my budget way to solve the missing socks situation...

[Grumpy's Gal]

Am I the only mom who seems to end up with so many socks that don't have mates?

Yesterday, was the final straw. I think I have 15 socks of my DD that don't have mates. They have been sitting in my bedroom waiting on the mates for about 25 years! Ok, not really 25 years but it seems that way.....they frustrate me each time I see them.

Last night, I strung a fabric ribbon all along the wall in the laundry room. I spent about 15 minutes clipping up all the mate-less socks. I used paper clips.

I googled "wanted poster" and there are lots of those old fashioned western wanted posters you can use for free. I'm making a poster that indicates we are looking for sockmates. (reward: Big Hugs!!)

The project has drawn some attention and I'm hoping the novelty of the situation will increase the interest in helping these socks find mates.

TOTAL COST OF PROJECT: FREE

 

[Pesky]

Am I the only mom who seems to end up with so many socks that don't have mates?

Last night, I strung a fabric ribbon all along the wall in the laundry room. I spent about 15 minutes clipping up all the mate-less socks. I used paper clips.

I googled "wanted poster" and there are lots of those old fashioned western wanted posters you can use for free. I'm making a poster that indicates we are looking for sockmates. (reward: Big Hugs!!)

The project has drawn some attention and I'm hoping the novelty of the situation will increase the interest in helping these socks find mates.

TOTAL COST OF PROJECT: FREE

Cute idea! I may have to do that for a few. What I ended up doing is trying to prevent it by using lingerie and sweater bags. Socks go in as a pair and come out as one too! Just be sure not to overstuff the bags so they get washed well.

 

[Safari Queen]

Hey, people are paying big bucks for mismatched socks!

 

[The Princess]

I couldn't stand when I had a basket full of socks that don't match!!! So here is a quick and cheap way I corrected that......I have a container of safety pins and when they take the socks off they are to pin them together....if socks aren't pinned together I don't wash them!!!

 

[momxx5]

What a clever idea. I like it!!

Mismatched socks = cool

DD has been only wearing mismatched socks.....taking whatever she can find. At first it drove me crazy but now I dont really care as long as she is happy.

The best thing I ever did for my boys (3 boys born in under 3 yrs) especially when they were younger is buy a ton of the exact same socks. All white Nike or Puma socks (great deal at TJ Maxx or Marshalls).....that way we had a small laundry basket full of the same socks. Usually I don't have time to pair 5 kids' feet worth of scoks. They can just grab 2 socks from the basket and know that they'll match.
The funny part was when DS got Nike socks that had "L" & "R" on them so they were foot specific....uggghhh.

 

[hercamore]

Mesh laundry bag works well for washing socks.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

oh my I've never even dealt with this issue - here's how socks work in our family

DH has black socks for work - they all look the same

he has white socks for casual/ off days = they all look the same - same style same length - when / if we run low I buy more of the exact same ones.

I have ankle white socks - they're all the same.

DD can wear my socks if she chooses too (she doesn't like socks)

So all the socks go in to the wash and it doesn't matter if a 'mate' gets lost - all socks look alike - there's no sock "fashion" in our house but there's no frustration either

 

[MineMail]

My kids like to wear mismatched socks. Actually, that's how they end up solo in the laundry. They have another pair just like it someplace...

 

[riley2008]

What a clever idea. I like it!!

Mismatched socks = cool

DD has been only wearing mismatched socks.....taking whatever she can find. At first it drove me crazy but now I dont really care as long as she is happy.

The best thing I ever did for my boys (3 boys born in under 3 yrs) especially when they were younger is buy a ton of the exact same socks. All white Nike or Puma socks (great deal at TJ Maxx or Marshalls).....that way we had a small laundry basket full of the same socks. Usually I don't have time to pair 5 kids' feet worth of scoks. They can just grab 2 socks from the basket and know that they'll match.
The funny part was when DS got Nike socks that had "L" & "R" on them so they were foot specific....uggghhh.

When I had my boys this was the best advice given - buy socks that are all the same! When one sock seems to lose it's mate, another usually gets a hole and viola! a new pair. I really like the cute little socks with colors around the ankle or the solid navy, red, etc when toddlers, but I never have an issue with socks thanks to that advice. Woohoo!

(We do have summer and winter socks - two kinds of athletic/school socksn and then each have a pair of khaki and a pair of black.)

 

[njmom47]

My kids like to wear mismatched socks. Actually, that's how they end up solo in the laundry. They have another pair just like it someplace...

DDs do this...ds says his socks MUST match.

 

[squirrel]

How about using clothespegs instead of pins for the younger children.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

we are a 30 pair of white socks with grey heels family. In an attempt to save stress, my mom and I share socks. We also have 6 pair of the same short grey girls socks (all mine, I look good in grey). We also have a huge pile of mismacthed colored socks my loving nana gave me. Needless to say, they will never have a match again (some of them have been unmatched for over 4 moves). So what do you do with mismatched socks with no hope of mating? I cant throw away good socks

 

[angierae]

Yeah, my DD hasn't worn matched socks in ages. She was so happy to go to Little Missmatched at DTD and pick out five socks from the giant bin.

 

[v.t.]

With 3 boys in sports, we go through a lot of socks, I mean a lot of socks. When the unmatched sock bag gets full, I pay the boys a nickel for each match they find. But I usually get it all back because I get to keep the money they leave in their pockets when I do the laundry.

 

[angwill]

I just buy the same exact socks each time so if one gets lost I just match it up with another sock that lost it's match. Heck who amd I fooling they are all the same so they are never missing their match.

Do love the poster idea but I think I would throw out the mis matches instead of putting the time into the poster. lol

 

[squirrel]

Here are a few ideas before you throw out socks:

Sock puppets
Dog toys-add a tennis ball or two and knot closed

 

[SaraJayne]

Add me to the list of people with DD's that wear mis-matched socks ~ on purpose.

 

[sharon_wv]

I will spend time matching socks and my 16 y/o DD will intentionally separate them to wear mis-matched socks. Drove me crazy at first, but then when I looked around -- all the girls had mis-matched socks. What a silly trend, huh? At least now I can save time just giving her a pile of unmatched socks, right? Although for some reason, I still pair them up....

 

[cstwwt]

Great idea....I love it!! And might use it!!! I have my girls go on a 'sock hunt' or pony tail holder hunt.....when we seem to need it.....most of the time there are a ton of socks under their beds!!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

So what do you do with mismatched socks with no hope of mating? I cant throw away good socks

Send them to your kid's school. Socks get used in craft project and as erasers for dry erase boards. No mates is fine for those purposes. Viola! Socks are gone and being used and you get a fresh start for homeless socks.