How to Recycle Your Old Socks

Knowing how to recycle socks can prevent more textiles from going to landfills and convert your old accessories into something useful again. You may no longer have a use for your compression socks after recovering from surgery, or you may have a pair of dress socks you only wore once. Here's what to do with your socks once their use has continued.

How to Recycle Socks

Here are three ways to extend the life of your socks while also getting them out of your house.

Textile Recycling Programs 

Many cities and organizations offer textile recycling programs that accept used clothing and fabric items, including socks and compression sleeves. H&M's Garment Collection Program accepts any old textiles, including socks, and ensures they are either repurposed or recycled. These programs ensure that the textiles are turned into new materials or used for industrial purposes. Drop off your old socks at a designated textile recycling center or inquire if your local stores participate in such programs.

Mail-in Recycling Services 

Several companies provide mail-in recycling programs where you can send in old clothing, shoes, and accessories, including socks. Terracycle, for instance, offers a Zero Waste Box service where you can mail socks to be recycled into raw materials. You can search for these services online, request a shipping label, and send your socks off for proper recycling instead of adding them to a landfill.

Upcycling Programs 

Some companies, especially those in the fitness or apparel industry, have upcycling initiatives where they collect old products from customers and repurpose them into new items. Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows customers to return old gear and garments to be refurbished or recycled. Suppose your sock brand offers a similar upcycling program. You can send in your old socks and contribute to a more sustainable production cycle.

Why Recycle Socks?

We're all familiar with the three R's — reduce, reuse, recycle. We know recycling is essential, but sometimes, it's easy to forget its importance. Here are some compelling reasons to recycle your socks that might provide extra motivation.

1. Recycling Saves Energy

Recycling uses far less energy than manufacturing new products from scratch. For instance, recycling polyester can save up to 30% to 50% of the energy required to produce virgin polyester, making it more sustainable for repurposing textiles like socks.

2. Recycling Conserves Resources

Creating new socks and other garments and accessories requires significant resources. Recycling conserves these valuable materials, reducing the need for mining or synthesizing new ones.

3. Recycling Reduces Pollution

Manufacturing socks and other apparel pollutes water, air, and soil. Approximately 92 million tons of textile waste are generated globally each year, much of which ends up in landfills or pollutes ecosystems through microfibers released into waterways. Recycling helps cut down on environmental pollution and keeps waste from cluttering landfills.

4. Recycling Saves Money

Handling waste costs billions each year. Recycling socks and other clothing reduces disposal costs, including landfill fees, and allows you to repurpose items, saving money on new purchases.

Reasons to Donate Your Socks

Donating your old clothing, especially socks, is a fantastic way to extend their use and help someone else simultaneously. Here are a few things to consider if you are thinking of recycling your socks:

• Help people in need: Donating clothes to people who cannot afford them helps ensure everyone has access to clean, appropriate clothing. The benefit increases when considering that these socks are used for health purposes. For example, compression socks can help prevent diseases like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by improving circulation.
• Keep items out of landfills: Clothes thrown away often end up in landfills, where they take up space and produce methane, a greenhouse gas. Some organizations, like Planet Aid, accept gently used socks, even if they show wear. These socks can be used for various purposes, such as crafting projects, or sent to textile recyclers.
• Support your favorite charities: Many charities rely on donated items. When you give to one of these organizations, you're helping them to make a positive and lasting impact in your community.

Repurposing Your Socks: 6 Uses for Old Socks

Repurposing is a fun, creative, and helpful way to keep using your socks after their intended use has been completely fulfilled. Try out some of these cool hacks to get the most use out of your old socks:

1. Attract and Trap Unwanted Odors

Combine some good-smelling herbs and a small box of baking soda in an old (and washed) sock, tie it up, and place it in any drawer, cabinet, or sink area to reduce any odors hovering around these spots. Your newly made odor trapper will have your storage areas smelling like new again!

2. Add to Your First Aid Kits

Old compression socks are handy to have in any first aid kit. They are especially effective as emergency tourniquets. They can also hold bandages or gauze in place while allowing airflow through the cloth.

3. Clean Almost Anything

Old socks offer many options for cleaning your house and possessions. Wrap the end of a broom with a thick tube sock to pick up extra debris that an ordinary broom would miss. Long socks like compression socks are also valuable pieces of cloth you can use in a pinch when cleaning corners that a standard brush, duster, or vacuum can't reach.

4. Support Your Wrists or Knees

Old socks, especially padded compression socks, can support wrists, knees, or elbows during workouts or sports. Cut the sock to the appropriate length and wear it around your joint for extra compression and protection while exercising.

5. Make Garden Ties

Cut old stockings or compression socks into strips and use them to tie plants to stakes in your garden. The gentle stretch of the sock material makes them perfect for securing plants without damaging their delicate stems.

6. Make Sweatbands

Turn an old stretchy pair of socks, such as compression socks, into sweatbands for your wrists or forehead. The moisture-wicking material will help absorb your sweat during workouts, and the snug fit will keep them in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are socks recycled?

Socks are recycled through textile recycling programs, broken down, and repurposed into new materials or industrial products.

How should I dispose of old socks?

You can dispose of old socks by taking them to a textile recycling facility or a donation center that accepts worn-out items for recycling.

What can we do with old socks?

Old socks can be repurposed into cleaning rags, DIY crafts, pet toys, or even stuffed into pillows for extra cushioning. Additionally, reuse socks by transforming them into dusting mitts, scrubbing sponges, or small heating pads (fill them with rice and then microwave them to warm them).

Is it okay to throw away socks?

While it's possible to throw socks away, recycling or repurposing them is far more environmentally friendly, as it reduces textile waste in landfills.

What to do with a bunch of socks?

With a bunch of socks, consider making a DIY draft stopper for doors or sew them together to create a cozy quilt or pet bed. Unwanted socks can be donated to recycling programs or upcycled into creative household items like potholders or plant pot covers.

How do you repurpose single socks?

You can turn single socks into hand warmers, wristbands, or mini storage pouches for small items like headphones or chargers.

What can you do with compression socks?

Compression socks can improve circulation, relieve swelling, and prevent varicose veins. They can also be repurposed for cleaning, first aid, or odor control.

Can I reuse compression socks?

You can reuse compression socks if they maintain elasticity and continue providing the intended compression level.

How to recycle old stockings?

You can recycle old stockings by donating them, sending them to textile recycling programs, or upcycling them for alternative uses like cleaning or craft projects.