Uses for Old Socks
Wendy-Lou Harding from Chilcotin, British Columbia
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RE: Uses for Old Socks
Old socks filled with beans or rice and closed with a tight knot are a one-minute, no-money, effective solution to craft your own photographic bean bag yourself quite easily.
A bean bag is basically a compact cradle for your camera to rest on and do not shake while shooting photographs: it is very handy when you cannot carry a tripod with you.
You can find a bit more about photo bean bags and how to craft one starting at the link below:
http://www.kirpi.it/r/topic/fireworks#post-143
Post by kirpi
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Make an ipod holder, works well with those real cool socks that you just can't seem to throw out.
Post By kamlin (Guest Post)
sock bun
Very cool idea, I don't have long hair and I never wear a bun, but that is clever.
Post By lisa (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I love the snowman idea... It's totally awesome! As my mom said, "OMG!"
Post By blondie (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Comment: I've never enjoyed any posting more than this one. Way to go everyone. I have a tub of mismatched socks right now I can hardly wait to "play" with. Thanks
Post By Barbara (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Old socks are great for dusting. Slip on hand or just use a rag to dust furniture, wipe mirrors and windows, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Post By Jess (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Pour one cup of uncooked rice into the toe of a sock (make sure there is no hole in the toe). Tie the sock off above the rice. Voila! You have a therapy rice bag. Heat it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, and then use the warm bag on sore muscles, aching joints, painful sinuses, whatever. Make sure that you use a tighter knit sock, not a loose one that the rice grains will fall through. You can add some dried herbs before tying a knot so that you have a scented rice bag--peppermint for relaxation, sage for headaches, rosemary because it smells so nice.
Post by teachpad
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Thanks everyone for your suggestions!
Post By wildernesswoman (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I stuff an old clean sock with Catnip, then twist the area where the catnip is shut, then wrap the rest of the sock around this, (inside-out) then twist again, then inside out again & twist again until I have a "Catnip Ball"...
My cat has the best time, rolling this sock-ball around the room & attacking it!
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---> You can also fill old socks with body powder & tie them shut to make your own "Powder Puffs".
---> Use the cuffs of colored fancy socks for ribbing when sewing.
---> Fill toe of old sock with salt & wipe this on bathroom mirrors to keep them from fogging up.
---> Can you find a better thing to clean or polish with? ... I think NOT!
---> Sock Dolls... We all remember these!
Post by Cyinda
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I use them as a throw in front of the door way where air creeps in. I have one long sock and stuff it with old socks and tie it at the end, you may to use two stuff sock tied together in order to make it long enough. You can also use it for your pets to play with, and it wont cost you a cent.
Post by samjames
RE: Uses for Old Socks
This is a Great game for outdoor boy parties and such. It works best with old nylon mens socks or womens knee highs or even the toe ends of worn out panty hose. Just fill the toe end of the sock/stocking with flour and tie up the open end. Make plenty of these, at least 10 per child. Use a timer and say Go when they are to start. Then they can play army or war and "bomb" each other and it is very child friendly, low cost, easy to tell when you have been "tagged" or "bombed" and makes for a FUN time for all. After the timer goes off, they get to count who got hit the most times and who won!! Was such a big hit at a birthday party for my TWEEN son !! They brush themselves off and beg to play Again and Again!!
Post By HungryArtist (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Put two tennis balls side by side tightly in the toe of the sock. Tie the rest of the sock into a tight knot up against the tennis balls. While in the bed, on the floor or in your recliner, place the tennis balls under your neck one on each side of your neckbone. This was suggested to me by my massage therapist and is great for relieving stress and tightness of the neck
Post By Skye (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Use ribbing tops of socks to sew on mittens and then they stay neatly on the child and can tuck under a sweater neatly before the coat is put on.
(I actually make the mittens first out of old sweaters and then sew extra long "old sock" cuffs.
If the colours match up it actually can look quite trendy.
Post By Lin (Guest Post)
Rag Curls
This has been passed down through the women in my family from the Depression Era...Make RAG CURLS. Cut socks into small strips. Take a large or small portion of hair, tie sock strip at the bottom of the lock of hair, roll up to the scalp, then tie again. You get very nice, tight, fun curls! Works best when done with wet hair, and sets overnight.
Post By Cat (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Sometimes we use them to wash the car and there's enough of them so everybody can help.
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I came across an old mop head that opens up to take a group of mop stringssewn together. I laid 6-8 tube socks next to each other the width of the mop, longways, and sewed them down the center. They even wash in the washer.
Post By gretta (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I happened across an old mop head that opens up to take a long set of mop strings bound in the center. I laid 6-8 old tube socks to make a wide rectangle, then sewed down the center to hold them together. Works great and I can wash it in the washer!
