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Post by Maura on Dec 29, 2015 20:21:14 GMT
I routinely clean out and reorganize my clothes closet, but today I decided to attack my dresser drawers. The small top drawer of the tall boy is no longer for socks and bras. It is now only for bras and a an Ortenburg lace shawl I have. The second drawer is for socks, stockings, and underwear. I also found three pairs of leather driving gloves which I will be using soon. I’ve tossed socks that are widows and underpants that are not in good condition. It seems like a minuscule job, but I now have one drawer in my bedside thing empty, since I moved items from there to the big dresser. As I go into the rest of the drawers I think I’m going to end up with more denim for my denim quilts.
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Dec 30, 2015 8:51:20 GMT
Maura, did your bras get bigger and kick the socks out, lol?  Seriously, I love to sort out the dresser drawers. It's so nice to open drawers and see everything neatly arranged. I keep the basic socks, bras, and underwear pretty well organized as I put away the clean laundry, but some of the other drawers that hold things like swim suits and winter gloves don't get a look in as often. Sometimes I think they must throw wild parties in those drawers as I'm sure I left them tidy, but when I go to organize things again, I find them in quite a mess! 
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Post by Maura on Dec 30, 2015 18:51:18 GMT
Yes, MGM, I’d like to know what’s going on in there when I’m not looking. I do wonder about the socks. Found a couple of old t-shirts from our Renaissance Faire days, that’s over 25 years ago. I’m keeping them even though I will never again fit into them; they take up very little room. I’ve got most of the pants hung up in the closet. The work pants and sweat type pants are folded and put away. I now have an empty drawer (out of three) in my nightstand, and an empty drawer in my tall boy. I have a small amount of things for Goodwill, and a large pile of things for the trash. How many “work” shirts do I need. I’m sloppy, I’ll make more.
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Post by krisinmi on Dec 30, 2015 20:24:16 GMT
How many “work” shirts do I need. I’m sloppy, I’ll make more. That is my problem, right there! My drawer of work (which for me, is a horse farm) clothes keeps getting fuller and fuller as I stain something nice and transfer it to the work drawer. Things tend to stay in the 'work' category until they are threadbare. I really need to upgrade my work wardrobe by taking out the worst stuff and turning it into rags, lol, keeping the stained but not ragged stuff for wearing to the farm. |
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Post by susannah on Dec 30, 2015 21:09:49 GMT
How many “work” shirts do I need. I’m sloppy, I’ll make more. That is my problem, right there! My drawer of work (which for me, is a horse farm) clothes keeps getting fuller and fuller as I stain something nice and transfer it to the work drawer. Things tend to stay in the 'work' category until they are threadbare. I really need to upgrade my work wardrobe by taking out the worst stuff and turning it into rags, lol, keeping the stained but not ragged stuff for wearing to the farm. I can SO identify with what both of you said! I have a funny feeling that if I took inventory, my raggedy "work" clothes would outnumber the clothes that I wouldn't be embarrassed to go out in public wearing by at least two to one. As Maura said, I can - and WILL - make a lot more "work" clothes just by wearing my "regular" clothes. I swear I WILL turn at least half a dozen work clothing items into rags tomorrow. A dozen would be an even better start. And even after doing that I'll still have plenty of "work" clothes. |
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Post by countrymom22 on Dec 31, 2015 0:50:04 GMT
I turn so many of my better clothes into work clothes, that my hubby bought me an apron for Christmas! I'm thrilled because I kept saying I needed one and then forgetting to get one. So score for hubby! And yes, I am one of those women who love practical gifts!
Today I went through the linen closet and turned a bunch of thread bare towels into rags. We do use a lot of rags around here. Then, when the rags are no longer useful, they go into the woodstove for the ultimate recycling. Around here we wear things out, then wipe up messes with them, then turn them into BTU's! Nothing left for the landfill here!
I want to try to get my sons to clean out their dressers and closets while they are home for Christmas break. Since they are 16 and 18, I don't think it's asking too much to have them go through and do it. I will be present to help with the organizing as well as to make sure that things that should go really do go!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2015 4:15:47 GMT
When I "demote" a towel or wash cloth, I take a Sharpie and mark an "X" on the tag or other prevalent place. The rest of the household then knows the item does not got back in the linen closet/bathroom.
