The origins of evil OR where the hell is my other argyle sock?

Sometimes, I strongly feel the need to avoid a deadline silently ponder impenetrable questions such as “what is the origin of evil?”, “what is the meaning and purpose of life?” or “where do all the socks that get lost in the laundry go?” On this last one, I'm apparently not alone in clinging fondly to the hope that these socks disappear into an alternate universe for a while before returning to earth as more enlightened and self-actualized socks. Toronto Hydro has found, through a survey with Leger Marketing, that nine per cent of Torontonians hold on lonely socks for at least a year while almost one in five keep it for eternity (how does one define eternity, anyway?) For other fascinating laundry facts, or if you too are trying to avoid a deadline, see below.

In an heroic gesture of corporate responsibility, Toronto Hydro has come up with a possible solution to the lonely sock crisis currently facing Torontonians by offering a Sock Exchange. Under the program, the first 100 customers who send in a photo and brief description of their lonely sock to media@torontohydro.com will receive a free eco-friendly indoor drying rack. All socks will also be reviewed for compatibility with other socks in the database. Owners will be notified and matches will be posted on the website. Click here for info. 

Toronto Hydro has also partnered with local with Home Depot stores, Caplan’s Appliances and the City of Toronto, so customers who buy  a new ENERGY STAR washing machine in  May or June get an $80 instant rebate, a $60 mail-in rebate from the City of Toronto, and an eco-friendly indoor drying rack (valued at $68.) ENERGY STAR washing machines not only save water and electricity, but Hydro suggests front-loading machines may also help to reduce the occurrence of missing socks. Anonymous insiders who refused to be named have suggested that Hydro will be answering the question about the origin of evil next month and that it has something to do with ill-fitting shoes, but our sources were unable to confirm this.

OTHER LAUNDRY FACTS

• On average, Torontonians spend about 3 hours a week doing laundry.
• Only 19 per cent of dads/husbands are responsible for the laundry.
• Watching television is the most popular past-time while waiting for laundry to be done (61 per cent) followed by house cleaning (55 per cent) and surfing the net (53 per cent).
• Nearly half the Torontonians surveyed who are in a relationship (45 per cent) say that their spouse or partner has ruined their clothing in the wash.
• Demographically, men are slightly more likely to hold on to a lonely sock for only a week (eight per cent vs. four per cent among women).
• ENERGY STAR qualified washing machines use at least 30 per cent less electricity than other washers. They also use up to 50 per cent less water and the combined water and electricity savings can total almost $68 a year. As well, if customers use a clothes drying rack even just a quarter of the time (instead of a dryer), they could save another $21 a year.