Here’s How to Avoid Getting Shocked During West Texas Winters

I can't tell you how many times I've gotten out of my car during the colder months when—ZAP—Zeus himself shocks my finger as I'm closing my door.

Well, in West Texas, the naturally dry weather makes touching doorknobs or doing laundry a test of fate. Will it feel like I just poked a live outlet or not? Thanks to some expert tips, we can avoid these situations during Texas winters.

Keep scrolling to see the complete list of tips on avoiding static shocks. 👇👇

Getting Shocked in Texas Winters

As many know, something as simple as grabbing a door handle or flipping on a light switch when it's so cold outside can lead to harmless yet annoying static shocks.

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Fun Fact: Static shocks are the result of imbalances between positive and negative charges. The classic example is when you rub your feet on carpet, the friction causes electrons to move between the two materials, negatively charging one while positively charging the other. Touching a conductive material, like metal, afterwards will trigger a charge imbalance—static shock.

The reason why dry temperatures see more static shocks than usual is because it lacks the moisture in the air for the static electricity to find a balance, according to AccuWeather.

Tips to Avoid Static Shocks

You can help avoid getting shocked so much during Texas winters by following a few tips, like avoiding wool clothing, wearing leather shoes, and rubbing dryer sheets on surfaces.

Also, the biggest tip for avoiding static shocks in West Texas is to raise the humidity levels in your home. Adding one or two humidifiers in various rooms will decrease the chance of static buildup on your body.

Now, let's look at the full list of ways to avoid static shocks during dry weather...