Orphan socks - if no match out the dryer or "orphaned" due its mate being relegated to the rag bag: I keep them in a pile near where I fold clothes. If a missing mate, I give it only so much time till it goes to the rag bag or finds a mate. If you or your spouse has a number of "like" pairs of socks, a sock usually isn't an orphan for long.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Dec 31, 2015 15:44:21 GMT
I also make an X with a Sharpie on dish towels headed for the rag drawer. Since I'm a bit OCD about nice looking and sanitary dish towels, there is a frequent turnover of towels in my kitchen and I don't want those used as rags ending up back in the towel drawer. Before my DH passed away, and especially when he was still working, I spent a lot of time matching socks on laundry day.  While shopping one day I saw some sales on good quality socks. I bought about a dozen pairs of tan and a dozen pairs of black dress stockings, and another dozen pair of white athletic socks which he preferred to wear at home. From then on matching up socks took only a few minutes and when a sock wore out there were plenty more to match. I also didn't have to buy socks again for many years. |
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Post by moldy on Jan 24, 2016 20:00:25 GMT
Cleaned out my linen closet yesterday - paired up flat and fitted sheets and 2 pillowcases and placed all in one pillowcase. Now when I need a set of sheets, I can just grab the pillow case and I know I have what I need. No more rifling thru the entire closet to find a flat sheet that matches. Going thru my nightstand today. I try to clean everything behind doors or in drawers this time of year. There is not sense in me cleaning wall, etc when we heat with wood and I will have ot clean it all when the stove is shut down for the summer
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Jan 28, 2016 6:06:55 GMT
I went through all my dresser drawers after reading this thread and then went through the closet, too. I tried on every single piece of clothing in the closet and only hung back up the ones that truly fit and that I really liked. I folded and stored the ones that I liked that were just too small - I am losing weight and will go back through them as I get smaller. I also filled several bags for Goodwill with clothes that for one reason or another, I just don't like that well. It's really nice to be able to reach into the closet and just pick out a shirt I know will fit. Added bonus is that there is plenty of room to hang the clothes that are left in the closet. I only use probably 1/4 to 1/3 of my closet rod for hanging clothes. The rest of the closet has hanging storage or a gun cabinet, so not that much room left over for hanging clothes.
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Post by farmchix on Jan 28, 2016 8:54:41 GMT
I'm pretty OCD about my dresser drawers, too. When socks are worn beyond darning, they go straight to the trash in my bathroom and don't make it to the laundry. I have a small cloth basket (those cute organizational ones you get that are all matchy matchy) on the shelf in my laundry room that is labelled "Cleaning Rags". This somewhat keeps the Hubs from using my good rags for his dirty work, but also keeps them from getting mixed back in with the good dish/bath rags. All of my socks in my dresser are arranged by color. I'm pretty boring...brown, black, blue, grey. I have a second sock drawer (they are small drawers) that is white ankle socks and my long "work boot" socks. No sock leaves the laundry area unless it has a friend. I have a small basket on top of the dryer for singles looking for a friend. If they hang out there too long, they head to the trash.
I have a couple more of the cute little cloth baskets in my "cleaning closet". One is for lightbulbs and one is for tealight candles and emergency candles. (I also keep the Aim A Flames/matches in there.)
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Post by krisinmi on Jan 28, 2016 16:56:38 GMT
No sock leaves the laundry area unless it has a friend. I have a small basket on top of the dryer for singles looking for a friend. If they hang out there too long, they head to the trash. I have a 'sock box' (a clear plastic storage tote that lost it's lid eons ago) that sits on my laundry counter. All 'singles' go in there, and only matched socks make it back to the bedrooms. I go through the sock box a couple times a year and toss out any that have been in there six months or more. It is also good for grabbing a 'spare' white crew sock for DH whenever one of his wears a hole in the toe or heel in order to make a pair of them when one sock 'dies'. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 18:45:08 GMT
Old socks go into a special rag bag (an old sleeping bag "bag"). Once a sock is deemed no longer wearable by the spouse, he rips the offending hole into a really large hole (no guessing when sock comes out of the dryer). Most of the "rag bag" socks are white. These are used for tasks where it is not safe to wash the "rag". Most of the time these "disposable" rags are used to light the burn pile. Old socks work well when using bug remover on your bumper or cleaning the exterior of the wood stove at the end of burning season.
Downside of having small feet is small socks so it may take two or three of my old socks for a given cleaning task.
I too keep a pile of "mate less" socks. Once I know there are no more of pairs of a particular style, the remaining sock goes into the "rag bag", after making an appropriate hole in it!
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Jan 30, 2016 5:05:56 GMT
I fold laundry on my bed, and socks that don't have their mate get put in the bottom drawer while they wait. Since it's just me and my dd it's pretty easy to figure out what socks are missing and to take a look around for them. They are usually found hiding under the edge of my bed, at least mine are. Abby's on her own for storing unmatched socks and finding the lost mates.
ETA: Socks that have permanently lost their mates can be moved to the cleaning box - some of them fit over the Swiffer, and others can be used to dust.
