Socks can do so much more than protect your stinky feet from blisters and chaffing. Socks are versatile. And cotton socks are a naturally-occurring fiber that can replace plastic, polyurethane and other harmful materials. There's pretty much nothing that single-use plastic can do, that socks can't do better! Remember the eHow motto: reduce, reuse and recycle!
Dust Blinds
Dusting the blinds is never as easy as it seems. Feather brushes, dusters and expensive cleaning contraptions all fall short when it comes to simplicity and speed. But it turns out that a simple sock succeeds where all others fail. Method: Lightly spray your blinds with vinegar or your preferred cleaning solution. Place a sock on your hand before wiping it gently along each of your blinds.
Freshen Up Closets, Shoes & More
Gym bags, running sneakers and laundry hampers can all become damp, yucky homes to smelly bacteria. Freshen up that funk by filling a sock with a deodorizer like baking soda or potpourri. Method: Fill a sock with baking soda, secure it tightly with a ribbon or twine, and place it anywhere that stink lurks.
Make Ice Packs More Tolerable
Ice packs can soothe aches, pains and muscle soreness. But sometimes the chilly bite of the ice pack is worse than the pain. Try dulling the intensity of an ice pack with the nearest sock! Method: Place a baggy of ice inside of a sock to create a barrier thin enough to allow the cold to pass through, but thick enough to provide some comfort.
Treat Your Pup to a New Toy
It's no secret that dog's love to chew. However, you may be surprised by how much dogs enjoy chewing plastic bottles. Since most pet parents don't want their dogs to chew plastic, this DIY sock toy for dogs is the perfect, affordable solution. Method: Slip an empty plastic bottle inside of a sock before securing the ends with shoelaces. The dirtier the sock, the better! After all, your dog loves the way you smell.
Soak Up Odors in the Fridge
While the cooler temperatures prevent bacteria from growing in your refrigerator, food will eventually begin to decompose and stink. Oftentimes, it's difficult to rid your fridge of foul smells, but this sock and coffee deodorizer is a quick and easy-to-make fix that will leave your fridge fresher than ever! Method: Fill a sock with fresh coffee grounds or instant coffee, and place it towards the rear of the fridge.
Protect Glasses During a Move
About 10% of our possessions are damaged whenever we move households, which makes packing efficiently very important. But with the cost of moving equipment and deposits, who needs the added expense of specialized storage gear? Here's a perfect packing hack: socks! Method: Place glassware and other delicate items into a sock before packing away into a cardboard box.
Create an Armband for Your Phone
Have you ever paid good money for a phone arm band, only to have it become useless when your new phone is a centimeter wider than your old phone? This DIY sock arm band is a simple and free solution. Method: Make a tube shape from a sock that is at least 8 inches long by cutting off the foot. Slide the tube onto your arm, and fold it to make a pocket deep enough to hold your phone.
Keep Drinks at the Perfect Temperature
Can cozies are great, but you probably toss them into the clutter pile after watching an episode of Hoarders. A sock is an effective last-minute drink cozy that keeps soda cool and travel mugs warm!
Make Durable Baggies for Small Items
Why store small items like game pieces and charging cables in single-use plastic when you have old socks just waiting to be reused? Sure, you don't have a zipper to fasten the bag, but string or ribbon will do the trick. Method: Fill a sock with loose objects that you'd like to keep in one place.
Make Cute Decorations for Your Plant Pots
When the plant life in your home is ready for a redecorating weekend, socks are a great way to upcycle cracked flower pots and water-stained vases. Method: Cut the foot from a sock to create a tube-like shape. Slide the tube over a small plant pot and, voila, you've created a masterpiece!
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