00:00It's static season. With dry, colder air this winter, unusually dry and cold for many,
00:05you've probably been shocked time and time and time again when reaching for the doorknob.
00:10Loose clothing has been clinging to you and dry hair has been frizzy with a life of its own.
00:16So what's the deal? Static electricity builds due to an imbalance between positive and negative charges.
00:22Negatively charged electrons are always on the move and they transfer from one object to another
00:27when some materials rub against one another.
00:30If enough of charged buildup occurs, zap! A rapid static shock quickly equalizes the imbalance.
00:38So what's this have to do with the recent cold dry air?
00:40In humid air, think July or August at the beach, moisture allows electrons to freely escape,
00:46neutralizing charge imbalances easily before they build up too much.
00:51In very cold air masses with extremely low moisture content like we've recently experienced,
00:56dry air allows charges to build up significantly and these stronger charge imbalances lead to dramatic discharges,
01:03greater static shocks.
01:05So what can you do?
01:06Wear cotton instead of wool, nylon or polyester, humidify your home and use dryer sheets
01:12with have anti-static positively charged ions as your clothes dry.