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Post by farmchix on Jan 30, 2016 10:49:52 GMT
I fold laundry on my bed, and socks that don't have their mate get put in the bottom drawer while they wait. Since it's just me and my dd it's pretty easy to figure out what socks are missing and to take a look around for them. They are usually found hiding under the edge of my bed, at least mine are. Abby's on her own for storing unmatched socks and finding the lost mates. ETA: Socks that have permanently lost their mates can be moved to the cleaning box - some of them fit over the Swiffer, and others can be used to dust. I use batting scraps on my Swiffer, too. It seems like when I trim a quilt to bind, the strips are always perfect Swiffer width.  |
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Jan 30, 2016 23:50:02 GMT
farmchix, good idea - great way to use something that would otherwise go to waste. I also have velcro on my Swiffer so I can just tap on a piece of terrycloth and pick it up to use for a Swiffer pad.
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Post by gracielagata on Jan 31, 2016 1:06:17 GMT
Old socks go into a special rag bag (an old sleeping bag "bag"). Once a sock is deemed no longer wearable by the spouse, he rips the offending hole into a really large hole (no guessing when sock comes out of the dryer). Most of the "rag bag" socks are white. These are used for tasks where it is not safe to wash the "rag". Most of the time these "disposable" rags are used to light the burn pile. Old socks work well when using bug remover on your bumper or cleaning the exterior of the wood stove at the end of burning season. Downside of having small feet is small socks so it may take two or three of my old socks for a given cleaning task. I too keep a pile of "mate less" socks. Once I know there are no more of pairs of a particular style, the remaining sock goes into the "rag bag", after making an appropriate hole in it! I have been trying to think of a use for bad socks lately, as my daughter and I seem to make them find religion very quickly!! Matching isn't a big deal for her or I, as for I purposely buy those sets of socks where you have 10 socks, and no 2 are the same lol. Makes life so much easier. And mine, as long as they are the same type of sock, I don't care if she crosses the colors or anything. And I am not the folder, so it is all on her. But thank you for the idea of ripping the hole bigger! I was thinking of cutting them open, but assumed that they would unravel, correct? ... Now I just gotta find that big bag of daughter's socks I *just* put somewhere in the barn the other day! And I love the idea of socks for nasty stuff that could even be used to start fires later! |
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Post by gracielagata on Jan 31, 2016 1:07:12 GMT
farmchix , good idea - great way to use something that would otherwise go to waste. I also have velcro on my Swiffer so I can just tap on a piece of terrycloth and pick it up to use for a Swiffer pad. anther trick I do for the Swiffer style mop is hair bands or binder clips- they both work wonders to hold material or rags on! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 5:13:50 GMT
Old socks go into a special rag bag (an old sleeping bag "bag"). Once a sock is deemed no longer wearable by the spouse, he rips the offending hole into a really large hole (no guessing when sock comes out of the dryer). Most of the "rag bag" socks are white. These are used for tasks where it is not safe to wash the "rag". Most of the time these "disposable" rags are used to light the burn pile. Old socks work well when using bug remover on your bumper or cleaning the exterior of the wood stove at the end of burning season. Downside of having small feet is small socks so it may take two or three of my old socks for a given cleaning task. I too keep a pile of "mate less" socks. Once I know there are no more of pairs of a particular style, the remaining sock goes into the "rag bag", after making an appropriate hole in it! I have been trying to think of a use for bad socks lately, as my daughter and I seem to make them find religion very quickly!! Matching isn't a big deal for her or I, as for I purposely buy those sets of socks where you have 10 socks, and no 2 are the same lol. Makes life so much easier. And mine, as long as they are the same type of sock, I don't care if she crosses the colors or anything. And I am not the folder, so it is all on her. But thank you for the idea of ripping the hole bigger! I was thinking of cutting them open, but assumed that they would unravel, correct? ... Now I just gotta find that big bag of daughter's socks I *just* put somewhere in the barn the other day! And I love the idea of socks for nasty stuff that could even be used to start fires later! I just stick my hand in the "sock", "pinch" the hole shut, then use, rotating as needed. I suspect they would unravel if you washed a number of times. Most of mine end up as fire starters. |
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Post by gracielagata on Jan 31, 2016 14:20:42 GMT
@selena, How do you tell them apart in the laundry?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 19:47:45 GMT
@selena , How do you tell them apart in the laundry? The enlarged hole makes it easier. The ones that are going to be used as fire starters go into a plastic grocery bag that is stored in a safe place. |
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Post by Skandi on Jan 31, 2016 19:58:39 GMT
How many “work” shirts do I need. I’m sloppy, I’ll make more. That is my problem, right there! My drawer of work (which for me, is a horse farm) clothes keeps getting fuller and fuller as I stain something nice and transfer it to the work drawer. Things tend to stay in the 'work' category until they are threadbare. I really need to upgrade my work wardrobe by taking out the worst stuff and turning it into rags, lol, keeping the stained but not ragged stuff for wearing to the farm. Oh this is familiar, things that have been mended, work, things with stains, work, things worn thin, work.. I just don't seem to kill anything other than trousers! And I love the sock idea, we give old socks to the dog, tie a knot in them and she can use them as tug toys.. however she doesn't chew them so they last her a lot longer than they last us! Really funnily, she knows a knotted sock is hers and an unknotted is not, she'll steal either and hoard, but she'll only get the pug to play tug if the sock has a knot in it. |
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Post by Maura on Jan 31, 2016 21:23:13 GMT
When I posted this I had no idea how many people agonized over old socks. They would make great rags. My hand knit socks I take pretty good care of: washing by hand, darning.
