Why winter makes it worse
When two materials touch and separate, electrons move from one to the other and leave a charge behind. In summer, moisture in the air and on your skin quietly bleeds that charge away, so it never builds up much. Winter air is cold and dry, and heating dries indoor air even further. The charge on your body then has nowhere to go until you touch something conductive, like a metal door handle, and it all jumps across at once. It stings because the current rushes through a tiny spot in a split second. Most shocks are only unpleasant, but in some places they can be dangerous.
Raise the humidity first
Adding moisture to the air is the single most effective fix. Don't go by feel; check the actual reading on a hygrometer first. Even without a humidifier, drying laundry indoors or hanging a damp towel will raise humidity. Push it too high, though, and you get condensation on windows and eventually mold, so treat droplets on the glass as a sign to ease off. If you use a humidifier, change the water every day and wash the tank often. Spraying stale water into the room is a bigger problem than static.
- Check the current reading on a hygrometer
- Aim for 40-60%
- Drying laundry indoors adds moisture too
- Droplets on windows mean it is too high
Change your fabric combinations
The more different two fabrics are, the more charge they generate when they rub. It is worst when you pull a synthetic layer such as polyester or acrylic out from under a wool coat. Cotton holds a little moisture, so it builds up less. Wear cotton next to your skin and narrow the gap between inner and outer layers, and the crackle when you undress drops noticeably. If you use an anti-static spray, apply it to the inside of the garment and test a hidden spot first for marks.
- Wear moisture-holding fabrics like cotton underneath
- Avoid layering wool over synthetics
- Take clothes off slowly
- Test anti-static spray on a hidden spot
Cut it down in the wash and dryer
Drying clothes bone-dry in a tumble dryer builds up a lot of static in the last few minutes as they rub together. Taking them out just before they are fully dry and letting them hang briefly makes a big difference. Synthetics are best dried separately from cotton. Fabric softener coats the fibres and reduces friction, which helps with static, but it makes towels less absorbent, so leave towels out and use only the recommended dose.
- Stop the dryer while clothes are slightly damp
- Dry synthetics separately
- Softener at the stated dose only, not on towels
Look after your skin and hair
The drier your skin, the less easily charge escapes. Simply applying hand cream after washing your hands and before going out makes a difference. Flyaway hair comes from friction with the brush, so a wooden comb causes less than a plastic one, and conditioner after washing smooths the surface. Shoes matter too. Thick rubber soles insulate you from the floor, so charge builds up as you walk.
- Hand cream after washing and before going out
- Wooden comb, and conditioner after washing
- Thick rubber soles let charge build up
How to touch things without the sting
Charge that has already built up hurts less if it drains slowly rather than all at once. Touching a metal handle with a fingertip concentrates the current in a tiny area, which is why it hurts most. Instead, press your whole palm against a wall or door first, or hold a key or coin and touch the handle with its tip, so the spark jumps from the metal and you barely feel it. When getting out of a car, hold the metal door frame as you put your feet on the ground; the charge created as you slide off the seat drains through your hand.
- Press with your palm, not your fingertip
- Touch metal first with a key or coin
- Hold the metal door frame as you step out of a car
Places that need extra care
A static spark is small, but near fuel vapour it can be enough to start a fire. When refuelling yourself, touch the anti-static pad on the pump or bare metal on the car before opening the fuel cap. Getting back into the car mid-fill builds up charge again through friction with the seat, so stay outside until you finish, or touch metal again before taking hold of the nozzle. When swapping computer parts, switch off and touch the metal case before handling circuit boards, so the charge doesn't damage them.
- Touch the anti-static pad before refuelling
- Don't get back in the car while refuelling
- Touch metal before handling electronic parts
Common mistakes
People switch on a humidifier and assume the job is done, yet the measured humidity often hasn't moved. One small humidifier may not be enough for a large living room, so check with a hygrometer. Wearable anti-static bracelets and key rings get mixed reviews, so it is more reliable to tackle the causes, humidity and fabrics, first. If shocks are especially bad on one particular chair or rug, that material may be the culprit; try a cotton cover. You can't eliminate static completely through winter, but reducing just two or three of the causes cuts the number of shocks noticeably.
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