I'm going to guess they had you do the dryer sheet thing for static electricity purposes. This article mentions static electricity but only in passing.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/s.../Lyc_SM_BS.pdf
Increasing the humidity in your room will help control static electricity. Make sure the knife is clean, and wear a static strap if all else fails!!!! Ask any electronic hobbyist about static in the winter
Happy to say that this is something I haven't faced
Good luck!