Post By gretta (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
The Sock Bun suggestion is kewl!
Post By Lynnie (Guest Post)
make snow men
divide the sock into 3 parts and fill them up with rice. put a pipe cleaner as a nose, buttos for eyes and for coal.
Post By Hannah (Guest Post)
dog foot warmers
you could put them on you dog or cat and have them be foot warmers.
Post By Amanda. (Guest Post)
fun with kids
Be traditional! Make your old socks into sock puppets. They're fun!
Post By Dana Gruber (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
you can use them for polishing shoes. Fill them with rice and microwave them for sore muscels. Use extra long ones as back scrubbers. Also great for wrist sweat bands and head sweat bands.
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
thanks to everyone :) that wrote on this website it help me alot
Post By kayla (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
i'm in MCJROTC and the Marine Corps has sort of ''adopted'' the sock bun as a way to hold their hair up and i love it..i wear it..:) it rocks!! lol
Post By Brooke (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Old socks make the warmest quilts you'll ever have. Use clean, stain free socks to make a patchwork quilt. Just cut out useable portions and sew together until you get the size you want.
This is a wonderful "as you grow" project. Start with your childrens baby socks (or clothes) and each birthday take time (together) to add that years collection to the quilt. Be sure to date each sock with the year. By the time they go off to college or move out on their own, they have a warm quilt and a livetime of wonderful memories of time spent with just you. Add your own socks too, just mark whose is whose.
Add socks from special occations when possible (even if still brand new)
Easy, Easy, Easy, even for people who can not sew.
Post by Becky3501
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Sock Bun. The best way for me to use old socks is as sock buns. Cut the toes part off, wrap it around your hair into a ponytail, then take a scrunchie and take the hair and wrap it around the ponytail then voila! a sock bun. It makes your hair more fuller. I'm 13 so it probably sound stupid the way I put it. Thnx.
Post By Dana (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I WEAR THEM
when worn with jeans they can't be seen, and with shorts or sandals I try to make the combo as ourageous as possible
as to the comment "uh, your socks don't match...."
I say "sure they do! see-taupe and black with taupe flowers!"
My husband however, never loses socks- he balls them up after wearing them. even if they end up under the bed, at least they're together
Post by for a lark
RE: Uses for Old Socks
The big question is....."where does the other sock go?"!!!!
Most lost things are under the microwave, or down the side of the couch.....but socks.....
Goodness knows!
The answer isn't 42 in this case!
x x
Post by Julie UK
Uses for Old Socks
Heck I put the whole sock over my frozen water bottle to keep it cold longer and as the water freezes the sock obsorbs the wetness.
Ziggee
Post by Ziggee
Using Old Socks
A lady I know cuts the tops off of old socks (that the elastic is still good) and uses them around her water bottles that she's partially froze and refilled with water, so her hands don't get cold.
By Terri H.
Post by ThriftyFun
Using Old Socks
A lady I know cuts the tops off of old socks (that the elastic is still good) and uses them around her water bottles that she's partially froze and refilled with water, so her hands don't get cold.
By Terri H.
Post by ThriftyFun
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Counting myself, Rocky (my wife), Michael Pliskin (my friend the photographer), the photographer from the Los Angeles Times, and four passers-by I collared into the games, there were a total of eight participants in yesterday's world premiere of Socker on the Beach. The reporter from the LA Times was almost there, but, from a distance of more than two feet, it was rather difficult to tell there was an event going on, and sadly, she missed it.
It wasn't, as we had "planned," a true game of Junkyard Beach Soccer. The only thing anybody ( I ) brought that was anywhere close to Official Junk was my extensive singleton sock collection. Despite the goodly press from local papers, and probably having something to do with it being a Wednesday at 2:22 p.m., no one had brought any junk for us to play with. Nevertheless, a truly auspicious world premiere it became.
We never actually played anything that you'd call soccer, either. But we did play with socks. We really did. Hence, the name "Socker on the Beach."
For me, personally, and I mean "personally," as a participant, there were three events that made the world premiere of Socker on the Beach truly monumental in scope:
1. First, there was playing with socks, the beach, and Rocky. If it weren't for her, I might've never noticed how the sand is really part of the "junk," and that you can dig holes in it for Socker Golf, and even dig trenches and lay tracks for a game of miniature golf-in-the-sand-with-socks. Nor would I have ever dreamed of playing See if You can Get the Sockball Stuck in the Volleyball Net and then See if You Can Use Other Sockballs to Knock it Through to the Other Side. Nor would I have had the chance to see, so vividly, after knowing her for 42 years, what a wonderful, fun, spontaneous, responsive, brilliantly creative player she is.
2. Second, there was playing with these strangers - two women and a pre-adolescent boy for whom English was clearly a second language. We were using sockball-stuffed knee socks as hockey sticks, sometimes swinging, sometimes whirling them around like propellers, trying to hit other sockballs into a sandpit.
