too frugal? just weird? what do you do with socks?

[earthmama369]

I was going through my sock drawer yesterday and realized I have a LOT of socks with holes in the bottoms. I was trying to think of what I could do with them instead of just throwing them out. There are only so many sock puppets one family needs, and we have enough cloth rags for wiping up spills, etc., that we don't really need any more. (Although cotton terry socks cut into rags work GREAT for cleaning up after messy toddler snacks!)

What do you do with worn-out socks? Or am I just insane for trying to find another use for these?

[provocativa]

Well, I have thought alot about this question, believe it or not. We toss them. My husband's are too stanky to clean anything. I mean, I live right near one of the homeless hangout areas in my city, and I wouldn't even subject those folks to them! I darn mine. I saved mismatched baby socks forever, but the only stupid ideas I came up with weren't worth the effort.

[NYCVeg]

Cut 'em up and use them as cleaning rags (especially for icky areas--bathrooms, etc.)? That's my solution for everything!

[Allie2]

I toss dh's, clean with some and give the rest to my two year old. She loves to play with socks and this way I don't have to worry about her losing any in her hiding spots.

[EFmom]

I use dh's gym socks for dusting. Most other socks I just toss. I once raised the subject of darning worn socks. Dh threatened to divorce me if I tried. His mother used to do that, but wasn't very skilled at it, and dh and his brothers would get nasty blisters as a result.

[Poddi]

Hmm, we cut off the upper part (the ribbed part) and put them on our kids' arms as "sleeve protector" when they're handling very messy stuff. To be honest I wasn't thrilled about this but my grandma thought she's a genius to have found a use for those sock cuffs.

[EmsMom]

I generally toss old worn out socks. However, I have read that you can stitch a large piece of another decent sock (one without a mate - we all have those) onto the sole of the worn out sock and mend it in this way. I actually tried it once and it did work out pretty well. There were no hard lumpy bits to give blisters and my raggedy socks did have a certain charm. I have also read that you can use old socks as a mop head in one of those string mops. Again, I never tried it. That said, I have read of another way of darning socks: say "Darn these worn-out socks! and toss them in the trash!

[rabbithorns]

I don't know how well this works, but I've heard you can cut across the "tube" part and make loops for weaving like the old potholders, but I think you make smaller things like coasters.

The loops could also be used for hair scrunchies.

If the foot part is cut off, and the rough end sewn, very young children could use them as leg warmers for their ballet or jazz dance dress-up.

Generally they are good for packing any breakables.

[momto l&a]

IMO they are clutter and out they go :

Though I do know that heavy socks with the foot cut out makes for great leg protectors for crawling babies.

[earthmama369]

Neat ideas, thanks! (And nice to know that while I might be a loony, as dh puts it, I'm not the only one!)

I especially like the idea of baby leg warmers. I can't believe I didn't think of that! I was *just* looking at some Baby Legs for dd, since it's winter and we're ECing.

[~Megan~]

use the ribbing for your own cheap "baby legs"

[CerridwenLorelei]

how bad are the holes?

I used some advice from here (mdc not this forum) and some things online to learn to darn socks.

If they are not just like charlie browns costume from Halloween you might could do that.

I use a lightbulb instead of a darning egg..

I enjoy it though and it makes waiting rooms go faster

[kimmie-pooh]

I toss them :

I saw a really cute project using baby socks on Martha Stewart. I can't remember if it was one of her Martha Stewart Living shows or if it was in her magazine. I'll try to look for it if anyone is interested.

[Llyra]

Sometimes I seal the hole closed from the inside with duct tape, and then turn the sock right side out again and fill it with catnip, tie it shut, and then give it to my cats as a toy.

I usually keep mismatched socks, ones with the mate missing, and wear two mismatched ones on the days when I'm just at home with a toddler all day-- SHE doesn't care what I wear. I'm short on socks though. Somehow socks and underwear for me usually get last priority in budgeting.

[srain]

We have some rolled in balls as toys for the kids to throw around. Sometimes we use them as disposable rags, like if we're cleaning up grease or something really nasty, but I prefer bigger rags for that- I need ideas too.

[wannabeamamma]

Sock puppets for your kiddos.

[Mama2Bug]

You could always make a sock monkey.

[Ruthla]

I save the cotton terry socks if I need more rags at the time. If you have enough rags already, and don't need any sleeve protectors or "baby legs" then they're just clutter. Before throwing them out, you could offer them on freecycle (maybe somebody else in your area needs more rags?) or see if you can donate them to a place that shreds up old clothing to sell as fiber (some places do that, others resell intact clothes.)

[Rebecca]

I made a cheapo pillow for my cat using a ratty old tee shirt cut into 2 rectangles and stuffed it with old socks and rags. I put it in his little basket bed and he's none the wiser. When it gets hairy and gross I'll probably just throw it out and make a new one. I've also used raggy stuff like this in my bunny hutch during the cold fall/spring months (I bring them inside in winter). They don't tend to eat cloth (some will and can choke), so I don't worry about them.

[trini]

Originally Posted by earthmama369

There are only so many sock puppets one family needs

:

That line just cracked me up for some reason!

Wow, MDC mamas are just so creative. I am amazed at all the uses for worn socks! (I'm especially impressed with the cat pillow idea. Alas, I do not have a cat.) I also saw a really cute craft using baby socks. But I don't think it's baby socks you are talking about. I actually mend ours. I don't have a darning egg, either. I just slip them over the end of an old plastic cup.

Besides the holes, are they in decent shape? I ask because, as a kindergarten teacher, I would love to have lots of socks to use as whiteboard and chalkboard erasers for the individual boards I have for my students. They can use the sock as an eraser and also a place to store the marker or chalk when it is not in use.

Maybe another family is in need of some sock puppets???