static spray such as Static Guard.
3. Make your own anti-static spray by combining a small amount of liquid fabric softener with water. One part fabric softener to about 30 parts water works well. If you decant it into a 3-ounce container, you can take it through airport security in your liquids bag. Spray the solution on the inside of your clothing where the fabric is most likely to come in contact with skin.
4. If you don’t have room in your liquids bag for anti-static spray, pack a small, empty spray bottle in your carryon and fill it with water at your destination. Lightly dampen your clothing to break up static cling—at least until the fabric dries.

If you weren’t able to pack any anti-static weapons in your arsenal beforehand, you can still fight back with items you may already have in your luggage.

5. Sprinkle a little bath or baby powder on your hands and rub it gently over your skin.
6. Smooth moisturizing lotion on the part of your body where you need to stop your clothing from clinging. You can also apply it lightly over pantyhose.
7. Attach a safety pin inside the hem of a clinging skirt. The pin’s weight will help pull the fabric away from your body.
8. If you’re wearing pantyhose, spritz them with aerosol hairspray to break your garment’s attraction to nylon.
9. After you take a shower, hang the affected garment in the still-steamy bathroom and wait. Static will die down as the fabric absorbs moisture.
10. While wearing the clinging clothing, locate some grounded metal and touch it. Experts say the static will leave instantly. An added bonus is that if you’re the least bit drowsy, the tingling arc of electricity on your fingertips will wake you up.
11. Just before putting on your clothing item, slide a metal hanger or other metal object through the garment’s interior. That action will discharge the electricity. You can also slip the metal between your skin and the clothing after you’ve dressed. This is especially effective for delicate fabrics, such as silk.
12. Swap out rubber-soled shoes for a pair with leather soles. Rubber builds up an electrical charge much more easily than leather does.

Now you have a dozen ways to fight off static cling wherever it may attack you. And being equipped is a much better option than camping out permanently in a soggy climate.

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Fiercely Frugal Savage Sister Diana has gathered packing pointers over the years on numerous domestic and foreign trips. Most recently, she travels in conjunction with the publication of her latest book, 52 Heart Lifters for Difficult Times.

© 2014 The Savage Sisters

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