Caught a sock trying to escape the washer once. Made it part way over the lip of the wash tub. I expect if I tore that washer down I’d find those other missing socks.
consider though, why does one sock remain loyal to serve in its sacred duty to the entire human body? Greater love hath no garment than this faithful steadfast mate ever willing to put a sock on it
It’s a race, anyway, between the sock’s urge to get lost, and its determination to become holey. I keep a bunch of singles waiting for other socks of the same kind to become single.
I read recently that they are small enough to be sucked out with the lint – they get on the “wrong” side of the dryer drum or something. I have a dry rack that helps a bit – extends the life, keeps them from stretching out & no Dryer Disappearance Dimensional travel. Plus, I buy as many identical pairs as possible.And what I wear around the house doesn’t need to match ;)
In 1991-92, there was a hilarious but short-lived NBC tv series called Eerie, Indiana. One of its best episodes was devoted to the mysterious unseen world of lost socks. Very imaginative.
When we first got married, my wife asked me why I had two dozen pairs of black socks: all the same.
For one thing, that’s what I was authorized to wear with my uniform. Secondly, a couple pairs of socks does not a wash load make. And finally any two socks I pick is a pair.
My laundry mystery is: I put 2 pillow cases turned outside out in the washer and get 1 pillow case outside out and 1 pillow case inside out out of the dryer.
I have never understood the mysteries of the universe. How single socks disappear and coat hangers multiply ( unless you really need one…then they too, disappear )!
For those of us who live in warm climes, flip-flops are the answer to worrying about those pesky socks.
My hypothesis: They are inter-dimensional space-time portals, and half the single socks you find weren’t the remaining one of a pair where the other was lost, it’s someone else’s lost sock that’s been mysteriously teleported to your dryer.
OK, being a wet blanket here, but here is the reason.
Socks do not disappear from the dryer. No, they disappear from the washer. n Since socks tend to be lighter in weight than the rest of the laundered fabrics, they tend to float on the surface, or rise toward the surface during the agitation phases of the washer. Then, during the spin cycles, as the water flows out the sides and over the top of the drum, the lighter socks flow along WITH the water, into the drain and away.
The reason we blame the dryer is because we only notice the vanished socks after unloading that dryer. Actually, if we sorted the wet laundry, we’d see the diminution of the number of socks then. The best way to avoid loss of socks, is to buy a washer bag, made of netting, with a zipper on one end. Put all the socks into the bag and wash as normal. No socks float, no socks go over the top of the drum during spins. Easy.
While I also buy bulk quantities of socks I have found that since I started using “Sock Locks” (Soc Lox, etc….) The problem has pretty much disappeared. These devices are basically plastic ring that when you take your socks of at night, you put them in these. They go through the washer and dryer and I then throw them in the sock drawer.They come in two configurations single ring for thin socks and a double for thick socks. If you search for them a fairly wide choice of sellers should appear. I have no dog in this fight.
Dtroutma over 4 years ago
Only da shadow know.
eastern.woods.metal over 4 years ago
I have the laundry beat. I buy identical pairs in bulk
AllishaDawn over 4 years ago
That’s why I safety pin my sock pairs together when I take them off.
TheDOCTOR over 4 years ago
How about “Why do Hot Dogs come in packages of 10 and Hot dog Buns in packages of 8?”
Superfrog over 4 years ago
The world is over-socked. Nature knows that there are too many socks on the planet and is eliminating them one at a time.
wiatr over 4 years ago
Amusingly, I came up with one odd sock today. The problem is I don’t know for sure I put both in the washer.
sirbadger over 4 years ago
Have you tried searching pant legs and sweatshirt sleeves? Sometimes missing socks turn up.
ikini Premium Member over 4 years ago
They go to feed the Eater Of Socks Monster from Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather. Be grateful. Otherwise, the EoSM might come after you.
tudza Premium Member over 4 years ago
Caught a sock trying to escape the washer once. Made it part way over the lip of the wash tub. I expect if I tore that washer down I’d find those other missing socks.
Orcatime over 4 years ago
He’s been asked this before I see.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member over 4 years ago
“Because you don’t use sock clips”
Kind&Kinder over 4 years ago
I sure hope he’s got some woolly socks and heat in that cave! He’s be wise if he has!
the lost wizard over 4 years ago
Sock it to me.
ljk57 over 4 years ago
I have a whole bin of one-socks, so I just buy more and more…
arolarson Premium Member over 4 years ago
Socks are the larval form of wire coat hangers. That is why socks seem to disappear and wire coat hangers mysteriously multiply.
in.amongst over 4 years ago
Sigh! So frequently the great Hand of Washer socks me.
jessie d. over 4 years ago
consider though, why does one sock remain loyal to serve in its sacred duty to the entire human body? Greater love hath no garment than this faithful steadfast mate ever willing to put a sock on it
dot-the-I over 4 years ago
Anyone else chance upon one on the side of the road more than once? A head-scratching smile occasion both times.
