Bamboo clothing and how to stop it clinging

Short answer: Clothes cling either because of static electricity or because a light fabric settles close to the body. The two causes need different solutions and are often confused, so the first step is working out which one is at play.

Static electricity

In winter, when indoor air is dry, charge builds up between layers as they rub against each other. You notice it as small shocks and as fabric sticking to tights or underwear. A natural material as the innermost layer carries the charge away better than polyester, so the choice of base layer matters. See bamboo T-shirts for women.

Fabric that is too light

If the fabric is very light, it settles against the body regardless of static, especially when you move or it is windy. That is not static but the weight of the fabric. Sprays and washing tricks do not help here. What helps is a heavier quality that falls freely, or a layer underneath for the fabric to glide over.

How to tell them apart

If clothes cling mostly in winter and come away with a faint crackle when you pull them, it is static. If they cling all year, even on damp days, it is the lightness of the fabric. Notice when it happens before trying to fix it. That way you avoid spending time on a solution that does not fit the problem.

A layer in between

A slip or a pair of under shorts creates a gliding layer between skin and outer layer. The outer fabric slides over it instead of catching on skin or tights. It works against both causes and is often the quickest fix if you want to wear a particular dress or skirt today. See bamboo under shorts.

Fabric softener is not the answer

Fabric softener reduces static, but it coats the fibres with a film that stops the fabric moving moisture away from the skin. On bamboo clothing the price is too high, because moisture transport is a big part of the reason to choose it. Wash without softener and at a low temperature. Read more about washing and care.

Drying makes a difference

A tumble dryer builds static charge in clothes, especially when synthetics are dried together with natural fibres. If you hang bamboo clothing to dry, it carries less charge out of the wash. That also treats the fabric gently and keeps the fit. Dry synthetic pieces separately if you use a dryer.

Humidity

Dry indoor air is the real source of static in winter. A humidifier in the rooms you use most solves the problem at the source rather than in your clothes. A bowl of water on the radiator or laundry drying indoors can also raise humidity a little. See bamboo loungewear for women.

Avoid many synthetic layers

The more layers of synthetic material you wear, the more charge builds up between them. A polyester fleece over a synthetic top is a classic combination that clings. Switch the innermost layer to a natural material, and you often notice a difference straight away without changing the rest of your clothes.

In short

Clothes cling because of static or because the fabric is too light. For static, a natural base layer, air drying and more humid indoor air help. For light fabric, a heavier quality or a layer underneath such as under shorts helps. Softener fixes the first but costs bamboo clothing its moisture transport.