How to Get Rid of Static in My House (8 Possible Ways)

Static electricity can make walking around your home a nightmare. Especially in the cold winter months, static electricity builds up and shocks you. If this is the situation you find yourself in, you probably want to remove or at least reduce the amount of static in your house.

This article has everything you need to get rid of static in your house. We offer eight different ways to get the static out of your house, from adding moisture to the air to using different fabrics.

Understanding Static

To understand how to get static out of your house, you should know what static is. All matter is made up of electrons and protons. Every time we walk, there is a flow of electrons. Static electricity develops whenever there is an imbalance between these negative and positive forces.

So, static electricity happens whenever two objects are rubbed up against each other, causing one to give up electrons and the other to collect the electrons, resulting in an imbalance. Therefore, static electricity happens whenever you shuffle your feet against the ground.

The 8 Ways to Get Static Out of Your House

To get rid of static electricity, you want to get rid of this imbalance. Certain materials can help reduce static electricity. Here are some tactics for getting static out of your house:

1. Get a Humidifier

One of the best ways to fight static is to get a humidifier. Static primarily becomes a problem whenever the air is dry. Adding more moisture to the air will help reduce static while keeping your skin fresh and supple.

If you don’t want to pay for a humidifier, you can keep a pot of boiling water on your stove. The steam will add more moisture to the air, essentially doing the same thing as the humidifier. Add some cinnamon or citrus to the pot, and you have a natural air freshener too. Just make sure to change up the pot and burner to keep everything in working order.

2. Get House Plants

Another way to add extra moisture to the air is to get house plants. Plants do a great job of naturally humidifying your surroundings and purifying the air. All the while, house plants are also beautiful decorations and a great way to dress up your house.

Even though you might only need to fight static during the winter, the house plans will continue to add moisture to the air year-round.

3. Treat Carpet and Upholstery

Carpets, rugs, and upholstery are the number one location where static builds up. You can fight static from building up in the first place by using a treatment on the carpet or upholstery. You can purchase a pre-made static guard or make your own. To make your own static guard, mix 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of fabric softener and vinegar. Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle.

You don’t need to make your carpet soaking wet. Instead, simply mist the carpet. This will reduce static while also making your home smell very nice.

4. Add Baking Soda to Laundry

Baking soda naturally fights static because it creates a barrier between the negative and positive charges. Thus, it keeps static electricity at bay. You can add baking soda to your laundry to help fight static from affecting your clothing. Just add 1/4 of a cup of baking soda to your cycle. Adjust the amount of baking soda based on the size of the load.

5. Use Low-Static Fabrics

Certain fabrics are more prone to static than others. For example, wool and rubber are fantastic insulators, resulting in built-up static. Nylon and polyester are also high-static fabrics. In contrast, cotton is one of the best low-static fabrics, as is leather-soled shoes.

6. Rub Dryer Sheets on Fabrics Around Your Home

Another way to create a barrier between the positive and negative charges is to rub dryer sheets on your upholstery and other products. This works much like baking soda, but it can also make your items smell pleasant if you select a dryer sheet with scent.

7. Clean Floors

Always make sure to keep your floors clean if you’re experiencing static. Dust and other particles on the ground can contribute to the static. If you decide to add a static guard or baking soda to your carpets, make sure to clean up the floors first and then apply the guard.

8.  Stay Moisturized

Although this might sound weird, moisturizing your skin and body can help fight static from affecting you. Just as you want to add moisture to the air, add moisture to your body. This will help fight static from shocking your skin.

Why Is My House So Staticky?

As we learned above, static is caused whenever there is an imbalance in positive and negative charges. Certain factors make this more likely to happen, such as dry air, synthetic materials, and carpeting. If it is winter and your home has various synthetic materials, that is to blame for your static house.

The number one way to tackle a staticky house is to add moisture to the air. The moisture will help to retain a balance and fight static build-up.

Final Thoughts

If you are fighting static in your house, use one or more of the above eight tips to remove static. Using multiple of these ideas at once will help you fight static from multiple angles. If you can only choose one, select the humidifier tip. We hope this helps you get rid of that annoying static in your home!

Featured Image Credit: Milesl, Pixabay