May 20, 2014

A System for Socks

Long ago I switched up our sock routine.
It is one of the smartest strategies I've ever implemented.
At the time of the switch, my three young men along with
my husband went through socks like nobody's business.  

It was overwhelming.  And, discouraging.
There were so many socks to sort and pair up and put away.


Enter the grand idea of never sorting, pairing up, or putting away again.

Brilliant!  The system has been working out wonderfully well.
I cannot remember how I discovered this way of doing things,
but, I am so incredibly thankful for whoever it was that enlightened me!

So, what do we do with all those socks?
They are washed all at once (in their own separate load
all by their lonesomes) after a full load has been collected,
or, when the sock bin is empty ~ whichever comes first.


When they come out of the dryer, they go straight into the dedicated
laundry basket which lives in the closet in the laundry/mud room.
When socks are needed, the basket is dug through and socks are found.
Never do they need to be paired up or put away.

Happy happy.  No more sock woes.  I love it!

Oh, and those doors are normally shut ~ neat and tidy.  
Better and better.  Out of sight ~ out of mind.



What about you?  Do you have a system for socks?
Do you have other laundry ideas to share?
Do tell.  We'd all enjoy some fresh inspiration, I am sure.

Happy laundry day!

Many Blessings, Camille

9 comments:

Angela said...

Speaking of socks, I fold them together and put them in the laundry hamper. I separate them when I wash them. I find I'm "loosing" less socks that way. When I was working I use to put a pink stitch in my black socks so it was really easy when I got dressed in the morning to know what colour socks I was putting on.

Pam said...

I love this… I think it is a very important topic for conversation.. because yes, socks have been a challenge at our house as well… an overwhelming challenge. We actually have a system similar to yours; It used to be difficult when all the boys were here; nearly impossible. In those days, I marked names with a marker. I think you solution is better. Nowadays it is easy to tell the difference between Steve and Eddie's socks. Eddie has smaller feet, and a different taste in socks. So what I do is I wash them, and then take Eddies pile and put them with his laundry for him to put away, and put Steve's in a pile with and with his stuff. I don't pair any of them up any more, and what a wonderful release that is. Way too much work to try to do that.
Blessings,
Pam

Anonymous said...

Ha! I LOVE this. Now I know I am not the only one. Years ago I began using a huge laundry bag as our sock bag. :) All socks go into the bag and everyone just grabs the socks when they need them straight out of the bag. I really thought I was the ONLY one who did this. :)

Patty said...

When the boys were younger we often found socks out of a basket also. With two grown and married now it is a bit easier to sort and mate but we still have a "socks without a mate" bag or basket hanging out in the laundry.

Maryann said...

My DIL does the very same thing, but the girls don't always wear white socks. No problem, they wear them mismatched, apparently socks just need to "go together" these days. There is actually a company called Little Mismatch that sells socks that don't match but go together...That's where DIL got her inspiration. It is a time saver even though it looks a little odd :)

Dianna said...

I like your sock system! I only have my hubby and myself to take care of socks so it isn't as much of a job as it was at one point when the kids were at home. But I certainly wish I'd known about your system back then! :)

Camille said...

Dear Angela ~ Ah, yes...colour coding is a good idea. And, yippee for less lost socks. Happy sock sorting to you! :)

Dear Pam ~ I can only imagine what all those socks were like when all the children were home! Yes, you describe it well when you say it was a wonderful release to stop pairing up all those socks...exactly! :)

Dear Nikki ~ Yippee! We are on the same page. Too funny that you thought it was just you...no, my friend...we are in a club. :)

Dear Patty ~ I often wonder about those unpaired socks...how does it happen? Presumably there were two at one time...where did that missing one go?? :)

Dear Maryann ~ Hmmmm....sounds like a Mum invented that store out of desperation...see Patty's comment about missing socks above. I didn't know little girls were mis-matching coloured socks these days. I will have to tell Emma. :)

Dear Dianna ~ Sorry that this info came a little late to your home. I can tell you that it was a huge relief to me when I discovered it a few years ago. I cannot remember which friend enlightened me...but, it was such a blessing that she shared. :)

Many Blessings,
Camille

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Great idea!

Camille said...

Dear Jackie ~ LOL! It works for me. :) Hugs, Camille