Earthing Products
Q: Do Earthing® pads work on the 2nd floor of a home?
A: Yes, Earthing® products can be used on the 2nd floor of a home. If you do not have grounded outlets you would have to use an Earthing® Ground Rod Kit with 40-foot cord. The 40-foot cord is generally long enough to reach to a second floor window. Additionally, Earthing also offers a 40-foot Extension Cord is which can provide even more length if needed.
Q: Can you wash Earthing® sheets?
A: Page update: Earthing no longer makes silver-threaded sheets - you can find their current line of grounded sleep systems here, along with TRU47’s silver-threaded grounding half sheets. Some of the older Earthing sheets and similar styles can still be found on Amazon, though. Yes, Earthing® sheets can be washed. To wash your fabric earthing sheets simply place in your washing machine on normal cycle and hang to dry, or dry in dryer on low. We recommend a mild detergent without any alternative whiteners. Never use bleach or any other oxidizing detergent which can destroy the conductive material. Do not use fabric softener. Before using Earthing® products, DO NOT apply lotions or oils to the area of the skin that will be in contact with the earthing mat.
Earthing’s current grounded mattress covers and sleep mats are easy to clean - simply wipe down with a clean, wet cloth, and use a mild liquid soap if you like; no washing machine needed!
Q: How do I know if I need a Ground rod or a plug in connection for my Earthing® device?
A: Most modern homes have a functional electrical ground system that interfaces with the Earthing® plug in device. If your home was built before the 1960s and has not been electrically re-wired, you may require a ground rod or professional installation of a dedicated grounding connection to the Earth. Usually three-prong outlets are grounded, while two-prong outlets are not; however some three prong outlets are not grounded. If you are unsure, have an electrician check your home for the presence of a functional ground system or use a commercially available outlet checker.
Q: If I place a ground rod in the earth outdoors is it OK if it gets rained on?
A: Totally OK. The presence of moisture increases the flow of electrons from the Earth. That’s why it’s great to stand or walk barefoot in damp grass or in the surf or wet sand at the beach. If you live in a very dry climate and are using a ground rod, you will want to place it in the earth where there is some moisture. You can even water the ground rod every week or so.
Q: I live in an old apartment building that does not have grounded electrical outlets and I can not put a wire outside to the Earth. What can I do?
A: As the benefits of Earthing become more widely recognized, solutions such as retrofitting older buildings with dedicated Grounding systems and adding them to plans for new buildings will come to be. Meanwhile, try to spend some barefoot time in nature if possible, and consider using an Earthing® device at the office and when you travel. Grounding shoes are also another option. Unlike most regular rubber-soled shoes, grounding, or Earthing, shoes contain conductive elements in the soles that allow Earth’s energy to pass from the ground into the feet. You just need to wear them on conductive surfaces like grass, dirt, or even unpainted concrete to be grounded. Learn more about Grounding Shoes in our Ultimate Guide.
Q: Is it OK to use the United States style Earthing® plug in countries with 220 volt electrical systems if I use an adaptor, converter or transformer?
A: No! Ground rods and dedicated grounding systems can be used safely internationally. Electrical systems vary greatly worldwide. Earthing® plugs designed especially for specific countries outside the US and Canada are available and in development. Learn more about them here.
Q: Do Earthing® products run on electricity?
A: No. They simply pick up the Earth’s energy through the ground port of a properly grounded outlet or from a ground rod placed directly in the Earth and deliver it via a cord to the conductive Earthing® pad, mat, sheet, or band specially designed for human grounding. When your body comes in contact with the Earthing® product you absorb the Earth’s energy. Earthing® products are like “barefoot substitutes,” enabling you to receive inside your home or office the outside energy of the Earth.
Q: Can I become electrocuted by an Earthing® product?
A: No. Earthing yourself by sleeping, working, or sitting grounded indoors has no relationship with electrocution. When you plug in the cord of an Earthing® sheet or mat into an electrical outlet, the plug, cord, and product are designed to only conduct the ground energy, from the ground port in the outlet, to your device. It does not conduct the electrical power that operates your lights and appliances in the house.
Q: Do I have to be concerned about being hit by lightning during a thunderstorm if I am grounded in my home?
A: Lightning is a massive natural phenomenon that is unpredictable and challenging to totally protect against. It is poorly understood. Homes are rarely hit by lightning. When this does occur, the lightning usually takes the path of least resistance to the ground, such as large conductive systems like the plumbing pipes, electrical wiring network, or telephone and cable TV lines, all of which are directly grounded to the Earth.
The National Safety Council reports that the odds of dying from a lightning strike in one year are 1 in 6 million (www.nsc.org/research/odds.aspx). To put this in perspective, the chance of being hit and killed by an automobile as a pedestrian in the same period is 1 in fifty thousand—a risk 120 times greater. What these statistics suggest is that being hit by lightning is rather unlikely. However, follow standard lightning safety guidelines as directed by National Weather Service (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov) if you live in a lightning-prone area. Disconnect your Earthing™ device and don’t use it during lightning and thunderstorms.
Q: I started sleeping on an Earthing sheet and noticed that I feel warmer. What’s going on?
A: In our research, contact with the Earth contributes to good circulation and relaxation of the body, including blood vessels. One byproduct is more heat in the extremities and throughout the body. We have seen people quickly develop a rosier color in their skin. Many people have also reported feeling some initial tingling in the extremities.
Q: Once the Earthing product is plugged into a grounded outlet should I always leave it plugged in?
A: Yes. For cleaning and washing purposes, you simply unsnap the cord from the product. There is no need to remove the plug-in end of the cord from the outlet unless you want to use the product elsewhere. It won’t hurt the product to unplug it (that is, it doesn’t need to charge); but you might forget to plug it back in.
