The shocking truth about taming free electrons!
How to Reduce Static Electricity in Your House
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What Is Static Electricity?
Static electricity results from the makeup of our bodies, according to the Library of Congress. We’re made of atoms, which feature three kinds of particles — protons (positively charged), electrons (negatively charged) and neutrons (neutral). An imbalance between positive and negative charges results in static electricity.
Say you walk across a rug, picking up electrons. You touch a metal conductor like a door handle. The electrons flow from you into the metal, giving you a static shock.
During the summer, the humidity in the air helps electrons flow off your body so you don’t build up a charge. The air is drier in the winter no matter what type of heating system you have, allowing a larger charge to build.
How to Get Rid of Static Electricity
Humidity will certainly help reduce static electricity, so installing a whole-house humidifier is one option.
Another option is treating your rugs with an anti-static chemical. Spray-on treatments are available at many carpet retailers and on Amazon. Carpet companies also sell anti-static carpets. Most residential carpets sold today have some sort of treatment applied at the factory.
What to Use to Eliminate Static Shock
Try anti-static shoes or anti-static spray.
Anti-static shoes are conductive safety footwear made from material that does not generate static electricity. According to Uvex Safety, shoes are anti-static if the measured contact resistance ranges between 100 kiloohm and one gigaohm. Anti-static spray has a similar effect but can be applied to any articles of clothing.