Options for ridding records of static electricity

Triboelectric Effect (source MIL-HDBK-263B): “The generation of static electricity caused by contacting or rubbing two substances is called the triboelectric effect. A triboelectric series is a list of substances in an order of positive to negative charging as a result of the triboelectric effect. A substance higher on the list is positively charged (loses electrons) when contacted with a substance lower on the list (which gains electrons). The order of ranking in a triboelectric series is not always a constant or repetitive. Furthermore, the degree of separation of two substances in the triboelectric series does not necessarily indicate the magnitude of the charges created by triboelectric effect. Order in the series and magnitude of the charges are dependent upon the properties of the substance, but these properties are modified by factors such as purity, ambient conditions, pressure of contact, speed of rubbing or separation, and the contact area over which the rubbing occurs. In addition to the rubbing of two different substances, substantial electrostatic charges can also be generated triboelectrically when two pieces of the same material, especially common plastic in intimate contact, are separated as occurs when separating the sides of a plastic bag. Some metals, can create significant charges from triboelectric generation. Aluminum, when rubbed with a common plastic can generate substantial electrostatic charges.”

There are a number of published Triboelectric series, the most recent Quantifying the Triboelectric Series published 2015. The table in this recent series compares similar to the previous widely accepted The Triboelectric Series, Bill W. Lee, David E. Orr). ©2009 by AlphaLab, Inc.  PVC is very high (negative charge) on the triboelectric series.   

In the triboelectric series, human hands are very positively charged (loses electrons) while vinyl records are very negatively charged (gain electrons). Use of a conductive brush to remove static from a record that is intended to use the human body as the ground path may not work if the human body is not grounded, and even then, the human body depending on many variables may at best only be dissipative.  The bodies resistance can change between dry and humid conditions.  If your body is charged and you touch the record,  you will charge the record - rule of thumb - always first ground yourself before touching records.

Gruv-Glide ingredients appear to have changed - see  https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=68877.  The original formula with Quaternary ammonium compounds (a cationic surfactant) would have left a very thin film on the record.  Cationic surfactants reduce static by absorbing water from the air to form a thin coating of water on the record to make the record dissipative (as defined by ESD terms).  Over time, the cationic surfactant will break-down and the anti-static effect lost (any grunge developed notwithstanding).  If you have used the older version - be aware that follow-on cleaning with an anionic surfactant can form a sticky paste - anionic surfactants (in every dish detergent) are not soluble with cationic surfactants.  The new formula with only water and IPA should not leave any coating-film.  Simple water-IPA solutions are commonly used in Cleanrooms to "remove" static charge.  Any wet cleaning procedure will remove the static charge - it changes the record to dissipative.  But once dry - depending on the application, static charge can again build-up.  New records often have a static charge.

Felt is a type of fabric manufacture - but what is the material? Traditionally it has been wool and yes if dry that will cause static charge with a pvc recrod, but Felt can be also be manufactured from synthetic materials.

Use of conductive brushes with grounds is what the industry uses to control static charge in fabric/plastic sheeting manufacture.  But, the brush does not actually touch the fabric/plastic - it is positioned just a very small distance above because carbon while immensely strong axially (along the shaft) is brittle cross-wise.

Grounding the platter bearing as has been  addressed works, but for synthetic platters - maybe not as much.   

Dr. Van-den-Hul recommends placing a sponge wetted by DI water near the turntable to increase the humidity is the vicinity.  Once the ambient humidity drops below ~35%, static charge build-up can be a real challenge.

As some have addressed, there are  direct ionizing devices such as the Milty Zerostat™ 3 Antistatic Gun, and the DS Audio ION-001 Vinyl Ionizer.  But be advised that any ionizing device can develop ozone and that Buna-N (nitrile) rubber is very sensitive to ozone cracking; EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber is not ozone sensitive.

Most of the above has been extracted from the paper Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Record Chapter VI; available here - (no cost) https://thevinylpress.com/precision-aqueous-cleaning-of-vinyl-records/