Eliminating Static at the Gas Pump
Written by Dave Long, President, StaticWorx, Inc.
To Make Your Own Ingredients Mix one part fabric softener with four parts water (one cup fabric softener to four cups water). Combine thoroughly. Place liquid in a spray bottle. Periodically spray the seats of your car. If you live in a place where the humidity is very low, you should do this once a week during the winter months. |
Static electricity is generated by friction, or two surfaces rubbing against each other. When you slide out of the car on a cold winter day, your clothing rubs against the car seat. This friction causes high static charges to build on your body—charges a human being cannot even feel.
We all know that gasoline is highly flammable and explosive. Many people do not realize, however, that gasoline is far more flammable as a vapor than it is in liquid form. When the static electricity that has built up on your body discharges near a gas pump, it’s almost like lighting a match. The discharge can cause an explosion.
The easiest way to prevent a static-induced fire is to discharge yourself before you touch the gas pump. You can discharge yourself by touching a metal object, such as the top of the pump.
When we stop to buy gas, most of us are on autopilot. We’re in a hurry, our mind on a dozen other things. We’re not thinking about static electricity. Discharging ourselves is easy to forget. If this sounds like you, you should consider addressing the static problem. That way, you prevent disaster without having to remember one more thing when your mind is already on overload.
Reducing the accumulation of static is simple, inexpensive and easy to do. Simply spray or wipe down the seats of your car with something that reduces static. You can do this when you clean your car—or just keep a small bottle of anti static spray in your glove compartment or trunk.
You can even make the anti static spray at home, using your favorite fabric softener. Put the fabric softener in a bottle or jar and add water, using one part fabric softener to four parts water. Douse a clean cloth in the anti static liquid and generously wipe down your car seats. Or pour the liquid in a spray bottle and spray your seats with the antistat. If you live in a place where the humidity is very low, you should do this once a week during the winter months.
Conditioning the seats of your car with anti static liquid or spray will reduce – not eliminate – the generation of static. It may even save your life.
David H. Long is with Staticworx www.staticworx.com Click here to Dave.
