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 it 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!