18 Fun and Creative Ideas for Old Socks

Now that Memorial Day is squarely in our rear-view mirrors, it’s safe to say that summer is upon us.  Here in the Midwest, the hot weather is getting a little bit of a late start, but we’re assured that it’s coming (it always does here).  As things begin to heat up for all of us, we’ll be trading in our warm, snuggly socks for the wonderful feeling of bare toes, sandal feet and flip flops.

At SmartKnitKIDS, we think this is the perfect time to tidy up our sock drawers!  I like to go through all my socks and weed out the ones that have worn out, have small (or even large) holes, or the ones that I just plain don’t like.  And since I really hate to be wasteful, I now have a pile of socks ready to be recycled into other things.  Our team came up with a great list of uses for old socks, which will totally keep us busy all summer.

Here are 18 Fun and Creative Ideas for Old Socks:

1. Dust Cloths – No need to buy expensive microfiber dusting cloths when an old sock works just as well. Better yet, it’s a perfect way to get your kids to help out with the chores around the house.  Just put some socks on their hands and put them to work dusting!  The best thing is you can throw them in the wash for easy clean up.
2. Hard-to-Reach Cleaning Stick – On the dusting note, you can use a ruler or yard stick and slip a sock over one end. Secure it with a rubber band and you’re in business.  This handy tool can clean under stoves and refrigerator.  Or ceiling fans!
3. Vacuum Tool – Another great cleaning tip is to slip a sock on the end of a vacuum hose. Attach a rubber band to keep it in place.  This works great for picking up dropped items like screws, bolts or thumb tacks.
4. Garden Soap – Slide a bar of soap into the bottom of an old sock. Tie a knot to keep the soap in place.  Tie the long end to a garden faucet.  Now you have easy soap and water for washing your hands out in the garden.
5. Windshield Wiper Covers – Hopefully, the snow and ice are a long way off, but you can be ready for when Old Man Winter reappears. Keep a pair of old socks in your glove box.  Whenever you’re parked outside and the forecast calls for ice or frost, slip the socks over your windshield wipers.  It will keep the ice off the wipers and you’ll have an easier time getting your car ready to drive.
6. Packing Materials – You can use your old socks to help pack breakables for a move. They work well for drinking glasses by putting a glass inside the sock and stuffing the excess inside the glass.
7. Potpourri Bundle – Stuff potpourri inside a sock and secure with a rubber band. They can be used in your drawers to keep your clothes smelling fresh or put them inside stinky shoes when not wearing them.
8. Crafts for Kids and Adults – The possibilities are endless here. They make great sock puppets, for one.  Pinterest is chalk full of great ideas for sock crafting.
9. First Aid Pack – Slide an ice pack inside a sock. This will make using an ice pack on sore muscles or bruises more comfortable.
10. Hot Pack – Fill an old sock with dried beans or rice and tie the end. Microwave for 30 seconds and use on sore muscles for pain relief.
11. Hair Curlers – I remember doing this as a little girl! Roll your damp hair up in old socks and tie them in a knot to secure.  After your hair dries, you’ll have a head full of beautiful curls.
12. Hair Ponytail Bands – Cut across the sock to make a ring of fabric. Each sock will make several fabric hair bands.
13. Ball Storage – Use old socks to store golf or tennis balls. They can be tied to your golf or tennis bag for easy access.
14. Golf Club Covers – Slip a sock over your golf clubs to keep them protected during travel.
15. Cat Nip Toy – Fill an old sock with catnip, secure with a rubber band and let your cats go wild!
16. Dog Tug o’War Toy – Tie knots in a sock and you instantly have hours of entertainment for you dog. Just let him grab on and pull!
17. Pet Leg Warmers – Keep some socks around for next winter. Slip them on your dog’s feet for walking your dog in the snow and ice.  They also keep dogs’ and cats’ legs warm inside if your house is a little drafty.
18. Bird Feeders – Cut a sock in half so that it makes one long piece of fabric. Sew the end together in a hammock shape and fill with birdseed.  Hang it from a tree in your yard and watch the birds flock to it.

Do you have any other ideas for old socks?  We encourage you to clear out your drawers and get creative.  In the meantime, it’s the perfect time to stock up for next fall with your SmartKnitKIDS socks.  We’re running a three-day sale – 20% off all SmartKnitKIDS and BigKids socks.  Use coupon code Kickoff20.  Sale ends Friday, May 29th at 11:59 p.m. CDT.