Five Things to Do with Old Socks

Thanks to the mysterious way that dryers seem to send one sock out of every four pairs to the Twilight Zone, most of us have odd socks that we can't wear. The good news is there are several ways to put those mismatched socks to good work and at least get some benefit from owning them. Try these tips and you'll soon find that you have something better to do than speculate on where the mates to your odd socks have gone.

Use Them for Cleaning

Slip the old sock over your hand, spray lightly with a furniture polishing product, and start dusting. This approach is quick, easy, and allows you to get into tight spots that are hard to reach with a feather duster or even a dustcloth. Dust table surfaces, baseboards and even mini-blinds using this strategy. When you're done, simply toss the used sock into the dirty clothes bin. With a little luck, it won't join its mate in some parallel universe and you can use it again someday.

Create a Travel Pouch

Old socks are great pouches for little items that you want to take along on a trip, but don't want rolling around in the suitcase. They are also great for replacing bulky shaving kits, since you can slide a couple of spare razors and a travel sized can of shaving cream in the sock and tuck it inside one of the shoes you plan on packing.

Make a Sachet

To keep items in a drawer fresh, place some potpourri in an old sock and tuck it into one corner. Be sure to fold the open end so the contents stay in place.

Use the Odd Sock as a Cozy for Your Water Bottle

Slide the bottle into the sock, keeping the drinking end exposed. The sock will help keep the water at a cooler temperature for a longer period of time. At the same time, the material absorbs the condensation that forms on the outside of the bottle, allowing your hands to stay dry.

Create a Toy for your Pet

Old socks that are tied in knots make great chew toys for dogs. Tie several together and you have the perfect toy for a game of tug-of-war with your pet.

There's no reason to throw away old socks, simply because the mates have gone AWOL. Use some imagination and you can come up with all sorts of uses for old socks that save money and also serve a practical purpose.