Static Electricity and winter (house, get out of, wife, home)

[Rcm58]

Every winter it never fails, get out of your car, touch the door and you get zapped.
When we lived in Fort Collins CO. it was the worst i've ever seen, I got married there and remember to this day my wife walking across the living room floor in her night gown and she looked like a light bulb and i'm not exagerating.
Our dog would not let you pet him and if you started to come near him he would back up and show his teeth
It was so dry and running electric heat made it worse, 6inch lightning bolts came out of your finger when ever you touched something and got grounded out.

[Rance]

I get that from my manvan (minivan) Darn near every time I go to close the door. I'm thinking of tying some wire from the frame or body and let it drag on the ground. Hopefully it will eliminate the built up positive ions zapping me.

[Marylandkitten]

Totally .... wrap yourself in several layers of fabric softener sheets. The kind they sell that you put in your dryer to eliminate static electricity

This always helps! Not only will you smell wonderful, but you'll stay warm and fluffy!

[Rcm58]

I don't know, will that work on sweaters? might help here but in CO. where bread turns to toast in 30 min. You want to keep your hair short in the winter because it stands up all funky looking if you don't.

I could take my dog, rub him on my sweater and stick him to the wall...lol

[Marylandkitten]

Originally Posted by Rcm58

I could take my dog, rub him on my sweater and stick him to the wall...lol

LMAO..... have you ever tried it with a cat? I would kill for pictures of that.

Seriously now, if you touch the .. what's it called.. the rubber insulation that goes around the... weatherstripping! around the inside of your car where your door and windows meet the frame before you get out - it will ground you from getting shocked as much.

...now, shuffling around in your socks at home I can't help you with.

[HIF]

I get shocked all the time- even in the summer when opening file cabinets.

For the car, though, I have learned to hold the frame of the door once I open it and before I step out. I haven't been shocked when leaving the car in years.

I replaced my carpets with bamboo. And when it gets really dry inside, I spritz the area rugs with water.

Do the fabric softer sheets really work, or is that a joke?

[Rcm58]

I think she was being serious about the dryer sheets to an extent. I would guess bamboo or any hardwood floors would make an improvement over carpet.

[eggalegga]

Run a humidifier or put a pan on the stove with water in it.

At work, we pick up our floor mats uner our chairs and spray static guard to help to protect our computers.

I've never had a problem with my dog, I don't think. I can't recall if she's ever yelped in pain.

I have noticed an abundance of static electricity with my mirco plush fleece blankets on the beds in my house.

[I LOVE PA!]

I do know that rubbing your clothes with a very small amount of hand lotion will eliminate them sticking to you.
Also, the static cling spray works if you spray it on rugs.
Keepin the house moist helps. Instead of using your dryer in the winter, try drying a few swaters on hangers in doorknobs or shower curtain rods. This releases moisture into the air. When my dryer was broke, we had no static problems!
Dryer sheets or fabirc softener is a necessity.
OK, that said...I find myself VERY prone to a shock when others don't. I always get zapped by the car, but have gotten shocked by other things. I have an electric grill thats for counter top use. When using a wooden fork with the small metal inside the fork showing on the sides, I have touched the fork to the meet, while having my other hand on the metal sink and have goten a zap that goes right from one arm to the other. My husband does it and nothing happens. I think I'm gonna get struck by lightening one day! It just 'finds' me!

[SunnyKayak]

You should always touch the outside of your car before touching a gas pump to discharge any energy you have.

Change clothes - switch to natural fibers, since synthetics pick up more of a static charge

Replace your carpet floor mats with rubber top mats

cover your shoes with aluminum foil

Wear a thimble on your finger, or carry a coin, and use them to touch grounded metal objects