Why Does My Couch Have Static?
When relaxing on your couch, the last thing you want is to have your hair standing on end or to your face or to have any touch be a shock. Many pieces of upholstered furniture can store static, creating discomfort in your home. Finding solutions for why your upholstered furniture, like your couch, is full of static is, thankfully easy.
Why Does Static Happen?
Static electricity happens when the air is dry and there is friction on the surface of the upholstery. As the weather gets warmer, the humidity rises. This means it doesn’t happen as often, but there is a chance that the cold air from your air conditioner will dry out the air in your home, causing some shocking moments. More likely, this will happen in the winter when everywhere has drier air from the cold weather. Drier air makes it more difficult for electric charges to dissipate. When the electrons can’t move around, they become charged and zap to become balanced. The type of material is also a factor in how much static your upholstery has.
5 Ways to Reduce Static on your Upholstery
Reducing static can be an easy task if you have the right materials.
1. Increase Humidity
Because static occurs more often in cooler and less humid air, increasing the humidity is a great way to decrease static. Moisture helps electrons move between atoms more smoothly, reducing the need for shocks to balance them out. A humidifier is important for homes that dry out in the winter, but when the outdoor air in the summer is often humid enough to keep your home humid enough to not cause shocks.
2. Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets have a positive charge that is distributed to the surface of clothes and upholstery. This helps balance the electrons to not get static electricity in your couch. Not only does it help with the static, it also helps make your couch smell great.
3. Apply a Guard
Static guards are most often a spray that can reduce and prevent static on your upholstery. These sprays stay on your upholstery to keep the positive charge there and prevent your furniture from generating static again, but you will want to be careful with the fabric that you are applying it to. It is recommended to test any guards on the back of your couch to see if it works while not leaving a residue before applying it to the rest of your upholstered furniture.
4. Add Fabric Softener or Baking Soda to the Wash
Fabric softener and baking soda ultimately have the same effect as dryer sheets. They keep clothes softer and can do the same for couch covers if they can be washed. While this isn’t feasible for upholstery that can’t go in the wash, adding fabric softener or baking soda when washing your clothes can help when friction is created between your clothes and the furniture. Fabric softener can also be added with water to make a spray that is similar to a static guard, making your couch smell great and prevent static in the future.
5. Pass Over Upholstery with Metal
Static is a type of electricity. Metal conducts and moves that electricity efficiently enough to keep the static from shocking you and move through the metal instead. If you are holding the metal, you will still be shocked unless you have a rubber glove on, but it will be less intense than without it. Pass over your couch with a metal object, like a hanger, before you sit down to see the difference in how often you are shocked.
Professional upholstery cleaning makes the most of your upholstered furniture. Removing the dirt and dust from the fibers can make your couch or other furniture last longer and feel better. It helps reduce the amount of things causing friction and creating static. If you would like a quote on your upholstery cleaning, contact us. We are happy to help get your Minneapolis home ready for the warmer months.