One Sock Is Not a Pair
Katie McMenamin | Friday, January 24, 2014 
Oh, I know I'm not alone in this ... that single perfect sock that has no match. Maybe it's the romantic in me but it drives me crazy. Maybe even a little bit more crazy than crumbs in my bed. No wait, THAT is what drives me most crazy. But mismatched socks? I shudder. I know there are some people who can wear them. And I can if they're the same kind of sock, but different colors, it's a texture thing, like the crumbs. And I know what you're thinking...a loosey goosey Organic Freedom (NFP) like me shouldn't care about such things. But I DO. To distraction.
Now in looking up photos of a "Hamper full of unsorted socks" I found a great blog that gave me the photo above of the mismatched socks some solutions for this problem. I know you Classics (SJs) and Funs (SPs), and even a few of you Organic Structures (NFJs) and Smart Structures (NTJs) without children might get on board. Just throw your dirty socks into a separate bag, like the kind you can buy for delicates. Then they never get lost. GREAT IDEA. But would it work for people like me? Beleaguered Organic Freedoms (NFPs) and Smart Freedoms (NTPs) with three children of varying ages? Listen, I'm proud when all the dirty clothes are in a friggin' hamper. I'm down right righteous when the laundry gets done. When I've got the time to fold, make outfits (it's just easier for me to have the decisions of daily outfits for the kids done weeks in advance and I DO like to do it all at once with a good movie on) I feel like I've won a G.D. Oscar. But going through that damn matchless sock hamper? Gasp. I can't even dream of it.
So the fact that last week I did go through it is quite a miracle indeed. I got it down to half its size and I gained a whole bunch of socks which made me quite proud. And then we did the laundry, which was righteous, but then the matchless sock hamper got filled right back up again. I so wanted to show you an empty hamper, but until I do the wash again and do a good clutter cleanse, I'm going to be convinced that there's a pair for that cute little pink sock, or my favorite pair of knee-highs. I can't give up on true sock love. And it's totally illogical. I did go into that last week right? The whole non-logical decision making for Organics (NFs), Fun Freedoms (SFPs) and Classic Freedoms (SFJs)? Well I think the latter two would have an easier time just chucking all those socks, but maybe the practical side of them would also stop them.
Classic Freedom Kelly reports that she has five matchless socks in her home. Yes, FIVE. Four are the children's and one is her favorite grey workout sock with anti-slip skids on the bottom. She thinks the bag of socks is a "bo bo" idea because you'd have to spend the time to pick out each and every sock when pre-sorting clothes. She just goes through her matchless socks after she's done with the laundry every week. Any matchless sock hanging around for more than 6-12 months gets the heave ho. There's no point in holding on to them as Kelly would just as soon wear a hair shirt than mismatched socks.
But it's not about practical with me. It's some weird deep seeded hoarding thing that I've yet to understand, process and get over. Perhaps it's just a perfectionism thing. That's it. Perfectionism. Any type with a P at the end of their MBTI Assessment is going to have a bit of this. They want to get the job done perfectly, and that can sometimes mean holding onto every last sock until the house is empty, all laundry has been completely done and clean, and dammit that baby just took off another sock.
So. Yes. I need to do another wash. And then I'll go through that sock abyss one more time, and then, I promise, I will throw away all the mismatched socks. Perhaps it's time they left this world and moved onto the next. To the great big fabric recycler in the sky. I swear I'm going to do it. Really. Either that or it's some serious therapy and anti-anxiety drugs.
Reader Comments (2)
Im an INFP and throw out mismatched socks once a year or 2 years - when those socks on the bottom get dusty or they over flow the mismatched sock basket.
I can't see how a lingerie bag for washing dirty socks could possibly help. Even though the myth is that washers and dryers eat socks, in reality, they get kicked under a bed, stick inside a seldom worn pair on slacks or left behind in a hotel room. How would it help to wash mismatched socks in a bag?
Mom! You're an INFJ, which means Organic Structure, so you wouldn't let a bag take over like my hamper has...or rather did... I got to the point where I wasn't even bothering to try and match socks..
And i think the idea behind the bag is a like a separate hamper for socks, so you would throw pairs into it, so they would come out pairs and you wouldn't have to sort through the laundry to find them... I guess... but I certainly won't work for me either...and actual INFP! xoxo