How many times has this happened to you: you toss two socks into the laundry. Wash. Dry. And then when you're pairing up socks you think "Hmmm...where did the mate to this sock go?" Two socks pinned together, stay together. But toss socks in the washer individually and one will disappear. So here's what to do with those single socks that sit in your drawer while you're waiting for their mate to show up.

1. A Dust Rag: slip a sock over your hand, spritz on a fine misting of water or a little dust spray or furniture polish and go to town. Soft socks won't scratch computer screens and your hands stay clean.


2. Polish Rag: a little shoe polish or Vaseline for your patent shoes puts a shine on in no time.


3. Drink Sleeve: instead of those wasteful paper sleeves from your favorite coffee shop, slip on a homemade one. Cut the top off and slip over hot drinks to protect your hands; slipped over iced drinks, the cozies absorb the condensation and keep your drinks cooler longer


4. Change Purse: after cutting off the top for a drink sleeve, use the footed part to catch coins. Sew a zipper or a piece of velcro across the top.


5. Sock Monkey: two colorful single socks can be paired up to make a sock monkey. Find instructions here.


6. Heating or Cooling Pad: filled with rice or beans and sewn shut, an old sock becomes a great heating or cooling pad. To use as a cooling pad, place in the freezer for a few hours; to use as a heating pad, dampen with water and place in the microwave for one minute.


7. Draft Dodger: a long sock filled with rice or beans, as above, can also be placed against the bottom of a drafty door or window to block cold air from whistling in.


8. Eyeglass Case: slip your sunglasses inside a sock to keep them from getting scratched.

(Images: Flickr member Tie Guy II licensed under Creative Commons License)