You must have come across a situation where you felt a little shocked at touching something. Gah! or Ouch! are the typical reactions you give. Blaming the thing or person who comes in contact for the inconvenience goes after that. Although in actual you are the one to blame because you carry that extra negativity in you. Confusing, right? The physical phenomenon of ‘static electricity’ is behind this. Come find out the real culprit with me;
The Physics Behind
Everything in this world is made up of atoms, may it be the sofa, your body, or the vehicles moving around. These tiny building blocks of your body contain a few even smaller particles. These sub-particles (neutrons, electrons, and protons) exist in equal quantities. When the quantities get messed up by any means, these particles start to flow where they are needed more. When some extra electrons hop on your skin or the clothes you are wearing, you get a negative charge. A person with a negative charge gets the blow when he touches something with more protons that carries a positive charge in general. The shock occurs due to the rapid movement of electrons into the receptor. It could be a conductor like metal or a person’s skin.
Static Cling on Clothes
The same happens with the clothes. The triboelectric effect occurs due to the rubbing of different materials. When these clothes made up of different materials are separated the reaction occurs. It electrifies one of the two clothes and the other remains positively charged. This effect is unpredictable and friction is the leading cause of it. The phenomenon is called static cling due to the clinging of the materials involved. A scientific paper called Static Electricity in Textiles by J.W. Ballou explained in a more professional way.
Now that you have an idea of the scientific reasons behind the electrostatic shock. Let’s have an insight into how we can avoid static cling in our daily routines.
6 Ways to Prevent Static Cling
Increasing Humidity
A dry environment is prone to static electricity. The Winter season not only makes the air dry but also the skin. With the use of a humidifier in the house, you can reduce the dryness of the air. That will, in turn, lessen the chance of static cling in your clothes.
In winters, your skin becomes parched due to long hot showers. In addition to this, the chilly weather causes goosebumps to store air on your skin. It acts like a bed of insulation to prevent it from further damaging due to the cold weather. The combination of dry air on the dry skin makes it likely to electrify when rubbed against the clothes. Prevent this problem with the addition of a good quality humidifier.
Static Cling in Dryers
Your dryer is the main birthplace of this effect. You put clothes made up of different materials together in your dryer. The centrifugal force makes the clothes circulate in the presence of friction. When you take them out, you get a shock as a result of the triboelectric effect.
There are several ways to avoid static cling in washed-up clothes.
· Let them Air-dry
You can purchase an indoor drying rack or put them on a clothesline to air dry. It makes your clothes smell fresher, plus the heat from the sun acts as a germ killer. By air-drying, you can also have fewer creases on the clothes and save energy as a result.
· Fabric Softeners
Fabric softeners act as a great solution to the problem of static cling. They soften all materials and reduce the friction as it gives a silky finish to the garments.
· Let the moisture stay
Living in places where the temperature remains low most of the year takes longer for the clothes to air dry. A solution to that is to dry your clothes for half a minute in the dryer machine. After that spread them on the clothesline. This will prevent the buildup of electrons in the clothes and also dry them properly.
Static Guard Sprays
Anti-static sprays reduce the effect of static cling from the body or clothes. Static guard sprays can provide you with relief within minutes. It should be sprayed twice on the affected person. The sprays work in two ways;
- by neutralizing the overall charge on the surface,
- and by absorbing humidity from the surroundings
The Metal Remedy
Silk, wool, rayon, polyester, and furry clothes often easily get static. It can be disturbing when the electrons become stubborn to leave. A metal hanger or a piece of aluminum foil works for it. They can take off the excess electrons when rubbed against your dress and in turn remove the static.
Add Moisture
Moisturizing your skin can be a great solution to the electron build-up in your body. It makes your skin humid, which in turn neutralizes the presence of the charges on your body. Almost any lotion can work. Running a damp cloth on your dress also proves to be effective in reducing static.
Type of Soles
Your shoe sole can play a significant role in the removal of electron build-up. Use a pair of shoes with a leather sole instead of a rubber sole. A leather sole connects with the ground and lets the electron flow through the body to the surface. On the other hand, the pair of shoes with a rubber sole lock electrons’ passage. This makes you likely to get a shock when you touch a conducting material.
Conclusion
With these and many other hacks, you can get rid of the static cling. Add just a little bit of moisturizer to your routine, and you are good to go. Though annoying, static cling is not dangerous at all. Think of it as adding a little bit of spark to your life!
