How (and when) to Declare Sock Bankruptcy

When it comes to your laundry, few things are more frustrating than the ever-present missing sock conundrum. How do they get lost? Where do they go? When (and why) do they decide to pop up again when you've just thrown out the other half of the pair? If you're spending a lot of time searching for, organizing, or pairing socks, it might be time to declare sock bankruptcy.

Basically, you cut your laundry losses and start fresh. Throw away the mates to socks that have been missing for more than a few weeks/laundry cycles.

Purchase a whole new set of socks -- all in the same, or 2-3 maximum -- colors and styles.

Don't worry about pairing them up when doing laundry; simply place the socks in your drawer and take satisfaction in knowing that, as long as you come up with matching colors, you're going to have a matching pair of socks.