Every winter, the same thing happens: you shuffle across the carpet, reach for a doorknob or a light switch and get a sharp little zap. Your hair floats away from your head, and your clothes cling in all the wrong places.

Static electricity builds up more easily in cold weather because the air is drier. Moisture in the air normally helps charges dissipate, so when indoor heating dries the air out, charges build up on your body and clothes. The good news is that a few small changes can make a big difference.

1. Add moisture to the air

Dry air is the main culprit, so humidity is the main fix. A humidifier in the rooms where you spend the most time can help a lot. Many people find indoor humidity of roughly 30 to 50 percent comfortable in winter. Clean the humidifier regularly according to its instructions so it doesn’t grow mold or bacteria.

No humidifier? Leave the bathroom door open after a shower, dry a few clothes on a rack indoors, or keep a few houseplants, which add a little moisture too.

2. Touch metal with something other than your fingertip

If you know a shock is coming, touch the doorknob or metal surface with a key, coin or the side of your fist first. The charge discharges through the object instead of the sensitive nerve endings in your fingertip, so you’ll feel much less of it, or nothing at all.

3. Moisturize your skin

Dry skin holds static more readily. Applying lotion to your hands and arms, especially after washing, can help reduce shocks and also keeps your skin from cracking in cold weather.

4. Switch up your shoes and socks

Rubber soles insulate you from the floor, letting charge build up as you walk. Leather-soled shoes, or simply walking in cotton socks at home, can help. Wool socks on carpet are a classic shock combination.

5. Choose natural fibers when you can

Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon and acrylic tend to build up more static than cotton. Layering a cotton shirt under a synthetic sweater can help reduce cling and those crackly moments when you pull it over your head.

6. Fight static in the dryer

Dryer static is one of the biggest sources of clingy clothes. Try these tricks:

  • Don’t overdry. Take clothes out while they’re still very slightly damp.
  • Separate synthetics from cottons, or air-dry synthetics.
  • Use wool dryer balls, which help separate clothes as they tumble.
  • A small ball of aluminum foil in the dryer is a popular trick some people swear by for reducing static.

7. Tame flyaway hair

Static makes hair stand up and stick to your face. A little leave-in conditioner or hair oil helps, as does switching from a plastic comb to a wooden or metal one. In a pinch, lightly running a dryer sheet over your hair can calm flyaways.

8. Treat your carpet and furniture

Carpets and upholstered chairs are static generators. A light mist of water over carpet can temporarily reduce static, and an anti-static spray made for fabrics can help on furniture. Test any spray on a hidden spot first.

9. Ground yourself before touching electronics

If you’re working near sensitive electronics, such as swapping a computer part, touch a grounded metal object first to release built-up charge. It’s a good habit any time of year, but especially in dry winter months.

The bottom line

Static shocks are mostly a dry-air problem. Add some humidity, moisturize your skin, choose natural fabrics and shoes that don’t trap charge, and don’t overdry your laundry. Combine a few of these habits, and those winter zaps should become a lot less frequent.

Image: Clothes Sweaters by Michal Kulesza via StockSnap, CC0 1.0