Mooh could be right. The best pike-fishing lure I ever had was made from a modified teaspoon. Not one of those piddly little modern teaspoon, but one of the old 5ml ones.

As to the missing socks, I suggest that if you pile a big stack of washing on top of the machine and then push it down into the drum, just occasionally a sock will slither ( I use the word deliberately ) between the drums, where it finds its way eventually into the water pump. The repairman will hand it back to you, often minced.
Would every persom responsible for the problem admit it? Naah.