20 Good Uses for Old Worn and Torn Socks

My husband and I have a sock basket were we keep all our socks. I'm not sure why we hate matching socks but we do, especially the tiny ones for the kids. About once every six months we get off our lazy butts and actually take the time to match them together and get rid of the old, super stained, holy (as in the one with holes) and out grown ones. Then we have a bag full of socks that we can no longer use. That bag is set aside until I can figure out what to do with them. The bag sits there for weeks until I finally come up with an idea or they are thrown away.

This year the greener me has decided to change that and put together a quick lists of "How to Reuse Old Worn Socks" ideas so that I can have them handy when the time comes to match socks again.

1. Sock quilt: This will require a lot of socks so for more socks ask friends and family for their unwanted socks. If socks are cozy enough to warm your feet, why can't they be sewn together to warm up the rest of you too?

2. Protectors: Socks can be used to protect ornaments, shoes, breakables (while moving) etc.

3. Sock pillows: Make pillows out of socks for your children's' dolls.

4. Sock dolls: Make sock monkeys, sock puppets, sock creatures, etc with old socks. Keep a box filled with extra buttons, yarn, fabric glue and other crafty things to add to the sock puppets when new used socks become available. There is some fun how to make sock puppets books in the library.

5. Hacky sack: Pour potpourri or baking soda inside a sock and place it in places to help eliminate odor.

6. Keep your hands clean: Keep a pair of old socks with you, If you ever have a flat tire and need to change it, the socks will keep your hands clean.

7. Protect floor surface: If you need to move furniture, like a dining table, and don't want to scratch the floor place a sock on each leg and go.

8. Dust rag: Slip a sock on to your hand and dust furniture, blinds, etc. A sock dust rag is much better than a disposable dust glove in two ways. It is washable, therefore reusable and it's free.

9. Cleaning rag: Wash the car, wash the outside windows, and wash the really dirty stuff with these olds socks. They're thick and easy to use.

10. Pet toy: Grab about 5 or 6 long socks. Tie them together in a knot and then just give it to your dog (or cat) to play with.

11. Doll clothes: Unless you have some awesome sewing skills this doll clothes wont be pretty, but trust me if you have small colorful sock and imaginative kids like mine they wont mind dressing their dolls in old socks at all. Just be careful that the old socks don't end up back in the basket with the new ones.

12. Sock jump rope: I thought this was a neat yet odd idea. Tie some socks together until the sock rope reaches the length you desire and then jump.

13. Make mittens: Here is a how-to link: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5267/is_199901/ai_n20455463

14. Donate to crafty person: You never know what crafty person will want them. To find that crafty person post an offer on freecycle or craigslist.

15. Prevent drafts: Fill up old long socks with beans, sand, rice etc and then place them near cracks in windows and doors. Decorating them into socks creatures will make them look more appealing if guest come over.

16. Fingerless gloves: No one says you have to go out in public with these fingerless gloves. Wear them around the house when your hands need some warmth.

17. Leg warmers: Cut the fronts off and then just slip them on.

18. Pet clothes: If you have small pets and you have big feet and wear tube socks. Cut off the toe part and let your pets wear them in the winter.

19. Plant winter cover: During freezes it is a good thing to cover your plants if you can't bring them inside. For a cover, cut all your socks up in half and then just sew them together. Use the cover every time you need to cover you plants from the cold.

20. Giant balls: Stick one sock inside the other (smallest to biggest) until you have a giant ball (s). Sew the ball shut so the socks inside don't slip out and then decorate or color the ball. When your husband least expects it (while watching football) throw it at him. Sock fight! Lots of laughter.

Also take a look at:

Uses for Old Socks: Let your Gang's Feet go Green

http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/08/25/uses-for-old-socks/

10 Clever Ways to Recycle Old Socks

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/89699/10_clever_ways_to_recycle_old_socks.html

Thrifty Fun

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf272334.tip.html

New Uses For Old Socks

http://frugal.families.com/blog/new-uses-for-old-socks