3. Third. Playing with the wind. The game of Air Socks that we created, following the discovery that the wind was so constant and strong that if we kinda tossed a single sock into it, towards, the volleyball net, the sock would sometimes just get stuck, and, with sufficient skill and luck, it was possible to get a sock stuck very near the very top of the net. We played this with someone who was about to continue running with friends, whom we cajoled into joining us after our other friends left. (They did feel like friends, those people whose names I never learned, with whom I barely spoke, but played so innocently intimately.)
http://junkyardsports.com/
Post By Bernie DeKoven (Guest Post)
cozy
keep an old pair of socks around in case you lose your gloves or mittens. if the need ever arrises slip the sock over your hands. it may not be stylish but
it will do for the time being
Post By skyler dorn (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Slip one of those old socks over a yardstick and use it to clean under your refrigerator. Beats having to move that heavy appliance.
Post By Bonnie (Guest Post)
Another Use For Old Socks And Unwearable Clothing
I cut down the socks to fit onto my "Swiffer" for washing floors or dusting. I also use unwearable old clothing (holey shirts, etc.)
By Kathy
Post by ThriftyFun
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I had a pair of knee socks, and I didn't like the up to the knee feeling. So since Jim needed new cuffs on his work jacket, I cut off the six inches off the tops of my socks folded them and after removing the old torn cuffs, I resewed the sock tops onto the jacket! It really looks like they were meant to be there! He couldnt believe it! (and I love my socks now!)
Post by kassi59
RE: Uses for Old Socks
With 8 children we have lots and lots of miss matched socks......over the years we have found many uses.....we breed dogs so most of the tips relate to children and dogs....if any one (dog) gets a sore foot you can slide them over the paw to protect it from dirt, sand, snow, or sidewalk salt........when our mothers have a litter we use them in the whelping house for bedding and in the kennel for absorption........makes clean up quick and easy as you can put a bag on your hand to pick them up and place them into another bag, until they can be washed or thrown out which ever you prefer....we use red and orange socks to tie to our dogs collars during hunting season, they can be used to tied just about anything together, rolled carpet, corners of kennels if brackets break,etc. we have made plenty of chew toys from old socks but find spraying them lightly with chicken or beef broth seems to keep them from chewing our good socks if they see them in a basket.....we also have used them on our children and grandchildren to keep little knees from getting sore from crawling or when learning how to walk, to tie cupboard doors shut, makeshift mittens, you can even warm an extra bottle for a trip and place it in a ziplocs bag and put a sock or two over the bottle to retain the heat-warming the socks in the dryer or microwave keeps them from drawing the heat from the bottle, slide a few on a thermos and hot drinks stay hot longer.....as long as the socks are clean it's all good......as for household uses they are endless.... they can be used for cleaning ashtrays, oven spills, any spill for that matter....wiping computer and TV screens, cleaning white message and chalkboards, dusting picture frames, cleaning sticky doorknobs, cleaning sinks or toilets.......easy and disposable..... the list goes on and on
Post By Barbie (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
For those of you who give their dogs plastic soda bottles to chew on, here's another idea for your old socks and pop bottles. Take one plastic pop bottle (about 20 ounces) and put about 4 or 5 dried beans inside the bottle and put the cap on. Slip this bottle (cap side up) inside an old adult- sized sock and tie a knot at the top near the cap. Now give it to your dog for some chewing fun! This works best with tube socks because they are a bit longer, but crew socks will also work. Cheap and fun! Tori
Post by truerblue
Sock Dust Rag
Use the sock as a dust rag, you can slide the sock on your hand and clean your house right up! It is great for furniture, in the kitchen and in the bathroom too!
By Crystal
Post by ThriftyFun
Another Use For Old Socks
Cut off the cuff of sock and turn inside out. Sew across bottom and turn right side out. Slip over your Crisco oil or other vegetable oil bottle in your cabinets and keeps from getting oily spots in your cabinets.
By Georgia
Post by ThriftyFun
RE: Uses for Old Socks
1) I take the sockes and cut them into 1/2 in pieces, this gives me a small tube. I them take them and make pot holders by weaving them together using a loom made of nails and boards forming a square.
2) Take those same pot holders stitch them together and make a rug for in front of your sink or stove.
3) Take same pot holders and stitch one to each side of one pot holder, fold all towards each other and make a basket.
Decorate each with rite dye for brite colors as to most socks are cotton and most food dyes will wash out or leave a pale color. You may even try doing a tie dye look for fun.
Post by sally97128
Old Socks To The Rescue
Do not throw your old socks away. Save them as they make effective bandages for hard-to-dress areas on horses' (and dogs') legs.
By joesgirl
Post by ThriftyFun
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I use old socks to put a bun in my hair. Cut the toe part off and roll the sock to form a donut. Place it over my ponytail and cover the sock with my ponytail.
Post By Jewels (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I tied three of my husband's old socks together and made a great toy for our dogs :)
Post by glomax56
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Hand warmers. Cut the toes off, cut a slit for your thumbs, and you have an impromptu pair of fingerless mittens for keeping your hands warm while you write letters, study, type, or do housework.
Post by Jayne
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Very silly ghost toys. Stuff an old white sock, draw or embroider a scary face on it. These are perfect for scaring people, hahahaha!
Post By Jayne (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Old socks make great beanbags and are easy to make. Or you can stuff them with scrap fabric for a softer, indoor bean bag game.
Post By Jayne (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Make a soap-holding washcloth for the shower. Cut 2 old socks in half lengthwise, sew them together. Using 2 socks gives you more fabric for a nicer washcloth. Now sew up 3 sides to make a "bag". Sew almost all the 4th side too, leaving an opening just big enough to put small pieces of soaps inside. Turn right side out. Sew an old shoelace (cut off the ends or they'll scratch you) or use a piece of trim sewn to the top so you can cinch it together after you put soap into the bag. Insert soap, tie it up, and use.
Post By Jayne (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Make dishrags. My favorite dishrags are from old socks. Here's how: Uses 2 socks. Cut off the toes. Cut each in half lengthwise. Turn one around so the cuff of one sock is aligned with the bottom portion of the other. Makes a nicer cloth that way and people can't readily tell it's socks you're washing your dishes with. Sew them together. Now, sew across the bumps the heels make and cut away that extra fabric, making it flat. Zig-zag around the edges. This takes only 10 minutes and you have a nice wash cloth.
Post By Jayne (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Another idea for dusting with socks. Slip a sock, turned inside out (so the loops show and catches more dust), over the end of a yardstick. Now you can reach those cobwebs on the ceiling and in the corners. It's up to you if you want to wash it or trash it when you're done.
Post By Cheryl from Missouri (Guest Post)
Saving Old Socks for Dusting
When doing laundry, I pull out any socks with holes or that are stretched out and put them in the rag bag. When dusting, socks work great to get into the little crevices. Just put it on your hand to do the dusting. When done I just toss it or rewash it. There is never a short supply of socks in the rag bag.
By Amy
Post by ThriftyFun
RE: Uses for Old Socks
This project is great for girls - Take old tube socks and cut off all the way from toe to heel. Slide onto arm and cut holes to place thumbs threw. Now use your imagination to decorate your Arm Warmers. Tye Dye, Solid Color dye, paint, beads, buttons, only your imagination is limiting. Great project for preteen or young teen slumber parties.
Post by Suzanne S.
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Make unique pet beds as seen on HGTV's Smart Solutions Episode SSL-938. It looks somewhat like a braided rug. See instructions, with pictures, at the link below:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_pets/article/0,1801,HGTV_3151_2634952,00.html
What a great Christmas gift this would make for a pet-loving friend!
Post by FlaKathy
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Here's a use for unmated socks. Make shoe fresheners. Fill the sock with kitty litter (make to absorb odor & wetness), sew or rubberband the top, and place into shoe. Shoes should be fresher and drier in a few hours.
Post By Cheryl from Missouri (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
You can cut the tops off and then cut them down the back or bottom open them out and they make great dish rags or what ever. I haven't bought a dish rag in several years. If they get really ucky throw out I always have plenty of old socks.
Post By Judi (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
I have a couple suggestions...
1) You can easily turn an old sock into very creative clothing for dolls (such as a Barbie doll), by cutting the toe-part off and just getting a lil creative :)
2) You can make a very festive puppet, the one I made was a reindeer for Christmas...
You simply stuff the sock with fluff or anything really, and then tie an elastic around the opening...then glue the front part of the sock down...so it looks like a head and a neck...the rest you can leave to your imagination, be Creative! (This is also a fun project for kids to work on!)
Post By Mandy (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
Got a little one crawling? Cut the toes of the socks off and slide over your little ones knees for extra protection during crawling and playing.
Post By Nicole (Guest Post)
RE: Uses for Old Socks
A great idea that I had seen this past week while volunteering at a Girl Scout day camp was they had used nylon stockings and put a bar of soap inside of them and tied them to a water jug to use as a handwashing station.
Post By Tawnda (Guest Post)
A Use for Old Socks
I save old socks that have holes in them for use in the garden to tie up flowers, etc.
By ldslupie (at) gtcom (dot) net
Post by ThriftyFun
Keep Your Shoes Clean When Painting
Keep paint splatters off you shoes by putting old socks over your shoes.
Post by ThriftyFun
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