Where do the missing socks go?
Sock monster, laundry stealer or lost in an alternate dimension? Thousands of socks go missing every year. A 2016 study conducted by Samsung in the UK found that Brits lost more than 15 socks every year. With an average lifespan of 81 in the UK, that’s 1,264 lost socks in a lifetime. Fortunately, there are no supernatural reasons why socks go missing daily.
“Research interviews found the common causes included items falling behind radiators or under furniture without anyone realising, stray items being added to the wrong coloured wash and becoming separated from its matching sock, not being secured to a washing line securely so they fall off and blow away – or they are simply carelessly paired up,” the study stated.
Samsung also cited several psychological reasons for the loss of the sock.
However, over the years, sock owners have discovered their missing laundry in the washing machine itself. Yep.
“Found The Answer”
Uncovering the long-time mystery in their household, a Reddit user took to the popular community of r/mildlyinteresting to inform the rest of us that their socks were, in fact, lodged in their washing machine.
Accessibility was an issue, so u/purplepirhana had to undo a bunch of screws and dig into the home appliance.
Once open, the Redditor finally breathed a sigh of relief, for the missing sock mystery wouldn’t keep them up at night anymore.
“I finally found the answer to where all the missing socks go – caught in the purgatory of the washing machine,” the relieved human declared.
How Does This Even Happen?
As the fellow Reddit community rejoiced and popped balloons, the obvious question soon emerged: “How does this even happen?”
Sharing an answer for this, a user revealed that the gap between the dryer drum and the washing machine’s top housing is where the socks sadly escaped. This was likely to happen while dumping the entire laundry into the appliance’s loading bay at once.
(Reddit)
Confirming this, OP responded by saying: “Can confirm! There’s an empty space between the drum and the front of the appliance, and when unloading and loading the washer, small items sneak their way down there. I had no idea this was a thing until now so I’ll definitely be more mindful now.”
User u/Vannabean was kind enough to share the exact gap through which the socks unfortunately vanished.
(Photo Source: u/Vannabean | imgur)
“Top Loader”
An investigative report done by KSL News Utah alleged that the probability of losing socks in a top-loading washing machine was higher than in front-loaders. Why? Because front-loaders had a rubber gasket.
Still, people keep finding new ways to lose their socks.
In a 3-year-old Reddit post about lost socks, u/HairyEarphone revealed how they stumbled upon their missing socks.
“Okay so I actually lose socks in the dryer. Everytime clothes were washed, socks went missing. Couldn’t figure it out. About a year ago the plastic rim of the door popped out and there was easily 50 socks jammed in there. My dryer was literally eating my socks (sic).”
“In older dryers the exhaust for the air can pull a bit apart allowing a sock to get sucked in,” another chimed in.
Yet another victim of lost socks revealed that lighter items tended to escape the washer drum.
“The repair man the fixed our washer told me that during the spin cycle lighter items can get spun up and over the washer basket into the machine. When he opened up the back of the washer there was a pile of socks in there,” this person claimed.
How Not To Lose Socks?
Laundry experts online suggest using mesh bags for tiny clothing items to safeguard them from getting trapped in the washing machine. Many also suggested not to dump a heap of soiled clothes to prevent sock loss.
It is widely suggested that prying open the washing machine comes at a much later stage of the missing sock investigation. One could look behind the washing machine, under the washing machine, in the laundry bag, before bringing out the toolbox.
Also Read: ‘Sweatier the Better’: UK Man Makes Rs 1.5 Lakh a Month Selling Used Socks Online
Or, a simple way out is to become this guy.
“I’m convinced that the spinning motion in the dryer generates enough static electricity to warp our socks into an alternate dimension. But that’s just my hypothesis.”
