Dry indoor air in winter and what it does to your clothes

Short answer: When the heating goes on, the indoor humidity drops. That gives static electricity in clothes, dry skin and an itch many people mistake for bad clothing.

Why the air turns dry

Cold outdoor air contains little water. When it is warmed indoors, the relative humidity drops.

Static clothes

Dry synthetic fabric builds up charge. Natural fibres take up moisture and become static less often. See antistatic clothes.

Itching

Dry skin reacts to rough materials that did not bother you in summer. See clothes without itching.

The layer closest to the skin

Change the innermost layer first if your skin itches in winter. See bamboo underwear for women.

The bedding

Eight hours against the skin every night. See bamboo bedding.

Humidity

A drying rack with wet laundry raises the humidity noticeably in a small room.

Washing

Avoid fabric softener, which lays a film and makes the fabric less able to take up moisture. See the washing guide.

Why it shows most in bed

At night the skin lies against fabric for eight hours at a stretch, and that is where dry air and the wrong material are felt most clearly. Bedding and nightwear in natural fibres take up the moisture instead of letting it gather. See bamboo nightwear for women.

Frequently asked questions

Why do clothes give shocks in winter?

Because the air is dry and synthetic fibres build up static electricity.

Why does skin itch more in winter?

Because it is drier and reacts to materials that did not bother you in summer.

What should I change first?

The innermost layer and the bedding.