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Housekeeping

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The IKEA socktopus - can this be fixed?

23 replies

SwedishEdith · 10/05/2026 17:45

Every time I get one of these, this happens to two or three of the pegs. I witnessed it happen before my eyes last time. Pushing them back together doesn't really do anything. Is there some magical way to fix these?

The IKEA socktopus - can this be fixed?
The IKEA socktopus - can this be fixed?
OP posts:
LowLightsHighLights · 10/05/2026 17:47

Probably best to just buy a more expensive, better quality, one from a different brand. Maybe Lakeland?

Rather than repeatedly buying "cheap" ones from IKEA.

Tortephant · 10/05/2026 17:48

I buy several at once and don’t expect them to last for more than a year.

BoilingHotand50something · 10/05/2026 17:50

My two metal ones have lasted years. I would suggest spending a bit more and not keep buying cheap plastic.

Theraininspainishere · 10/05/2026 17:51

No, but I have several and replace pegs that break, with pegs from one that has less and less pegs on over time.
Buy a new one every year or so.
I generally have 3 at any one time.

SwedishEdith · 10/05/2026 17:51

Just bought another today. It's only ever about three max it happens to so drape my bras over those arms. Just looked at the Lakeland one and they don't really look as good.

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 10/05/2026 17:52

Theraininspainishere · 10/05/2026 17:51

No, but I have several and replace pegs that break, with pegs from one that has less and less pegs on over time.
Buy a new one every year or so.
I generally have 3 at any one time.

Oh, might try that. I have about 3 on the go at a time as well.

OP posts:
northerngoldilocks · 10/05/2026 17:52

when I buy another I remove all the ones from the old one that haven’t broken and swap them out as and when needed on the new one. Would be better if could just get replacements without buying the whole thing though

Jellycatrabbit · 10/05/2026 17:53

I buy some ordinary plastic pegs (mine are from Asda) which have holes in the top, and attach them to the socktopus with cable ties. It's not very elegant but it's functional. Wrenching off the broken pegs is the hardest part.

I hate throwing anything away!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/05/2026 17:57

northerngoldilocks · 10/05/2026 17:52

when I buy another I remove all the ones from the old one that haven’t broken and swap them out as and when needed on the new one. Would be better if could just get replacements without buying the whole thing though

I do this too. My current soctopus has got 3 different colours of pegs on it but it means less waste.

i’ve not seen metal ones, but will have a look

ChocolateCinderToffee · 12/05/2026 17:23

I've given up buying them because the peg hinges snap after a year or so. The blurb with it tells you never to leave it outdoors: well, I brought my last one in religiously after ever use and the hinges still snap. My current one is from Lakeland.

BlueBlueCowWondering · 12/05/2026 19:05

I've found that the white one has lasted really well whereas the blue or green have broken. But like others upthread I just replace the individual pegs. But I've only ever used it indoors and still the coloured ones have come apart.

But for those suggesting buying alternatives, I've had these break too - Lakeland etc

saveforthat · 12/05/2026 19:09

I got a metal one from Amazon. It's lasted for years and wasn't expensive.

saveforthat · 12/05/2026 19:11

saveforthat · 12/05/2026 19:09

I got a metal one from Amazon. It's lasted for years and wasn't expensive.

This one
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Folding-Hangers-Underwear-Accessories-Stainless/dp/B09ZQQ19ZH/ref=sxin_24_pa_sp_phone_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.9cf95bf1-df84-4821-8204-a62b0aa69a88%3Aamzn1.sym.9cf95bf1-df84-4821-8204-a62b0aa69a88&crid=3H8EP7R7ANSUM&cv_ct_cx=socktopus&keywords=socktopus&pd_rd_i=B09ZQQ19ZH&pd_rd_r=af7a6c35-4fd1-4389-b9b0-4df32583f965&pd_rd_w=yH82W&pd_rd_wg=i41Za&pf_rd_p=9cf95bf1-df84-4821-8204-a62b0aa69a88&pf_rd_r=2461JP5X11XB3X0A0NB4&qid=1778609400&sprefix=soctop%2Caps%2C223&sr=1-2-04e60fc1-6058-4519-8b84-7716cd8311ee-spons&aref=6enS0i8M13&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

