Here’s a simple hack that will put an end to all the odd socks FOREVER!

The other day I lost the plot. We were running late to get out the door (as per usual) and I couldn’t find any matching socks for my boys in the mountain of clean washing.

“Argh!” I screamed, while rummaging through the pile like my toddler in a ball pit. “I am so OVER socks. Why are there NEVER any stupid pairs?” I said, pegging a lonesome orange one at the wall. 

Then I had a revelation.

What if I threw out all of my sons’ socks that need partners and just replace them with ones in the same colour that can be matched to any of the others?

I know. Brilliant.

Let me share just how life-changing this simple hack has been for me.

Missing socks were the bane of my life

I have two sons and thankfully, they can both wear the same-ish sized socks. Sure, if my eldest wears my youngest’s socks they are a little snug on him while his are a bit floppy on his brother, but I get away with it.

BUT, their socks always came in pairs.

This means I was forever trying to find the other cute froggy/Spiderman/stripy etc sock to make a pair. My OCD also wouldn’t let me team these up with the wrong ones. I mean, a blue sock absolutely could not be turned into a ball with an orange sock; that’s just wrong!

Even my preschooler knew this, complaining one day when in desperation I plucked a light blue sock from ‘the pile’ and put it on his foot, even though the other one was wearing a charcoal one. “Mummy, this is the WRONG sock,” he wailed.

Yep. Stupid effing socks. 

I was in sock hell

While I would try every trick in the book to attempt to keep socks in pairs – pegging them in sets on the clothesline and then bringing in teamed balls, for instance, there was always a few escape artists.

Somehow between being tossed in the dirty clothes hamper, then washed and hung up to dry, some would go AWOL. I would have five or so single socks just sitting in the bottom of the washing basket waiting to be paired – one day, maybe, if his friend happened to turn up. Sigh.

Well, not anymore!

After I realised that I had the power to put a stop to all of this odd-sock-induced anguish, I picked up all the coloured socks with their cutesy designs and threw them into a bag for the charity bin (they will no doubt be sold on as rags because NO ONE wants odd socks!).

When I said ta-ta to that bag of annoyance, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Then I headed straight for Kmart.

Although I had my two boys with me, begging to go to the toy aisle, I was a woman on a mission.

I found the sock aisle and snarled at the little packs of colourful pairs. Then I made a beeline for the plain Jane socks. And I bought up, BIG.

Odd socks be gone

Now I never have to find a sock partner for my boys on kindy mornings, or just when I want them to wear a pair of shoes outside again. Their socks are all the same size and in the same colour. They are easy to pair because they ALL go together.  

This has been such a success, I now plan on doing the same colour trick with my and my husband’s socks.

Never again will I be trolled by odd socks!