Kaputnik over 4 years ago
It’s a race, anyway, between the sock’s urge to get lost, and its determination to become holey. I keep a bunch of singles waiting for other socks of the same kind to become single.
well-i-never over 4 years ago
Sock habits, sock habits, more sock habits. A sock comic never fails to get responses.
franki_g over 4 years ago
I read recently that they are small enough to be sucked out with the lint – they get on the “wrong” side of the dryer drum or something. I have a dry rack that helps a bit – extends the life, keeps them from stretching out & no Dryer Disappearance Dimensional travel. Plus, I buy as many identical pairs as possible.And what I wear around the house doesn’t need to match ;)
sandpiper over 4 years ago
In 1991-92, there was a hilarious but short-lived NBC tv series called Eerie, Indiana. One of its best episodes was devoted to the mysterious unseen world of lost socks. Very imaginative.
dflak over 4 years ago
When we first got married, my wife asked me why I had two dozen pairs of black socks: all the same.
For one thing, that’s what I was authorized to wear with my uniform. Secondly, a couple pairs of socks does not a wash load make. And finally any two socks I pick is a pair.
rmercer Premium Member over 4 years ago
The other one is behind the dryer.
mikenisson69 over 4 years ago
They get sucked out of the cage and sometimes get into the pump. I just read it on Quora.
uniquename over 4 years ago
My wife and I never have this problem. We make sure the pairs go into the washer and they always come out of the dryer.
johndifool over 4 years ago
I can’t believe the Guru doesn’t know about the Sock Gnomes…[he’s probably in league with them]
mourdac Premium Member over 4 years ago
Geez. Everyone knows one disappears into a wormhole and pops into an alternate universe.
Vangoghdog01 over 4 years ago
My laundry mystery is: I put 2 pillow cases turned outside out in the washer and get 1 pillow case outside out and 1 pillow case inside out out of the dryer.
Radish the wordsmith over 4 years ago
Rope a dope.
Linguist over 4 years ago
I have never understood the mysteries of the universe. How single socks disappear and coat hangers multiply ( unless you really need one…then they too, disappear )!
For those of us who live in warm climes, flip-flops are the answer to worrying about those pesky socks.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
I found all my lost socks. I wore out the socks I had. Now I have a few pairs of single socks. My wardrobe is pathetic.
Lablubber over 4 years ago
Do you at least know where extra Tupperware lids come from?
NaturLvr over 4 years ago
“The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.” Robert Pirsig
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 4 years ago
My hypothesis: They are inter-dimensional space-time portals, and half the single socks you find weren’t the remaining one of a pair where the other was lost, it’s someone else’s lost sock that’s been mysteriously teleported to your dryer.
SylviSterling over 4 years ago
OK, being a wet blanket here, but here is the reason.
Socks do not disappear from the dryer. No, they disappear from the washer. n Since socks tend to be lighter in weight than the rest of the laundered fabrics, they tend to float on the surface, or rise toward the surface during the agitation phases of the washer. Then, during the spin cycles, as the water flows out the sides and over the top of the drum, the lighter socks flow along WITH the water, into the drain and away.
The reason we blame the dryer is because we only notice the vanished socks after unloading that dryer. Actually, if we sorted the wet laundry, we’d see the diminution of the number of socks then. The best way to avoid loss of socks, is to buy a washer bag, made of netting, with a zipper on one end. Put all the socks into the bag and wash as normal. No socks float, no socks go over the top of the drum during spins. Easy.
eccolibri60 Premium Member over 4 years ago
The dryer is a portal to another dimension where there can never be any duplication, hence only one sock makes it through.
dsjwriter over 4 years ago
Obviously your spaniels have discovered the joy of socks.
Redd Panda over 4 years ago
인사말, 지구의 사람들
jollyjack over 4 years ago
While I also buy bulk quantities of socks I have found that since I started using “Sock Locks” (Soc Lox, etc….) The problem has pretty much disappeared. These devices are basically plastic ring that when you take your socks of at night, you put them in these. They go through the washer and dryer and I then throw them in the sock drawer.They come in two configurations single ring for thin socks and a double for thick socks. If you search for them a fairly wide choice of sellers should appear. I have no dog in this fight.
david_42 over 4 years ago
My minor superpower: I never lose socks in the laundry. Not ever my wife’s socks.
bakana over 4 years ago
It’s not actually a Mystery.
Clothes Hangers prefer a steady diet of Socks and they are very good at sneaking out of your closet to steal a nice Hot Lunch out of the dryer.
Madzdad the bard over 4 years ago
For each sock lost I seem to gain an orphan tupperware lid.