So, when you touch something like a metal doorknob or car door, those extra electrons will rapidly leave your body and give you the shock. One of the easiest ways to avoid static shock is to pay attention to what you’re wearing and what kind of fabrics make up the furniture in your house. For example, rubber-soled shoes are great insulators, and will build up a lot of static in your body when combined with a wool or nylon carpet. Instead, try walking around in leather-soled shoes, or cotton socks instead of wool socks. Leather-soled shoes are also great for grocery shopping, since shopping carts can often cause lots of static electricity. Similarly, wool sweaters are common offenders, especially in the dry winter (when you usually wear them). If you sit in a chair made out of the right fabric, you’ll build up quite a bit of static. Again, cotton is going to be much more friendly, so try wearing cotton clothes when you want to avoid nasty shocks.