Tiny weeny holes in teeshirts and tops

[JumpRope]

I think these are very common. I'm not sure what causes them (my own theory is its seatbeats across lap whilst driving, since mine nearly always near my tummy).

Just wondered whether you think its reasonable to return a top which gets these holes, and if so, in what timescale? Clothes mainly from Boden/Gap, so not the cheapest of the cheap.

I don't own a tumble drier.

Why would moths only eat the same area of every tshirt?

I agree it's badly made stuff. Some fabrics are so flimsy. I have a vest top from White Stuff that is so thin I could push my finger through it. That one had developed the little holes within just a few weeks of wearing. Their tshirts are rubbish quality though.

Its keratin moths like which contains protein. And isn't in cotton. So they are unlikely to prefer cotton in an environment with wool so nearby.

I have no tumble dryer so it's not that. I get them when I wear a belt but only on cheap t-shirts from Peacocks. Now I buy them from Next and they last me for ages yet are only a pound more.

All the holes I get are in cotton t shirts . I know Moths are supposed to prefer cashmere etc but the ones here don't, my cashmere and silk stuff is untouched but they have made little holes in my t shirts . I've seen the little buggers

I get this too!! My other thought is carpet beetle as I have seen couple of those tiny furry caterpillars around (think some people refer to them as wooly bears?!). Short of fumigating the house, I don't know what can be done about them.

Yes just sitting here looking down at my tshirt which has tiny little holes around my tummy, I have several with the same holes mostly from GAP and Next. I always assumed it was where they rub against the button and zip on my jeans. Very annoying.

Cheap fabrics rubbing on jeans buttons/zips/the bit where the button hole side sticks out. Drives me mad. Warehouse is by far the worst offender, which is a bit rubbish as I was having a bit of a warehouse revival...

This comes up regularly on MN!

Everyone has a different theory and there are always people who come on to disprove each theory!

I don't think any of these threads have ever reached a consensus!

I don't have a tumble dryer either.

I was getting this with a few of my tops and finally worked out it was from my belt buckle so now I turn the buckle backwards and problem solved.

I've always used fabric softener and never had little holes in tops until I started wearing a belt.

I always get these in cotton tops and it seems a total mystery because I wash mine, OH and kids stuff together and only mine seems to get them! Could it be that women's stuff is made thinner or something? (I am the only female in the house).

It doesn't happen to the wool things in my wardrobe so I don't think it's moths...

I'm so glad it's not just me!! I've always blamed my belt buckle.

DH gets them, I don't. We have had carpet moths but I don't think it's them.
I got DH to change his belt, no more holes.

My older and wiser friends told me a couple of weeks ago not to use fabric softener for this reason as it damages the fabric.

I still use it though, it smells so lovely and clean!

(I think some of mine may also come from cat claws as mine curl their paws in pleasure when they're being cuddled and dig their nails in)

I don't travel in cars, use fabric softener or tumble dry but I get them ... I thought it was moths too.

Somewhere like Boden might be receptive to you calling or emailing to ask about the holes and if they have any experience of them, although not necessarily to give a refund.

Watching with interest... happens to me too and no clue why.

It couldn't possibly be moths because they always seem to appear in the exact same place for most of us - right around the navel. It's got to be a friction issue, and I think it's exacerbated by the washing machine. It doesn't just happen to cheap tops either, but I think it must be because women's tops are generally made of thinner material.

But if it was moths or fabric softener, surely the holes would be all over? Mine are all at waist level...

I get this too, so does DH. I assumed belt buckle. I like the bra washing theory but again wouldn't explain why always in the same place. Does anyone get them who doesn't ever wear a belt?

I get them but all over my clothes, not just in a specific area, and I've never worn a belt. Dp gets them around his belt buckle area, but a few else where too..

I think it is rubbish quality clothing tbh. I have had M&S thick cotton t shirts which I wear on holidays and have had for at least 5 years' are fine as are older Boden tops.

White Stuff, monsoon and Oasis seem bad. I think the quality of the cotton is thinner and have you noticed how the wool jumpers bobble terribly when you wear them once.

I get this. Seems to happen to my H&M stuff. Always at the bottom where it sits over my jeans, but I never wear a belt so no idea what causes it

I worked out it's the belt on my jeans. Tee shirts getting trapped in the buckle when taking on/off or in combo with being squashed against the buckle by the seatbelt.

Really annoying...but bought a belt that's more flush fastening and holes have stopped occurring.

I get these, always in my belly button area. I don't wear a belt, usually just leggings. It's bizarre.

I find Gap t shirts the absolute worst for this, I had one that was full of obvious holes within a couple of hours a few weeks back. M&S usually survive for longer but White Stuff and Animal are pretty poor too. I think it is where they catch on granite work surfaces or some belt buckle/granite interaction. It only happens on things at home, not at work, and that is the only thing I lean on.