Tips against statically charged sofas. What you can do about it

Electrically charged sofa? What you can do about it

Does your Sofa also gives you an electric shock every now and then? Then you've come to the right place. We'll show you why and how you can avoid electric shocks in the future.

Electrically charged furniture - What's behind it?

You know it for sure: You sit down on the sofa and already you get a wipe. These mini-strokes can be quite unpleasant. If the whole thing happens in the dark, it can even result in a visible spark. But why can furniture and other objects become statically charged in the first place?

There are several reasons behind this.

• Dry air: A very common cause of static charge is dry air. Normally, positive and negative charges can be balanced by the humidity in the air. However, as soon as the air is too dry, which is often the case in winter, this balancing can no longer take place and sparks can fly.

 

 

• Friction: In everyday life, friction often causes static electricity to build up. Not only does vacuuming the sofa create friction that can lead to small electric shocks, but also when you simply walk through your living room.
• Material: Whether something can become statically charged is of course also influenced by the material. Non-conductors are, for example, plastics or rubber. Synthetic fibers, on the other hand, are more susceptible and therefore charge more easily.

Our tips against static charge

Of course, we know many useful tips on how you can prevent unpleasant sparks - so pay attention:

Use dryer sheets

Wiping your sofa with a dryer sheet is probably the easiest way to counteract static electricity. Dryer sheets are actually meant for the dryer and give your laundry a fresh scent. But since they also work great against static, they're perfect for a little "sofa rubdown".

Increase humidity

Have you ever noticed that your sofa gives you electric shocks, especially in winter? Static electricity can build up much better in the dry heated air.

 

 

To increase the humidity in your home, you can use a humidifier, for example. But it's also easier: a few plants in the room can significantly increase the moisture content in the air.

Right after vacuuming, sofas are usually particularly charged. By slightly moistening your sofa with a sprayer, you can effectively counteract discharges and thus electric shocks.

Antistatic sprays

Some upholstered furniture already has antistatic components incorporated into the fabric, but of course this is by no means the case with all of them. Antistatic sprays are a super simple solution for anyone who wants to reliably rid their sofa of any charge.

Simply spray the sofa from a distance of about 30cm and let it dry. After that, the sofa can be used directly and the electrostatic charge is history.

Make antistatic spray yourself

By the way, you can easily make an antistatic spray yourself. For this you need the following:

• 1 spray bottle
• 1 teaspoon fabric softener
• 1 cup water

 

 

Simply mix fabric softener and water and you're ready to go. Before use, you should always shake the solution well. Keep enough distance to the sofa even with the homemade spray so that no stains occur.

Discharge charged surfaces with metal

Another tip you can easily implement at home to unload your sofa: Grab a metal coat hanger or other metallic object and run it over the sofa's surfaces. You'll find that just a little bit of metal will help bring the charges back into balance.

You can easily prevent electric shocks with these simple tricks.

Want more tips?

• Walking barefoot prevents sparks. Electrostatic discharges are favored by rubber soles and socks. When you are barefoot, on the other hand, no sparks can fly.
• Put cream on your skin regularly. Dry skin is more prone to electrocution. Especially in the winter months you should moisturize your skin well.
• Add 50ml of baking soda to your washing powder to prevent static.
• Fabric softener, dryer balls, a ball of aluminum foil or a damp washcloth in the dryer are also considered secret weapons against electrostatic charge.
• Pay attention to the materials of your clothing. Cotton or other natural materials charge less than nylon or other synthetic fibers.

One thing is for sure: With these simple tips and tricks, those annoying electric shocks no longer stand a chance 😉.

So you can enjoy your sofa again carefree - completely without sparks.