Reduce Static Build-up in Your Home
Winter and static electricity go hand in hand. As the temperature drops, your clothes start sticking to you, your hair has a mind of its own, and suddenly you seem to shock just about everyone you touch. Winter conditions provide the perfect storm for static buildup – it’s cold and dry! Unfortunately, turning up the heat indoors just makes matters worse, further reducing the humidity in the air. So what can you do? We found the following 7 ways to drastically reduce static in your home.
Use a Humidifier
A humidifier can help reduce static charge from building up by adding moisture to the air. Looking for a simpler solution? Boiling water in a big pot on your stove will also do the trick. Adding spices such as cinnamon or citrus rind will add a nice scent to your home.
Follow the Seven Day Rule
Stay on top of it. Dust and polish dressers, tables, knick knacks and picture frames once a week (twice, if you have dust allergies). Using microfibre cloths will garner the best results, so keep plenty on hand.
Rub Upholstery with Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets help diffuse static electricity in clothes coming out of the dryer, it’s what they do, so put them to work on furniture too. It doesn’t take much, just a gentle wipe down of upholstered furniture is all it takes. This works on car seats too!
Moisturize
Dry skin contributes to static electricity, so keep skin moisturized. Rub lotion on when you get out of the shower and before getting dressed. Keep hand lotion in the kitchen and use it on your hands intermittently throughout the day.
Add Baking Soda to Your Laundry Routine
Adding a quarter cup of baking soda to the wash cycle will help squash static electricity in your clothes. It’s simple science: baking soda creates a barrier between positive and negative charges from building up and creating static.
Shake it out
Remove clothes from the dryer as soon as they are dry and give them a good shake to stop static electricity from settling in. If possible, avoid the dryer and dry clothes on a clothesline.
PROTIP:
Although it may seem strange, attaching a safety pin to a seam on your sweater will help keep you from being zapped. Again, it’s scientific: the metal of the pin discharges the electrical build-up in your clothes helping you avoid static electricity.
