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The Winter Static Shock: A Handy Guide to Avoid that Unpleasant Tingle

As winter approaches, many experience the phenomenon of static electricity shocks when touching others or metal objects. A savvy dad from Hanoi shares some handy tips that might just do the trick!

Administrator

6 July, 2024

Recently, social media groups have been abuzz with users sharing their experiences of getting shocked by static electricity when touching people, pets, bedding, clothes, or even when brushing their hair or opening car doors. These stories, ranging from funny to frustrating, have sparked a lot of interest and discussion.

On a popular online group, Đặng Văn Việt (born 1987, Hanoi) shared some tips to avoid getting shocked by static electricity during the winter. His post quickly gained a lot of attention from other members.

Việt told VietNamNet: “In winter, almost everyone has experienced the startling shocks from simple touches. I jokingly call it the ‘awakening touch.’ Sometimes, even when I’m sleeping and reach out to hug my children, there’s a crackling sound, and I feel a sharp pain in my fingertips, waking me up. This scares the children, and they often joke about asking me to maintain a safe distance and stay two meters away from them.”

It’s not just when touching his children that Việt experiences static electricity. He also encounters it when touching door handles, the refrigerator door, faucets, and more. After some research and experimentation, Việt has discovered some tricks to deal with this phenomenon.

Getting shocked when opening a door

Before opening a door, Việt touches it with his key first and then uses his hand to open it. Alternatively, he touches a wall with one hand before touching the door. According to him, this simple action helps “discharge” the static electricity and prevents shocks when opening the door.

Static electricity in hair

In winter, Việt’s wife’s hair tends to get dry, and sometimes strands stand on end. When she takes off her scarf or hat, there’s often a crackling sound. To avoid static electricity, Việt dampens a piece of tissue paper and runs it through her hair before combing. “The amount of moisture in the tissue is minimal, so it doesn’t make the hair greasy,” Việt added.

Getting shocked when putting on clothes

Before putting on a coat or a sweater, Việt uses a metal clothes hanger to rub against the clothing. “Using this simple tool to discharge static electricity is very effective,” he said. “It neutralizes the static charge, eliminating the crackling sounds and mild shocks.”

Getting shocked when touching metal objects

“Some people also experience shocks when touching the refrigerator, faucets, and other metal objects,” Việt said. “To prevent this, you can carry a dry-cell battery with you. This helps to discharge any static electricity from your body, so you don’t get shocked when touching different metal surfaces.”

Clingy clothes due to static electricity

Avoid clingy clothes due to <a href='https://meo.tips/tips/smart-people-will-touch-the-key-to-the-door-handle-knowing-the-reason-my-whole-family-will-follow-suit/' rel='dofollow' class='onpage-seo' >static electricity</a>“></picture><figcaption>Avoid clingy clothes due to static electricity. Source: NVCC</figcaption></figure>
<p>“In<a href='https://meo.tips/food-receipt/why-do-nordic-mothers-let-their-children-nap-outside-in-freezing-temperatures-of-0-degrees-surprising-experience/' rel='dofollow' class='onpage-seo' > winter</a>, static electricity can make clothes cling to your body,” Việt said. “To prevent this, put some hand cream into a spray bottle, add a little warm water, shake well, and then spray it directly onto the inside of your clothes or onto your skin.”</p>
<p>Việt’s simple tips for avoiding static electricity shocks in the winter have been well-received by the online community. Many people have shared that they have successfully used similar methods and no longer dread the arrival of winter.</p>
<p><strong>Photos: NVCC</strong></p>
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Frequently asked questions

Static electricity is a build-up of electric charge on the surface of objects, often caused by friction. In winter, the air is drier and we tend to wear more insulating clothes, leading to a higher chance of static electricity discharge, often felt as a shock.

When your body builds up static charge and you touch a conductive object like metal, or even another person, the charge moves rapidly from your body to the object, creating a spark and a tingling sensation.

You can take several measures to reduce static electricity build-up, such as using humidifiers to add moisture to the air, wearing natural fabrics that are less insulating, and grounding yourself by touching a large metal object before touching conductive items.

While static shocks can be unpleasant, static electricity has its uses. It is employed in industries like printing, painting, and electronics manufacturing, and can also be utilized in air and water purification processes.

When entering your car, discharge any built-up static electricity by touching a metal part of the car with your key before touching the door handle. This prevents a potential shock when touching the car, and also reduces the risk of sparks igniting flammable fumes in the garage.