How to Avoid Static Shock in Cold, Dry Weather
In winter, there are a lot to be wary of, including darkness, freezing temperatures, and static shock. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce this seasonal irritation.
As a Northerner, I can sympathize with anyone who suffers from frequent, tiny, annoying electrical shocks during the colder months. In winter, it seems that everything you touch will shock you, and in the morning, the first thing in the morning it can shake up the system a lot. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep this to a minimum. I’ll go over some of your best options below, but first I’ll do a quick tutorial on static electricity.
What is static electricity?
Without going into a lesson electrostatics , it is important to know what causes this to static, so you can begin to avoid them. Static electricity “refers to the accumulation of electrical charge on the surface of objects” – essentially when electrons move from one surface to another through contact. If both surfaces are insulators, an electrical charge will build up on them. One object will have a positive charge (because it has lost electrons) and the other will have a negative charge (because it has received electrons). If one of the charged objects then touches a conductor, such as a piece of metal, the charge will neutralize itself, causing a static discharge .
What does this mean to you? Well, you have a lot of insulators at home like the rubber outsole of your shoes and the wool carpet in your living room. When you walk on a woolen carpet, your body builds up a charge that cannot be discharged through the insulating soles of your shoes. Then when you touch that metal doorknob … you know what’s going on. Dry air is also an insulator, so static electricity is more common during the dry winter months.
Common static shock culprits
One of the easiest ways to avoid static electricity is to pay attention to what you are wearing and what fabrics your furniture is made from. For example, rubber-soled shoes are a great insulator, and when combined with a wool or nylon rug, they will build up a lot of static electricity in your body. Try leather-soled shoes or cotton socks instead of wool socks instead . Leather-soled shoes are also great for grocery shopping, as shopping carts often cause a lot of static electricity.
Likewise, wool sweaters are frequent offenders, especially in dry winters (when you usually wear them). Sitting in a chair made of suitable fabric can build up a lot of static electricity. Again, cotton is going to be much friendlier, so try to wear cotton when you want to avoid any nasty bumps. Certain furniture covers or anti-static sprays can also help solve this problem.
You may have also noticed that often when you get out of your car , you experience shock when you touch the door. You may have even heard that touching the doorframe while getting out of the car can help, and it’s true. Make sure you start grabbing onto the metal frame before getting out of the car and continue touching it until you are completely out of the seat. If you forget to do this, you can also touch the car door with your keys. Since electricity is discharged through them, you will not feel an electric shock.
Buy a humidifier
The tips above will work when you’re on the go, but when you’re in your own home, there are a few other things to ensure that you can wear rubber-soled shoes and wool sweaters whenever you want. A humidifier will make the air slightly less dry and thus reduce the chances of getting an electric shock at home. Typically, you want the ambient relative humidity to be above 30 percent, although 40 or 50 percent would be even better. We’ve already talked about choosing the perfect humidifier for your home (which has many other benefits), and if you want to keep an eye on relative humidity, you can buy a cheap hydrometer at most garden stores. It will really make a big difference.
It might sound wordy for discussing static electricity, but as you struggle with these harsh winter months, these shocks start to really get annoying day in and day out, and just a few simple tricks can help you get rid of that annoyance at home. … If you’re interested in learning more about the science behind this, Science Made Simple has a pretty good explanation . Hopefully these methods will make your winter a little nicer and a little less shocking.
This story was originally published in 2011 and was updated on December 8, 2020 to add a new photo in the header and change the format to match the current Lifehacker style.