declutterbug

I read recently that in the UK alone, there are over 250 million odd socks hanging out without their mates. (This is based on a recent MFI survey of 2500 Brits). Can you imagine how many there are in the US?

I'm definitely helping the total.

I am a firm believer in the "alternate sock universe," which sucks in one sock from each pair, and sends us a wire clothes hanger in return. (I believe the inhabitants of that universe have 1 foot, and no system for using hangers, which are merely "thank you" presents for socks).

But I digress...

Today, match up your socks. Put all the (clean) extras in a bag or box. Allow yourself to pull out the super excellent good perfect fabulous spares, and stick them in a separate small bag. (I say small because not all of your extra socks fit into this category, so don't even think about passing off old gym socks and holey dress socks as "good").

Now, you can do one of two things:

1. Toss out the box of socks, and keep the small bag of favorites until you do your laundry, peer under the bed, and ascertain the mates are gone forever, or one month, whichever comes first.

--or--

2. Write the date one month from today on the box, and mark it in your calendar so you don't forget. This allows you to toss the sock box *after* you've convinced yourself the other ones are living happily among the one-footed hanger givers. You can keep the small bag of favorites for this time as well. After a month, though, out they go.

I would imagine you rarely wear one sock (although I guess some of you might. I had a partner who almost always had on only a left sock when she was hanging around the house). So let those spares go. You wouldn't keep one-legged jeans around, or a coat with one arm, would you? No, wait, don't answer that...