This is a serious question: What can I do with single socks?

[Radio_Lady]

I volunteer for a non-profit halfway house where families are transitioning from drug or alcohol addiction, homelessness or other life conditions -- to their own housing.

On behalf of them, I pick up LOST & FOUND & UNCLAIMED ITEMS at schools, cleaners, laundries, etc. and put them in good condition to be used by the residents.

Now, here's the problem -- the laundries have dozens of socks, many unmated but clean. All sizes. All colors but mostly white.

Aside from sock puppets and dusting, what can I do with SINGLE SOCKS! I hate to dump them in the garbage -- there MUST be an answer.

Any communication gratefully appreciated by this volunteer grandmother! Post here or PM me! Thanks a million..................

In peace,

Radio Lady

[slackmaster]

1. Use them as dust rags

I work on cars. Socks make excellent machine rags.

[ahem]

2. Sock Monkeys!

otherwise, yeah, dust rags.

[CornField]

3. Here's a link to one of my favorite sites

http://www.thriftyfun.com/Brainstorms/tf166427_bra.html

:) No doubt you'll find lots of ideas there!

BTW, my 13-yr-old daughter and her friends think it is really cool to buy colorful, mismatched socks and wear them.

[Radio_Lady]

8. Cornfield, ThriftyFun.com is a great site! Loads of good suggestions.

Appreciate your post. Have a great weekend! I'll be sorting socks.

[Zuni]

4. little puppets

halloween decorations (scary ghosts), use them to wipe prints off a crime scene etc, etc

[Radio_Lady]

17. Wipe prints off a crime scene... should I advertise for some cops...

and robbers? I like the puppets idea!

[Southsideirish]

5. Lets all mail our single socks to weak kneed Democrats to let them

know they need a swift kick in the butt. Like the ones who are always spouting off to the MSM that make us cringe and, also, those that voted for the Bankruptcy bill, etc.

[Radio_Lady]

9. Sorry, Southsideirish, I don't have the postage...

to "go postal" with these socks. Nice idea in principle... not practical.

By the way, are you in Boston or somewhere else? My husband was born in Massachusetts, and we lived in the Boston area for more than 30 years.

[Worst Username Ever]

6. I tie them up into a big ball and give them to the dog.

Cheap chew toy, and she loves chewing them apart.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Maybe I'll call the local Humane Society and ask about that.

Thanks, Worst Username Ever (not THE worst, however...).

[Habibi]

10. Catnip toys

Dump a little catnip into the toe, then tie it in a knot. Kitties are in heaven.

[Radio_Lady]

15. Is there a cat rescue league in Portland, OREGON?

I'm allergic to cats and haven't a clue.

Thanks....!!! Love and hugs to you, Habibi!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. rice bags

if the socks don't have holes, you can fill the socks with rice and sew the open end shut. Don't fill the sock completely so that the rice can move around and mold to your body. You can pop in the freezer to make a cold pack or heat in the microwave for a hot pack. It's great to put on sore muscles.

[Radio_Lady]

14. Whoa. That's a great idea -- you guys and gals are surely imaginative!

[RamblingRose]

12. We use them as an eraser for dry erase boards n/t

[Radio_Lady]

13. Hey, there's an idea I hadn't thought of... thanks!

[Az]

16. Keep them as sacred symbols of your approval by the IPU

The Invisible Pink Unicorn visits those who are worthy and removes a single sock from their dryer or washer. You can sometimes tell she has been to your laundry room by the coloring of your white garments changing to pink.

Know that the more socks you have with missing partners the more blessed you are. The IPU must truly approve of you.

[Radio_Lady]

19. I love unicorns and glad to know about the IPU...

You should write a children's book about this neat idea. Is it original?

[DS1]

18. Send them to me, my roommates dogs love socks

[Radio_Lady]

21. I didn't realize that dogs liked socks. For some reason,

I remember the veterinarian telling me they would chew them up and swallow the fibers and rubberized tops and get lodged in their intestines.

[DS1]

23. These don't chew them so much as carry them around

and breath through them, it's no wonder their breath stinks. They are also considered gifts to us from dogs. Look, I brought you a sock, why don't you want to put it on?

[FuzzySlippers]

20. One time I bought some lavender potpourri

to put in my dresser drawers to stave off that stale drawer smell, but I couldn't think of wbat to use as sachet bags. Then I hit upon the perfect solution.....socks without partners!

[youthere]

22. My grandmother used to sew them together

and make lap blankets out of them. WARM!

[Radio_Lady]

24. I love all the crafts ideas you've given me, but I can't sew worth a darn!

No pun intended.

I'm going to put some of your imaginative ideas to work and thanks to all who responded to my request earlier this evening.

[Jamastiene]

25. Send the cotton ones to me, somehow.

I wear mismatched socks all the time. I sometimes even wear socks that are different lengths and colors. I have no problem with it either. I could care less. They merely serve one purpose...Hmm, what purpose do they serve? Why do we wear socks? I only see one purpose for them. That is, to keep my feet from breaking out from the nylon in the lining of my shoes. The fact that it's getting harder and harder to find cotton socks is disturbing to my feetsies. They break out terribly if I wear nylon. No kidding.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

26. Use them to curl your granddaughter's hair

My mom used to tie socks in my hair before I went to bed so I'd wake up with some semblance of curls. Very embarrassing when company drops by!

[Radio_Lady]

27. Your idea about the rolled up socks for cats and dogs --

will be discussed Monday with various local animal agencies.

I rolled up all the socks I have into twelve nice balls and next week, I'll present them to any non-profit that wants them!

GO DU -- GO DU ---------------------------->

Radio Lady
(tired but happy on a Saturday afternoon!!)

[wovenpaint]

28. Potholders

cut the socks into those loops and weave them into potholders on that little red frame :hi: