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Original poster

Where do all the odd socks go?

50 replies

Iloveabaconbutty · 02/05/2023 07:10

Just that really. We have a regular pile of about ten clean single socks by the washing machine some of which have been there for months.

Their partners have never turned up or seem to be anywhere that we can think of. We have searched everywhere. They seem quite literally to have vanished off the face of the earth.

There has to be some logical solution but it beats me what it is!

OP posts:
RoonilWazlib21 · 02/05/2023 07:14

They become tuppware lids I'm convinced!

SouthCountryGirl · 02/05/2023 07:30

I get this a lot. It turns out I appear to keep pairing odd ones together. (I'm colourblind)

Or as PP says Tupperware lids!

MandyMotherOfBrian · 02/05/2023 07:32

Haha, Tupperware lids, love it! No idea where they go in this house, currently two on top of the drawers - all the washing has been done - and they’ve only gone missing this week 🤷‍♀️ Always DHs too, never line or the DCs. He’s going to have to wear odd pairs.

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Clothing
wincarwoo · 02/05/2023 07:33

They are often to be found in duvet covers

Itsanotherhreatday · 02/05/2023 07:35

Duvet covers - actually in the aock drawers, back of the car, down the sofa

Slippery buggers!

Roselilly36 · 02/05/2023 07:44

Same problem here OP, even going on for years! I keep a pile of the odds for a while in the hope I will find their partner, sometimes I manage to make up a few pairs. After a few weeks, I throw the odds out. It is one of life mysteries!

TheRookie · 02/05/2023 07:54

I often find them in the corners of fitted sheets when I shake them out to put them on the bed 🤪

Catsmere · 02/05/2023 08:04

The Eater of Socks gets them, obviously.

https://twitter.com/Discworld_com/status/1391434987073908736?s=20

Crunchymum · 02/05/2023 08:18

Mine end up in my fucking washing machine filter (months later, chewed up) and stop the poxy machine working.

Past few years I've been using a wash bag for socks and still the odd one goes AWOL.

AssertiveGertrude · 02/05/2023 08:22

I had a massive clear out yestdag and found 15 odd socks so into the bin they went (dh would hold onto everything)

no doubt I will find the matches later this week 😆

Original poster
Iloveabaconbutty · 03/05/2023 11:45

I'm glad we're not alone! Actually I did suspect the mysterious vanishing socks issue is a pretty universal phenomenon.

Transforming into tupperware lids! Now that does explain that other mystery! 😂
And I'll keep an eye out for the Eater of Socks, Hahaha!!

OP posts:
blobby10 · 03/05/2023 11:55

Its gloves in my house - more specifically weight training and cycling gloves. I found 7 gloves at the weekend, no pairs, all different styles, sizes and colours, no conveniently suitable right and left handers either for mixing and matching!

Yoyooo · 03/05/2023 11:57

Buy all the same socks! Problem solved.

I wear my DH socks anyway they're bigger and comfier.

eatdrinkandbemerry · 03/05/2023 11:59

Same here but the missing one's only turn up when I'm fed up of seeing the odd ones and throw them away 😡

Freshfoods · 03/05/2023 12:00

The Borrowers live somewhere in your house.

Bovrilla · 03/05/2023 12:00

Same place as hair elastics

MichelleScarn · 03/05/2023 12:02

Bovrilla · 03/05/2023 12:00

Same place as hair elastics

And kirby grips!

PToosher · 03/05/2023 12:07

I bought 3 pairs of different brightly coloured Argyle pattern socks. Nice and easy to pair up, I thought.
First wash and I ended up with a pair and 2 singles. Years later and I still have them, their partners have never turned up, I'm hoping one day they will be discovered somewhere and I will have and 'Ahaaa' moment.

MidgeHardcastle · 03/05/2023 12:18

I have them all here @Iloveabaconbutty! There are 70+ in my airing cupboard, I'm too scared to throw them away in case I find their partners.

Original poster
Iloveabaconbutty · 03/05/2023 12:43

@MidgeHardcastle 70+?!! I think our record is 17, with probably a couple of socks now "de-partnered" for maybe three or so years. I wonder if there's a world record? 😂

OP posts:
LilacpointMummy · 03/05/2023 13:20

The washing machine has eaten them - my friend lives out in the countryside and isn't on mains sewage so they have a septic tank. When they got it pumped out, it was full of odd socks!

I always wash socks in a laundry bag now - no more missing socks - life-changing 😆

Caramelsmadfuzzytail · 03/05/2023 14:14

A sock gremlin nabs them to make a nest with and all the baby sock gremlins rip them to shreds, never to be seen again.

Chersfrozenface · 03/05/2023 14:17

eatdrinkandbemerry · 03/05/2023 11:59

Same here but the missing one's only turn up when I'm fed up of seeing the odd ones and throw them away 😡

Absolutely this

DanFmDorking · 03/05/2023 14:32

Socks are afraid of the wash. When you wash them they choose one of their number to act as a sacrifice to the clothes god in exchange for deliverance from the wet and sudsy hell. The sacrifice is slowly unravelled during the course of the wash.

The sock retreats by whatever means into the pipes leading out of the washer. It hibernates deep in the bowels of the house until it receives some sort of signal, then it pupates into a coat hanger, and makes its way out, come what may.

In effect, socks are the larval form of coat hangers.

Bonjovispjs · 03/05/2023 14:46

The odd sock monster takes them to make a bed out of them. I've just started wearing odd socks 🤷🏻‍♀️