How to Stop Static Shock From Zapping You Every Time You Leave Your Car – Jalopnik

One of life’s small, constant annoyances, static electricity, can occur in many different places. You will receive a shock if you touch something metal, such as a doorknob, a handle or often your car when you get out. Commercial aircraft even have to deal with it; that’s what those thin metal rods sticking out of an airplane are for: discharging static electricity. Low humidity is one of the main factors behind static electricity build-up, so not everyone across the country is affected to the same extent. Those along America’s coasts and the South may not encounter this phenomenon often, but those in the West are all too familiar with it.

If you want to skip the zapping when getting out, you’ll want to avoid certain fabrics, like wool, which can be especially problematic during the winter months when static electricity is at its worst. Material made from natural animal fibers contains trace amounts of moisture in the follicles, which can cause static electricity to travel. If you have the habit of running your hands through your hair (especially if it is long), you should avoid it as you prepare for a shock when you get out of the car. Finally, you can periodically help minimize static electricity on your car’s seats by wiping them with dryer sheets or using an anti-static spray designed for interior details that will also keep dust from sticking to your car’s dashboard.

If you’re not sure whether you’ve discharged the static electricity properly, you can opt for less uncomfortable ways to test this. For example, you can touch the end of your ignition key to the metal of the car, or press a metal jewelry (such as a ring) against the surface of the car. Doing this will spread the charge away from you.

Regardless of how the friction is generated, it results in an excess charge waiting for you to touch a grounded object, complete a circuit and release a flood of electrons through a single point. With so many charged particles rushing through a single point of contact, you get that familiar and uncomfortable shock.

As previously mentioned, static electricity is more pronounced in dry climates, especially when it’s cold, because the humidity allows these charged particles to escape from your body through the moisture in the air before they build up. If you live somewhere in Arizona, New Mexico, or Nevada, you might consider purchasing a portable car humidifier, which is powered by a USB cable and usually fits in a cup holder – assuming it’s not one of those bizarre Lexus TX cup holders.