Last updated on September 8th, 2024
We’ve all been there. You do a load of laundry, only to find that somehow, mysteriously, one sock is missing. Is it hiding under the bed? Did it get sucked into a black hole? Or maybe, just maybe, it was whisked away to a magical land by the sock fairy? As amusing as these theories are, the truth behind disappearing socks is a bit more grounded—though no less fascinating. Some have suggested that socks are lost in the home when being carried to the laundry, or getting caught inside other items of clothing during washing or drying. I know when I dry my bedding in the clothes dryer, I’m frequently losing the pillow cases within the doona cover and having to fish them out, so it’s not a stretch for me to imagine a sock being caught in a pant leg or within a t-shirt. You might wear the clothing later, and the sock may fall out unnoticed – far from home – and the prospect of ever being found. As an appliance repair specialist, I can’t speak to every theory on vanishing socks, but I can tell you what my experience has taught me about how socks go missing.
How Socks Disappear in Washing Machines
In many cases, missing socks are the victim of your washing machine. Often lost socks end up in places you’d never think to look, other times they have disappeared never to be seen again. In front-loading washing machines, socks (and sometimes but less commonly other small items like hankies or underwear) can slip through the gap between the door boot and the drum, getting lodged between the drum and the outer tub. In top-loading machines, socks can slip between the drum and collar, especially during spin cycles or when the machine is overloaded. Once they make their way into this space, they generally get jammed between the drum and the outer tub. As the drum rotates, the sharp edges on the backside of the many holes in the drum begin to shred the sock. Over about 10 cycles, the sock is torn into tiny pieces that eventually wash down the drain – disappearing for good. This process generally goes unnoticed but can present as excess lint on clothes, and in some cases, cause spin cycle errors. To speed up disintegration, running a long hot wash with a litre of cheap bleach can help soften and dissolve the sock. It’s important to use cheap bleach without detergent to prevent oversudsing, which can lead to overflowing, bearing damage, and flooding.
Toploader Specific Lost Socks
In top-loading machines, especially when overloaded, socks can also sneak over the top of the basket and drum, usually during the spin cycle. From there, they end up between the drum and the machine’s outer casing. You might find them later at the bottom of the machine or even on the floor if your washer doesn’t have a bottom panel.
How Socks Disappear in Dryers
Dryers are another common culprit in the mystery of missing socks. In all models the front of the drum isn’t completely closed; instead, it rotates against a flexible foam seal. The back of the drum might not be sealed either depending on the model. With bad luck – and especially if the seal is worn – socks can slip through these gaps and get stuck inside the dryer.
This is more than just an annoyance; it can become a safety risk. In some cases, all the lost socks within your dryer might be piling up around sensitive electrical components, insulating them and leading to overheating. Socks can also cause mechanical faults if they find themselves wrapped up in belts, pulleys or motors.
Why Only Socks?
Socks tend to disappear more frequently than other items simply because they are small enough to slip through the narrow gaps. However, hankies, small underwear, and even baby clothes can sometimes meet the same fate. I suspect though there is something about the shape of a sock that makes it more susceptible than other small items to disappearing.
Preventing Sock Loss
The good news? There are ways to prevent this from happening! Use mesh laundry bags for socks in both the washing machine and dryer. They prevent socks from slipping into gaps and keeps them together. However, it’s important to acknowledge the limitations of this strategy, particularly in the dryer. The mesh bag restricts airflow, potentially resulting in longer drying times and uneven drying, as the socks inside may not receive sufficient heat and tumbling. This reduced efficiency can lead to damp socks even after a full cycle. To ensure proper drying while minimising sock loss, keep the mesh bag only partially filled, allowing enough room for air to circulate effectively. It may take a bit of trial and error, but the payoff of no more lost socks might be worth it for you!