How to help keep sock pairs together in the wash

You put a full set of pairs into the washing machine. You take out a pile of singles. Somewhere between the laundry basket and the sock drawer, one sock from your favourite pair has quietly vanished, and the drawer fills up with odd ones you can't bring yourself to throw away.

Here's where socks actually go, a few easy habits that help, and the little idea we came up with so you can have no more odd socks.

Where do all the odd socks go?

Socks aren't really disappearing into another dimension (sadly). They're small, light and usually travel separately, which makes them easy to lose at almost every step of laundry day:

• The washing machine seal. The rubber seal around the door of a front-loader has folds where small items can get tucked away.
• The drum. Socks can get wrapped inside a duvet cover, stuck in a pillowcase or caught up in the sleeve of a jumper, then come out with the wrong load.
• The laundry basket. One sock makes it into the basket, the other is still under the bed, behind the bedroom door or at the bottom of a gym bag.
• Sorting. Matching up a pile of similar socks is nobody's favourite job, so pairs get split, stuffed into different drawers or "sorted later", which usually means never.

How to stop losing socks in the wash: easy tips

A few small changes to your routine go a long way:

1. Pair socks before they go in the wash. If they go into the basket as a pair, they're much more likely to come out as one.
2. Use a mesh laundry bag. Put socks into a zip-up mesh bag so they can't escape into the seal or hide in bigger items. Fasten it before it goes in the drum.
3. Check the door seal and drum. Give the folds of the seal and the back of the drum a quick check every time you unload.
4. Give socks one home. Keep a single basket or bag just for socks, so they don't end up scattered around the house.
5. Sort straight away. Match pairs as soon as they're dry, while they're all in one place.

When it comes to washing itself, always follow the care label on your socks.

These tips help, but they all rely on remembering to do them. Which is why we wanted a sock that does the pairing for you.

The simplest fix: socks that clip together

Dapper Souls magnetic socks are white crew socks with one clever detail: a small magnet is hidden in the padded label tab at the cuff. Bring the two cuffs together and the socks snap into a pair.

That means you can:

• Clip them together when you take them off, so they go into the laundry basket as a pair.
• Wash them as a pair, so they're designed to stay together through the wash.
• Drop them into the drawer clipped together, with no sorting and no hunting for the other one.
• Pull them apart when you want to wear them. That's it.

The magnets are there for one job only: keeping your pair together. They aren't "magnetic therapy" socks and we make no health claims about them.

Why we designed Dapper Souls magnetic socks

Dapper Souls is a small UK brand from Hassocks in West Sussex. The socks are designed by Josh, who got fed up with a drawer full of odd socks and wanted a simple, everyday fix rather than another gadget to remember.

The result is a classic white sock with a hidden detail that makes laundry day easier. They also make a handy, useful present. Take a look at our sock gift ideas, or, if you're planning for Christmas, our guide to stocking fillers for men under £10.

Price, delivery and returns

• £7 a pair
• £3 UK delivery
• 14-day returns. Return postage is paid by the customer unless the item is faulty or we sent the wrong thing. Full details are on our Delivery & Returns page.

Ready for no more odd socks? Get your Dapper Souls magnetic socks for £7 a pair.

Sorting out the whole drawer? The 3-pack of magnetic socks is £17 plus £3 UK shipping.

Socks that stay together: FAQs

How do I stop losing socks in the wash?

Pair socks before they go in the laundry basket, wash them in a mesh laundry bag, check the washing machine door seal and drum when you unload, and sort pairs as soon as they're dry. Socks that clip together, like Dapper Souls magnetic socks, do the pairing for you.

How do socks that clip together work?

A small magnet is hidden in the padded label tab at the cuff of each Dapper Souls sock. Bring the cuffs together and the socks snap into a pair; pull them apart when you want to wear them.

Do the magnetic socks stay together in the washing machine?

That's what they're designed for. Clip the cuffs together before the socks go in the wash and they stay paired through the wash and in the drawer. For washing, follow the care label.

Are the magnets for health benefits?

No. The magnets are only there to keep each pair together. We make no health or wellness claims about them.