Benjamin Franklin once said that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” But with all due respect to Mr. Franklin, I think his list of life’s certainties could use one minor update in order to capture our modern times. Because nowadays, nothing is truly certain but death, taxes, and losing a sock in the wash.
And in my opinion, a problem as universally vexing as lost socks demands a solution. Or better yet, several solutions, because it’s always good to have options! And that’s exactly what I’m offering in today’s blog post—three simple solutions that will help you stop losing socks in the wash for good. (I’ve also tossed in a little bonus tip about how to handle the socks that get left behind!)
Related: 6 Simple Solutions to Your Most Annoying Laundry Problems
We may not be able to do much about death or taxes, but we can learn to keep our sock collections intact. At least that much is certain! :-)
3 Easy Ways to Stop Losing Socks in the Wash
1. Homogenize Your Sock Collection
Consider replacing your current collection of socks with new, identical pairs. If you’re willing to sacrifice variety, making the switch to one style of sock can make your life a lot easier!
When all of your socks look the same, you never have to worry about pairing them up correctly. And because you’re not worrying about pairs, losing one isn’t as big of a deal.
2. Use a Mesh Laundry Bag
Zip all of your socks into a mesh laundry bag before doing laundry. Put your sock bag through both the washer and dryer, and the problem of lost socks is all but solved! (This can be especially helpful for tiny baby socks that are hard to keep track of.)
You can also use this system to make sure your socks make it into the wash in the first place. Just keep your mesh laundry bag in your hamper, and whenever you remove a pair of socks, zip them into the bag. That way you’ll be certain they’re all accounted for come laundry day!
3. Pin Socks Together
Pin pairs of socks together with a rust-resistant safety pin before putting them into the wash. (Or better yet, pin them together right after taking them off.) Keep them pinned through the wash, in the dryer, and even in your sock drawer.
Unpin the socks when you’re ready to put them on, and drop the safety pin into a small dish or bowl to reuse again and again!
Bonus Tip: Set Up a Sock Orphanage
Due to those mysterious laundry room forces that I doubt we’ll ever truly understand, a sock may still manage to turn up without its mate. Designate a jar or box in your laundry room as your “sock orphanage” and store the lonely socks there.
Once a month or so, do a quick inventory of your orphaned socks. Occasionally, you’ll find that one or two of the missing socks have actually turned up, and you’ll be able to reunite that pair! And for socks you haven’t been able to reunite, you can always put them to good use!
Looking for ways to use your old socks? Use them to…
- Dust your house
- Polish leather
- Shine your car
- Make a microwavable rice heating pad
Do you have a system for keeping socks together that I didn’t mention here?
More Ideas You'll Love
I had a basket called ‘Sox without partners’.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I hate sorting sox. Hate, hate, hate!
I finally bought several yards of mesh fabric, similar to the lingerie bags. I cut that up and sewed up a BUNCH of bags.
Sox come off the feet, the two sox go into one bag. Close up the bag with a safety pin by sort of weaving it through the mesh. Sox can’t get out!
They go through the washer and dryer that way, and into the drawer.
Different colors of mesh could be used for each person in the family.
IF I keep up with putting my sox in the bags, I never have to sort sox, and I never lose any.
I’d be VERY wary about putting safety pins through the wash, I used to use them and then our front loader machine stopped spinning. We emptied the filter thing at the front, and I pulled out some coins, hair clips, random stuff but there was a safety pin stuck right back out of sight, and almost out of reach, stuck in there as it had opened during the cycle.
We thought we were going to have to buy a new washing machine, so no safety pins in out washing machine anymore.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Safety pins will also rust. The thing to use is diaper pins. They do not rust and are large enough to be found in the washer (though I’ve never had one come off a pair of socks.) I keep a paper cup in the sock drawer to put them in when you put on the socks. Has been working for me for 13 years. If you have trouble finding diaper pins Babies R Us has them as well as Amazon. I may start using the sock bags though for my daughter since she and all her friends now purposefully wear mismatched socks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a clothesline like yours! Except
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I attached binder clips to mine for the socks because I always lose clothespins too!
My “sockgraveyard” is actually a container in the laundry area where stubbornly stray socks are repurposed as cleaning mitts (for dusting/polishing, for instance, slip it over your hand and spray with your favorite cleaner or Murphy’s Oil Soap.) Kinder to your furniture than paper towels, less paper waste. The same container also stores cut-up flannel jammies. also for misc household chores.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We use them for this too – also as wash cloths for the younger kids in the bath. They just slip the sock over their hand, rub it on the soap (or put a squirt of liquid soap on their socked hand) and scrub a dub dub away! It’s easy for them to get between their toes and behind their ears, back of neck, etc, all on their own!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I call the washer and dryer divorce court. Haha They go in as a couple and come out single… I like the idea of buying all matching socks for my son. He seems to be the one who has socks that don’t get along :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.https://onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/05/shabby-chic-rag-valance.html
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I enjoyed reading the ideas about keeping socks together, but I am more interested in the curtain behind the hanging socks…is it just made from strips of fabric? Are they hemmed and if not do they fray easily? It is so bright and colorful. I have been thinking of new curtains for 3 of my windows and this is a great idea :D
Please log in or create a free account to comment.https://onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/05/shabby-chic-rag-valance.html
(read all the comments to answer your questions!)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like the idea of a mesh sock bag to throw in the washer…was thinking about that the other day. Also, I keep our socks seperate from our other laundry in a sock hamper — just a small trash can with a lid. I keep it in our bedroom with a trash liner in it because that’s where we take socks off and they go right into their own hamper. If I want to wash all socks I can grab them quickly…no rummaging through the whole clothes hamper to find them all. I put trash liners in all laundry hampers so I can just quickly grab the bag of clothes to take down to the laundry room…much easier than carrying the whole hamper down the stairs.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.oh that is a fantastic idea! Except why not line the small trash can with the unzipped mesh bag? Just pull out the mesh bag once full, zip up and toss in the wash ;0)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We call it the sock graveyard :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tips! I like the bag idea, might have to try it. I was doing the “orphanage” already but we call it “single sock department” in our house. :) And we never throw away even hopelessly single “orphans”. Wanna know what we do with them? Use them for rags! :) It’s actually very convenient, you put a sock on your hand and do all the wiping with absolute hand freedom. :) It was actually my “boys” who came up with the idea. They are not very talented when it comes to cleaning and ergonomic use of a rag is somewhat like rocket science for them. The socks solve the problem. :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We have used sock sorters for years and years. Best cheap investment I ever made. One year I found double ones, hooked together for bulkier socks. Here’s what they look like:
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=sock+sorter&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3588178005&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=341167397372479086&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_4gsgvl0hfp_b
Please log in or create a free account to comment.ha-ha! I have a sock orphanage…It’s a mesh bag that all mis-matched socks go into, then the bag rides around in my laundry basket I put the clean clothes into from out of the dryer. Eventually, most of them get matched up…but not always! When I can see they’ve been hanging around for about a month without a match, out they go into the garbage! :) It also helps that I buy my son the same type of white socks for week wear, and about three pairs of the same black socks for Sunday…now, when one “mysteriously” gains a hole, or loses a mate, I’m not too worried about it!
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