To obtain an antistatic agent comprising a cationic surfactant and having excellent heat resistance, causing less discoloration and having improved resistance to washing, which agent comprises a powder mainly consisting of silicon oxide carrying a cationic surfactant.

Desirably, the antistatic powder is one which comprises a silicate having small openings in which a cationic surfactant is entrapped. Desirably, this powder is one prepared by allowing a silicate satisfying 0<SiO2/Y2O<2 wherein Y is an alkali metal atom to carry a cationic surfactant by dissolving the silicate at a pH of 11 or above in the presence of the cationic surfactant and lowering the pH to 10.5 or below to form rod-like micelles on which the silicate has been deposited. Desirably, the cationic surfactant carried by the powder mainly consisting of silicon oxide in the antistatic powder is a quaternary ammonium salt.