Q: Are all the outlets in my home grounded if one of them is grounded?
A: No. All kitchens and bathrooms must have grounded outlets but the bedrooms and other rooms in the house do not necessarily have a grounded outlet even if they have a three prong outlet. You must test any individual outlet for a proper ground if you plan to use it for an Earthing® product.
Q: Can I put a bed sheet over the Earthing product?
A: No, although natural / non-synthetic sheets will allow some Earth energy to pass from Earthing products into your skin, it’s best to not place a sheet over your Earthing® mat or mattress cover. Your body should have direct skin contact with the device. Same with the TRU47 partial grounding sheet; it should be placed on top of your bottom fitted sheet. Whole grounding fitted sheets (such as those sold on Amazon) will replace your bottom fitted sheet.
Q: Can I wear socks when using an Earthing mat on the floor?
A: Yes, but direct skin contact is best. Feet naturally sweat and will hydrate socks, making the socks somewhat conductive. Grounding socks, which are woven with conductive silver threads, are a much better option.
Q: I like to wear socks to bed. Do my bare feet have to touch the earthing sheets, sleep mats or mattress covers?
A: Since our feet are the most electrically conductive part of our body it is best to have your bare feet in contact with the grounded sheet. However, if you must wear socks, try to have some skin—bare legs or any other body part—touch the Earthing® mat or sheet. You can place the Earthing® product in your bed wherever it is most comfortable and effective for you. If you wear socks to bed because of cold feet, you will often find that your feet warm up naturally from improved circulation when you sleep grounded. As mentioned above, grounding socks, which are woven with conductive silver threads, are the best sock option.
Q: Is it okay to use an Earthing sleeping product along with an electric blanket or on an electrically heated mattress pad or waterbed?
A: There is nothing wrong with using an Earthing sleep product with any electrical devices as long as those devices are in good working order.
Q: How are the Earthing sheets different from an electric blanket?
A: Earthing sheets do not heat up like an electric blanket. They only conduct the subtle energy from the ground. They do not conduct the electrical energy that flows in the electrical system of your house and powers your lights and appliances. If you want to know about safety issues related to the use of electric blankets, visit the following website: http://www.electricblanketinstitute.com/safety.html
There are no additional safety issues regarding the use of an electric blanket when sleeping grounded. The Earthing device cords contain a current limiting resistor that prevent any harmful effect should an electrical event such as a short develop in an electric blanket.
Q: Can I plug the Earthing product into a surge protector or extension cord?
A: Yes, as long as they have an existing ground port (for the third prong) which will connect with the grounding system in the home or office.
Q: How long will an Earthing sheet last before it wears out?
A: To last as long as possible, Earthing sheets made of cotton and conductive silver fibers should be washed in cold water with a mild detergent and line-dried or machine dried on low heat. That said, after about a year or so, many people have found that their silver-threaded grounding sheets lose some conductivity. This is the reason Clint Ober developed his current line of Earthing mattress covers, pillow covers and sleep mats made with conductive carbon - so they would last longer than the silver-threaded sheets and also not have to be machine washed.
Q: Are the sheet threads really silver? Why?
A: Any metallic material will conduct the flow of electrons. Earthing sheets and mattress covers and mats typically use carbon or silver as the conductive agent. Silver is highly conductive and inherently anti-microbial; copper and stainless steel are as well, and are often used as conductive elements in grounding shoes. Carbon is also a good conductor of Earth energy.
Q: Are grounding sheets washable? What about care and cleaning?
A: Silver-threaded grounding sheets and blankets may be laundered just as you would wash other bedding, using a gentle wash cycle and a mild detergent. Low- or no-heat drying is recommended. However, NO chlorine bleach or fabric softener should be used. When necessary, use a hydrogen peroxide-based non-bleach to remove stains and/or to whiten your sheet.
As mentioned above, Earthing carbon-based grounding sleep mats, mattress covers and pillow covers are simple to clean - just wipe them down with a damp cloth and use a natural or mild liquid soap, if you like.
Q: How do you clean an Earthing mat?
A: Mats like the Earthing Universal, Floor, and Yoga mats can be cleaned with ordinary dish soap and water.
Q: I have used various devices that simulate the frequencies of the Earth. How is this different?
A: There are many effective therapeutic devices available that use a variety of frequencies. Earthing products simply conduct the actual frequencies of the Earth to your body without any simulation and serve as extension cords from the Earth to you. The signal they carry includes all of the subtleties inherent in nature that our bodies have attuned to over millions of years. Earthing is totally natural.
Q: Can you use an Earthing sleep system over a mattress pad that has magnets embedded in it?
A: There is no problem with using a grounding sheet or Earthing sleep system over a magnetic mattress pad. The magnets in the magnetic mattress pad produce a static magnetic field that would naturally go through and extend beyond the surface of the Earthing sheet similar to the way it passes through a regular sheet.
Q: My dog sleeps in my bed with me and sits at my feet when I am at my desk. Is it safe for him to touch the Earthing product?
A: Yes. Animals naturally want to spend time in contact with the Earth. Most indoor pets share our lifestyle causing them to be separated from direct contact with the Earth. People report that pets indoors are attracted to grounding sheets and mats. Just be careful not to leave “chewers” alone with grounding products, or you may have to replace the cords.
Q: Can I ground myself while driving in a car?
A: Yes. A car is two tons of metal. It is a ground plane by itself. Sitting on a conductive auto pad connected by a wire to the metal frame of the car helps eliminate static electricity that builds up on the body. Such static electricity can contribute to fatigue and tension.
Page last updated February 19, 2025.