Oh, I also am trying folding underwear rather than laying them one on top of the other, open. It takes less space to fold them into little units.
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Post by gracielagata on Jan 31, 2016 21:48:36 GMT
When I posted this I had no idea how many people agonized over old socks. They would make great rags. My hand knit socks I take pretty good care of: washing by hand, darning. Oh, I also am trying folding underwear rather than laying them one on top of the other, open. It takes less space to fold them into little units. Hehe.. I know I do because I don't buy cheap socks for myself, usually. Year round I will wear the merino wool taller (crew?) ones, usually from Costco if I think to buy them there. But I would think by the amount I have bought each year, I am going through at least 8 pairs a year that get holey. That is too many to me. I am trying to find a replacement I like... but nothing is quite like merino wool.. How do you mend them? I tried once and it didn't seem like I was getting it thin enough to be comfy to wear... Skandi... yep we did the tug toy socks for our puppy when we got him in Dec 2015... my hubby swore by using that as a toy for puppies (I hadn't had a puppy since I was a kid, just older teen dogs who didn't like socks)... guess how well that worked out? .... He lost several pairs of good socks, as Ody didn't seem to learn them apart... now slippers... he loves those and somehow leaves them alone, aside from hugging and carrying them around very happy-like... he even gives to the humans as cuddle items when they are sleeping lol |
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Post by Maura on Feb 1, 2016 16:19:04 GMT
I don’t wait until there is a hole in the sock. I know where they wear the worst, and as they get thin, I use sock yarn and weave, using a darning needle/tapestry needle. I’ve learned that I need to sand off the rough areas of my foot to save my socks.
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Post by gracielagata on Feb 2, 2016 14:44:00 GMT
So I need to find sock yarn and read some instructions then. I think mine partially get so messed up on the heels because I am constantly in and out of boots all day, going out to care for animals and such. Most of my boots have that part messed up as well. |
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Post by Maura on Feb 4, 2016 17:53:10 GMT
If your boots are loose then they will wear on the back heel. If it’s the sole part of the heel, it is roughness of your foot. You can use an emery board to smooth it.
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Post by Skandi on Feb 4, 2016 20:00:42 GMT
All of hubbys socks are hand knitted, so I do a lot of darning, he wears them out under the toes, walking round the house in socks is the issue. I use sock yarn (very often a different colour, whatever scraps I have) and mimic the knitting with a needle, it's never quite as thin obviously, as the original sock is worn and the darn isn't but he says they're fine.
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Post by gracielagata on Feb 4, 2016 22:53:31 GMT
I don’t wait until there is a hole in the sock. I know where they wear the worst, and as they get thin, I use sock yarn and weave, using a darning needle/tapestry needle. I’ve learned that I need to sand off the rough areas of my foot to save my socks. Yep, I am going to do the same thing now. I was examining some this morning for that same reason. And I didn't realize that the balls of my feet were so rough! Eeks! lol If your boots are loose then they will wear on the back heel. If it’s the sole part of the heel, it is roughness of your foot. You can use an emery board to smooth it.
And I never really ever go barefoot either! I always wear slippers.
I already got one or 2 socks darned. Not the prettiest, but it will work. I wore one for a few hours last night, and it didn't bother me, but just showed how I need to use tighter stitches. |
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Post by gracielagata on Feb 11, 2016 15:23:36 GMT
Woohoo! I just randomly found that bag of needs-to-be-darned socks I had hidden from myself! Now I have plenty to get working on!
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While shopping one day I saw some sales on good quality socks. I bought about a dozen pairs of tan and a dozen pairs of black dress stockings, and another dozen pair of white athletic socks which he preferred to wear at home. From then on matching up socks took only a few minutes and when a sock wore out there were plenty more to match. I also didn't have to buy socks again for many years. 
