Those little bloody holes that appear in tops!!

[lucysmam]

I've worn my new top all of twice & it happened! I've just darned it as best I can & will put it on to ask dd1 if it looks ok shortly.

Has anyone worked out what they're caused by yet?!

Moths.

It’s rubbing against worktops, sink, seatbelt...
I have the button covers linked to above and they definitely help

Dh gets these, I do not. Our theory is hos belt. Definitely no underwire in the washing machine as it's fairly new and I've lost no wires.

@MNX42 I feel your pain. I successful got rid of an infestation. You need to buy proactive C. First we realised they were coming through holes in the skirting board from the wall void. Once those were filled up, our Hoovered every inch of carpet then sprayed with proactive c once a week. It worked. I hated those fucking things.

It’s not moths. I had moths eat my carpet. They ate huge chunks not tiny holes.

Also why would moths only eat DHs clothes and not mine?

It’s belt buckles.

I’ve been reading up on this as I get it a lot.
I’d not noticed about the location of holes and on my clothes it is mainly at the front lower area.
Doesn’t explain how they appeared on my daughters (not cheap) pjs tho.
The internet suggests it’s the wrong washing cycle being used and the material gets caught in the little holes.
Maybe the rubbing on the worktops makes the material more fragile and then the washer does the final bit of damage.
Drives me insane whatever it is as it’s always favourite clothes.

I think carpet moths are different aren’t they? The chomp away leaving little tracks. Grrrrrrrrr

It's not moths if the holes are only in one place. Unless there's a new breed of moths that lives in your belly button.

I think you may be into something there...

I don't wear jeans - I wear leggings, jeggings with no buttons, zips....

I don't drive - So not seat belt

I'm not very tall - worktop does not hit the same place as holes

I have a hole in a relatively new (3 wears) jersey M&S dress.... Go figure.

I think it’s worktops. I never wear a belt.
Interestingly, I always got these. DH has only started getting them since he retired. He never used to do anything in the kitchen but he does more now.

The internet suggests it’s the wrong washing cycle being used and the material gets caught in the little holes.

But how would that cause them to be in the same place?

No idea why they're always in the same place, but it has to do with machine washing.

If you hand wash clothing, it never seems to happen.

@Tiggerdig

Mine are always in the same place. At the bottom of the top on the front. I assumed it was due to rubbing against kitchen worktops eg when cooking or washing up. Can’t think of any other logical explanation!

Zips, mine do the same. I think it's seat belts/zips mostly.

I assumed it was the fabric getting rubbed between my jeans and the seatbelt.
But it could equally be the worktop however I don't rub my belly on it.

@DOINGOURBIT

No idea why they're always in the same place, but it has to do with machine washing.

If you hand wash clothing, it never seems to happen.

The washing machine wouldn’t explain why it is in the same place and why it is only DHs clothes that get it. I suspect that clothes which are hand wash only get less wear than regular T-shirts and tops. I suspect a top has to have frequent wear.

I did a scientific experiment because I was fed up of mysterious holes appearing in tee shirts.
Wore certain tees with jeans - all tees got holes in the front.
Wore other tees with linen trousers with no buttons/zips. No tees got holes.
Conclusion - jeans/buttons/zips caused the holes.

I've narrowed it down to sitting with my laptop on my lap and it pushes my top against the button/ zip of my jeans - I always get them in the same place. I get them a lot less if I remember to pull my top up so my laptop rests against my actual jeans and not my jumper/ top.

I think theyre from bra hooks in the washing machine!

@northbacchus

I think theyre from bra hooks in the washing machine!

Aren't you supposed to close bras for this very reason?

I would have thought that the positioning of the holes would make the cause easier to work out though?

Random-more likely the machine (or other item of clothing in it)

Non random-buttons/belts/zips/worksurfaces...

I think it's high speed spin on the washing machine meaning zips etc pull threads on delicate fabrics. Have gone back to 1200 spin instead of 1400rpm and seems to help.

I can rule out what it isn’t, after they appeared when I wore a brand new cashmere jumper (£120 from Pure - I was devastated) for one morning only. It is not:

Washing machine - Never washed the item when the holes appeared

Car seat belt - didn’t drive anywhere

Moths - jumper was brand new

Kitchen work surface - hadn’t been in the kitchen

Belt - don’t wear one

The only thing it could have been is my jeans (M and S, standard zip up ones with a button)

DH doesn’t get them at all, in any of his tops! I’ve had them in loads and loads of tops - expensive and cheaper fabrics, jersey, wool, cotton, the lot.

I’m convinced it’s from car seatbelts rubbing the top into buttons and zips on jeans/ trousers.

Is it not a weakness in the weave of the cotton?

I moved to a d ring belt, it seems to have helped x

Bra hooks catching in the washing machine. Try washing your bras in a net lingerie bag x