Have you experienced dry clothes curling up, particularly in winter? If the answer is yes, then you have something in common with the early Apollo astronauts who landed on the moon. Their problem was more serious. Moon dust clung to their spacesuits and tools and caused great concern. The reason for these phenomena is static cling, which causes difficulty in other spheres as well. For instance, sometimes film in a roll sticks together, jamming the projector. On the positive side, pollen sticking to a bees body is also because of static cling. You may have come across cling stickers too, that you rub and fix on the chosen surface.

Cling is a manifestation of static electricity. The story starts with atoms. Each atom has a nucleus that consists of Protons and Neutrons, and Electrons that orbit around the nucleus. Protons have positive (+) charge, Neutrons are neutral, and Electrons have negative (-) charge. Normally the Protons and Electrons have parity in numbers as well as force and therefore the atom as such is without charge. But sometimes an Electron might migrate to another atom due to friction or other reasons, upsetting the equilibrium. That results in a charge known as static electricity. This energy remains stagnant unless it is eliminated or diffused.

Coming back to clothes, if the nuisance is with the dry ones, it can be tackled by smoothing the insides downward with a light metal rod like a cloth hanger. Otherwise using a nature based softener to the wash cycle and rinse cycle may help. It is claimed that vinegar and borax are effective. There are quality brands in the market as well, with instructions for use. Not drying the clothes fully and stretching them before hanging out may be helpful. Washing clothes made from natural fiber and synthetic material separately is another method worth trying.

With instances like film sticking together, taking a reading of the humidity and using a humidifier if necessary could solve the problem. Dry air is home ground for static electricity.