Amazon

Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Folding-Hangers-Underwear-Accessories-Stainless/dp/B09ZQQ19ZH/ref=sxin_24_pa_sp_phone_search_thematic_sspa?aref=6enS0i8M13&content-id=amzn1.sym.9cf95bf1-df84-4821-8204-a62b0aa69a88%3Aamzn1.sym.9cf95bf1-df84-4821-8204-a62b0aa69a88&crid=3H8EP7R7ANSUM&cv_ct_cx=socktopus&keywords=socktopus&pd_rd_i=B09ZQQ19ZH&pd_rd_r=af7a6c35-4fd1-4389-b9b0-4df32583f965&pd_rd_w=yH82W&pd_rd_wg=i41Za&pf_rd_p=9cf95bf1-df84-4821-8204-a62b0aa69a88&pf_rd_r=2461JP5X11XB3X0A0NB4&psc=1&qid=1778609400&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&sprefix=soctop%2Caps%2C223&sr=1-2-04e60fc1-6058-4519-8b84-7716cd8311ee-spons&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-housekeeping-5528059-the-ikea-socktopus-can-this-be-fixed

NotMeNoNo · 12/05/2026 19:18

Tie on a normal peg with string?

scrivette · 12/05/2026 19:33

That only ever happened to me with the one you have got, I have several dark blue ones which are older and they haven’t gone like that. They are now doing a green one, so hopefully that’s better quality.

SleepingDogsLie · 12/05/2026 19:35

scrivette · 12/05/2026 19:33

That only ever happened to me with the one you have got, I have several dark blue ones which are older and they haven’t gone like that. They are now doing a green one, so hopefully that’s better quality.

I’ve read this thread in surprise - I have a dark blue one and have never had an issue. Perhaps the older ones were better quality?

GellerYeller · 12/05/2026 19:38

I find that the arms stop sitting at the correct angle so they point downwards and sort of ‘flop’ after a while. The IKEA ones are better than home bargains though. Snappy shoddy pegs. Ours lives indoors mostly, too.

SwedishEdith · 12/05/2026 19:44

I bought a green one on Sunday - still unwrapped. I'm a sucker for them because of the colours. I was looking at the ones I have to swap out the broken ones with working ones and can't see how you do it. The plastic bit looks connected at both sides so doesn't look like you can slide a broken one out. Are people just cutting the plastic to do it?

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 12/05/2026 19:46

GellerYeller · 12/05/2026 19:38

I find that the arms stop sitting at the correct angle so they point downwards and sort of ‘flop’ after a while. The IKEA ones are better than home bargains though. Snappy shoddy pegs. Ours lives indoors mostly, too.

Yeah, I've got a few with droopy arms as well. With my oldest red one, the body just dropped off the hanger 😆 The older ones are left outside to fend for themselves though.

OP posts:
northerngoldilocks · 12/05/2026 21:32

@SwedishEdiththe hooks on the arms that the pegs hang from have a gap you can slide the metal circle off

SwedishEdith · 12/05/2026 22:13

northerngoldilocks · 12/05/2026 21:32

@SwedishEdiththe hooks on the arms that the pegs hang from have a gap you can slide the metal circle off

Ah, thank you. Will look properly and try to swap.

OP posts:
GlassBellJar · 12/05/2026 23:03

I have these ones from Amazon here theyre stainless steel and absolutely brilliant, I checked on my order history and I bought them back in 2021, they get forgotten out in the rain and some seriously hard use and they are still good as new with absolutely no broken pegs. They will also take a pretty weighty lot of items on them, I often hang trousers and shirts on them using the pegs and they hold it no problem. Occasionally I have to re-loop a peg back through but it’s a two second job. I can see theyre out of stock in my link but they have others the same if you search for metal peg hanger/sock hanger

Amazon

Amazon

https://amzn.eu/d/05ZxnsdO?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-housekeeping-5528059-the-ikea-socktopus-can-this-be-fixed

PiggieWig · 12/05/2026 23:06

This had never happened to me. We just tend to get dislocated tentacles.

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