Socks seem to just disappear in the dryer, leaving you with an ever-growing supply of unmatched socks. But there’s no need to despair when you’re left with a sock without a mate. Solitary stockings have many practical uses around the house, from shining your shoes to freshening the air. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite ways to recycle orphan socks—even though we still haven’t figured how their mates went missing!
By Laura Serino
Pick Up Small Objects
If you’ve broken your favorite necklace and now tiny beads abound on the floor, this trick will help you recover them (or other small objects) with ease. Slide a sock on the end of your vacuum hose and secure it with a rubber band. Once you turn on the vacuum, the pieces will stick to the sock without getting sucked down the hose.
Polish Shoes or Silver
A solo sock can effortlessly polish silver or shine a pair of shoes. We suggest using a cotton sock for this task, because the gentle fibers won’t leave behind any scratches.
Block the Draft
Keep a cold draft from creeping under the door with this DIY solution: Take a few long socks (think knee-highs or boot socks) and fill them with alternating layers of popcorn kernels and polyester stuffing. Attach the ends together, then place the stopper in front of any drafty door.
Dust the House
A sock can always double as a humble duster. Armed with a cleaner in one hand and a sock over the other, simply spray and wipe objects around the house. Make sure to rotate the sock as it gets dirty to expose clean fabric, and you’ll have sparkling surfaces in no time!
Wash Your Car
After you convert a sock into a sponge, you’ll have no excuse to avoid washing your car. A sock can clean hard-to-reach spots, and it can be revived in the washing machine for subsequent uses. Keep a bucket of orphan socks stockpiled in the garage with your other car washing supplies.
Freshen Your Space
The stuffy air in cars and closets can be less than appealing. When a room could use a whiff of something fresh, upcycle a lone sock into a sachet. Fill the sock with your favorite dried herbs and flowers, then add a few drops of an essential oil like lavender or lemon. This DIY fragrance is an eco-friendly alternative to that “New Car Smell” freshener dangling from your rearview mirror.
Hide Your Valuables
While traveling, stash your favorite necklace or extra cash inside a sock. This guarantees that small items won’t get lost in your suitcase and discreetly keeps valuables hidden in plain sight.
De-Ice Your Wipers
Cold weather calls for excess preparation. Keep a few single socks in your glove compartment, and place them over your windshield wiper blades before a snowstorm or the night before a predicted freezing morning. The socks will keep the blades ice-free, so you won’t have to scrape them before driving.
