Your computer should never be placed on a surface such as carpet, a blanket, or a towel when performing any action that requires you to ground yourself.
If you don’t have the option of not standing on carpet, you’ll need to be especially proactive about grounding yourself once every couple of minutes. You can wear rubber slippers to completely block your connection to the floor, but this is excessive for home projects. [3] X Expert Source Luigi OppidoComputer & Tech Specialist Expert Interview. 13 November 2020. Any shoe with rubber soles should also be enough to block your connection to the floor.
If possible, wash and dry your clothes using a dryer sheet to minimize static build-up before working on your computer.
You can also humidify by hanging wet cloth in front of a radiator or fan.
You can even lay your non-dominant arm on the metal part of the case while installing the component if you want to be positive that ESD won’t harm it.
There’s a small but definite risk that this will not be enough. Rely on this only if your project is quick and the components are not valuable.
Do not use a wireless wristband, as these do not work. [6] X Research source If you get a wristband with a loop (rather than a clip), it’s easy to slip it over the center screw on a wall outlet plate. This is supposed to be grounded (at least in US code), but you may want to double-check with a multimeter. [7] X Research source
Go with a vinyl ESD mat for computer repair; rubber is more expensive and not necessary for this purpose. Unless you value your peace of mind highly, this is above and beyond for most home projects.
