Zap those jolts with these tips to reduce static electricity

You may consider fall to be the best time of year in Phoenix, thanks to the mild weather. Yet the conditions that produce this lovely seasonal interlude are responsible for one of life’s little annoyances.

Shocked? Exactly.

Thanks to a lack of humidity and layered wool clothing (among other factors), this is the time of year when you reach very tentatively toward that metal doorknob or refrigerator door handle. Perhaps even when you lean in to kiss your partner, knowing the spark between you will not be the one you were hoping for

Instead, it’s the zap of a static electricity shock.

It could happen almost anytime, anywhere. All you need is a brief buildup of static electricity followed by contact with a conductive material – most often metal, but it could another person, or dog, or your boss (not that there is any reason to come into contact with your boss).

When it comes to static electricity, everyone is a conductor. Our bodies collect electrons, leading to a negativity has nothing to do with emotions and everything to do with static electricity.

What is static electricity?

Simply put, it is the buildup of an electrical charge on a surface.

You’ve probably rubbed your head with a balloon, your hair rising as you pulled it away, convincing your 2-yearold you’re a wizard.

Even as your child marvels at your powers, all that happened was the transfer of electrons. Some surfaces release electrons, giving them a positive charge (your hair), while others gather electrons, giving them a negative charge (the balloon). Opposites attract, thus the balloon becomes a hair magnet.

Is static electricity harmful?

Welcome to the world of hitchhiking electrons.

These free-range bits of molecular matter like to travel, but every now and then they bunch up, creating intolerable overcrowding. Imagine Disneyland on Christmas Day.

They need to leave, quickly and all at once. But they need somewhere to go.

Hey, that metal doorknob looks nice, and it’s relatively uncrowded. And it sure beats the current location, which presumably is you.

As your index finger approaches the knob, zap! That tingle you feel is your pain receptors telling your brain how unpleasant it is to have electrons rushing through. You might even see a spark if the discharge of electrons is large enough.

The good news is that static electricity can’t seriously harm you. Your body is composed largely of water and water is an inefficient conductor of electricity, small.

Not that electricity can’t hurt or kill you. But static electricity is to lightning what a drop of water is to a roaring river. especially in amounts

Why is it happening now? Getting rid of static electricity Any not-as-helpful tips?

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Blame it on the dry temperatures.

Air is an insulator — it doesn’t allow electrons to travel freely. Those electrons tend to collect on you until that moment you touch a surface that’s happy to welcome them.

The buildup of electrons is not nearly as pronounced in summer. Warmer air holds more water, which allows electrons to travel. That’s why on warm, humid days, you can touch friends, loved ones and knobs with little fear of shock. air and cooler

You may not eliminate all shocks, what with nature’s abundance of electrons. But you can lessen their frequency and intensity.

Among the easiest and most efficient fixes is to humidify your home, providing the water vapor needed for electrons to roam. Humidifiers cost anywhere from $15 to $250, depending on size and features.

For a more targeted application, try an anti-static spray ($5-$9 a can). A quick spritz on clothes and furniture can take care of electron buildup.

Dryer sheets also can reduce static electricity. Rubbing them on carpeting once a week can lessen the risk of static shocks, but given the time and work involved, you might think a few zaps are worth spending more time watching TV.

You may want to avoid rubber-soled shoes. You’re walking on insulators, allowing static electricity to build with every step, especially on wool carpet. Try leather-soled shoes instead.

And maybe don’t wear wool. The fabric is a more efficient conductor than cotton, meaning it can build up quite the static charge. You may even hear the crackle of static electricity as you pull on that flannel shirt or wrap yourself in a wool blanket. It’s almost as if you put on a generator.

Why yes, thank you for asking. First, avoid dressing in layers. Static buildup is a natural result of fabrics rubbing together, so the more layers you wear, the greater the odds of shocking yourself or others. We say this fully aware that when it gets into the 50s and lower here, we dress as if it’s snowing. (Quit laughing at us, Minnesotans.)

Second, brace yourself for the inevitable shock. Touch a potentially dangerous surface with your wrist or lower arm, areas far less sensitive than your fingertips.

Unless, of course, you want to intentionally shock someone.