It is a question of how big the spill you are going to clean up as well as whether it is spreading at an alarming rate. Absorbent socks are best used for containing liquid spills in a single area so that it does not spread further. You can also use them in irregularly shaped spaces where a liquid spill must have reached.
On the other hand, you use absorbent pillows if you need to clean up a lot more liquid spill which has already spread in a larger area. Absorbent pads are ideal for immediately cleaning up small spills of up to 20 ounces.