We’ve all had this occur multiple times in our lives: we do the laundry, one sock from the pair goes missing. We check the washer and the dryer, it’s nowhere to be found. It happens often enough to be a running cultural, universal joke. But it makes no sense. How does it happen?
In: Planetary Science
My ex used to throw them away on purpose. On top of that, she used to also hide the complete pairs, so when I woke up at four in the morning to get ready for my twelve to sixteen hour shift, she could pick a fight with me for waking her up.
I have literally never had this happen that I’m aware of.
However, I buy big packs of all identical socks, so any one sock doesn’t really have a specific mate. I also don’t pair them up, they all just go in one drawer and when I need socks I just grab two.
So actually I could be losing socks regularly and wouldn’t know it, but I’ve never once had to ever look for a specific sock to complete a pair.
Hey, so not sure if you’re aware of this, but the washer/dryer are actually twin gods that demand offerings in exchange for their services. That occasional sock? It’s a tribute for them. We are not worthy.
Our washer died one day. I thought it was fun to open it up with my kid. We found 1 sock in the pump/drainpipe connection. So, 1 pair of socks reunited and a working washer as the end result. Me and kid were very happy
It’s basic physics: The tumbling of the dryer drum, heat, gravity, the weight of the damp clothes all work to create a a surge of electromagnetism that creates a micro-singularity (aka a small black hole). These micro-singularities have only enough energy to last a few nanoseconds, but in that short period of existence, manage to often suck smaller bits of matter into them. Socks, having a relatively lighter mass and size, are often the easiest targets of this phenomenon. But it’s not unheard of to have reports of underwear, washcloths, sticks of chewing gum, and other things to be drawn into the tiny black holes. Aside from an object going missing, another sign of the phenomenon is an excess of purple fuzz trapped in the lint filter.
These micro-singularities can often be prevented by the use of a dryer sheet, or one of those anti-static balls you see advertised in the backs of certain “outdoorsy” periodicals.
The entities have been given a loophole to affect this realm, however constricted to socks only. They are taking full advantage of it, since it is the only object they are allowed to possess.
Multiple things, it’s iconic because it’s annoying and relatable
Why does it happen? First off, socks are probably the smallest single piece of laundry so you can easily miss them before you put them in the machine, when you transition to the machine, when you go to hang them. So you can drop and not see them easily, or simply don’t see you didn’t put a single sock into the machine but left it in the laundry basket. Then they just get stock in other pieces like the leg of trousers, a bed sheet (probably won’t find it for a month or longer).
Last point, you just recognize it. If the same happens to a random slip or under pants, you probably won’t notice, but when you have a single sock left, you know one is missing, everything else is pretty much “on their own”, so no reminder that they are missing
At least on front close dryers there is a spot between the door and the drum that sticks get sticks into never to return unless you open up your dryer
Best hack is to have a “lost socks box”. Cant find its friend? Chuck it in, eventually they will be reunited. Go through it once every few months and take out the lucky pairs. Profit.
This is why I bought a lingerie bag for my socks. It’s a bit of a hassle turning them inside out in the washer then turning them again for the dryer, but I haven’t lost a single sock since I’ve started.
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