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Original poster

Tiny weeny holes in teeshirts and tops

101 replies

JumpRope · 17/09/2014 12:00

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.

OP posts:
FlamingGalar · 17/09/2014 14:36

I was told its washing thinner (or thinning, after many washes) fabrics with a fast spin cycle. The thin fabric is pushed through the holes in the machine drum and is shredded by the mechanism underneath.

I set my machine at no faster than an 800 spin cycle for clothing and I very rarely get these tiny holes anymore. They used to drive me totally bonkers!

I echo the poster that said New Look clothes are terrible for this. H&M are pretty bad too.

FlamingGalar · 17/09/2014 14:38

Not that my above post answered your question OP! I say take them back - they can only say no. Its always worth a try.

thenightsky · 17/09/2014 14:38

I never get them in my t-shirts, but teenage DS's t-shirts are covered in them, but around the chest area, shoulders and across his back. I think it must be an insect of some kind because me and DH don't suffer them, but DS never hoovers, dusts or cleans his room and his t-shirts live in a big heap on the floor of his wardrobe.

ShesAStar · 17/09/2014 14:40

I get these and so does DH but the children never get them. I thought it was our cats who paw at our clothes when they are on our laps. I had no idea lots of people had the same problem. I feel bad blaming the cats now. But why don't the children get them???

unlucky83 · 17/09/2014 14:44

whatis Carpet beetles are what I was going to suggest...I've been battling with them for a number of years - an absolute nightmare...the woolly bears are almost indestructible. If you are seeing one or two get worried...Do you also get small ladybird type beetles on your window sills? They are the adults trying to get out...

You need to find the source - easier said than done. My approach now is protection. Keep clothes/bedding/textiles that you don't wear often in vac bags/sealed plastic. I have ziplock freezer bags in drawers for my 'winter' socks etc. Thoroughly clean out all your cupboards and drawers. Frequent hoovering etc
They also eat things like feathers and leather - as well as wool - apparently old birds nests are often a source. Seem to prefer dark things...

Apparently they can come in on washing - I found them eating a wool jumper of my DDs that had been in a bag waiting going to the charity shop for a few years...
Tumble drying things kills the larvae (did an experiment with one - tumble dried it tied in a sock!) not sure about the eggs...but I did a 20 min tumble dry on everything before I vac bagged it...

And why are the holes always in the same place? How was the garment folded? If you are always folding your clothes the same way the holey bit might be in a crease - they like creases and seams and hems and hide away in the dark - they like the dark ....
Moths are similar - and the larvae of both prefer natural materials - and will eat cotton...(although i once found loads of carpet beetles larvae in the attic in an offcut of the most synthetic carpet I have ever come across...)

bouncinbean · 17/09/2014 14:48

I used to go for the theory that it was friction - belts and worktop edges but since having DD a few of her vests have also developed them. Still think it might be friction on cheap low quality materials though and like the idea that sometimes caused by the washing machine holes.

WiseGuysHighRise · 17/09/2014 14:52

Me too!

Yes - the tummy area. I don't think iot is moths as the holes are in the same area usually. Also, no-one else's clothes affected.

I am sitting here at work though with my chair pulled right up to my desk - I wonder????

But in case anyone is keeping score:
yes to tumbledrying. No to fabric softener. No to belts.

farewellfigure · 17/09/2014 14:55

Argh I was hoping someone would have a definitive answer by now. It's only happened to two tops of mine (same style, different colours) from Sainsbury in the sale at £3 each (it would have been rude not to buy them). I haven't worn them with anything with a belt buckle, only leggings. They are the only item of clothing in the whole house that it's happened to, and the holes are only on my tummy area. It's so weird. I'd never seen anything like it before. One went all holey then within weeks the other joined it. Sad as they hid all my bulges were really comfy and flattering.

StrangeGlue · 17/09/2014 14:55

I used to get these but in our case they were randomly spread and stopped after bought new washing machine.

moxon · 17/09/2014 15:00

It's the cat.

Pipbin · 17/09/2014 15:04

Not the cat for me. We had them long before the cat.

Back in my less innocent days it was caused by hot rocks .

Original poster
JumpRope · 17/09/2014 15:08

I don't wear a belt either. Just walked down to school and noticed that (I have a marilyn wiggle and) my hips sway quite a lot and the material over my tummy moves side to side. More than any other area of clothing. So it could be rubbing over the top of whatever is underneath.

Should we maybe start tucking our tops in. Arrrg

OP posts:
Original poster
JumpRope · 17/09/2014 15:09

Haha, yes to the blim burns, Pipbin.

OP posts:
DefinitleySpeltWrong · 17/09/2014 15:12

I have really old teeshirts with no hole and new one with the little holes around the belly button. It must be the quality of the teeshirt. Whitestuff are the worst. I've no problem with any of my marks, john Lewis, m and co, or even my Asda teeshirts.

I'm not sure what causes them but I think it must be buckles/buttons or belts (inc seat belt) and, maybe, handbags ...however it is the FAULT of the poor fabric.

White stuff and Gap have thin cheapo fabric even though they are so expensive

namelessposter · 17/09/2014 15:16

its moths. little bastards.

Bambalam · 17/09/2014 15:18

It's the belly button monster Grin

lovetheautumn · 17/09/2014 15:21

I got these on some of my best clothes, and it was damn moths! annoyingly, cupboards and draws and all the snug dark places we leave clothes are perfect for them to scoff our clothes!

ElephantsNeverForgive · 17/09/2014 15:31

I'm also certain it's the quality of the cotton and it's gradually been getting worse for about 15 years.

DD1 (16) handed piles of clothes down to DD2(13) and despite two not very careful owners her things were still fit for a third child while DD2's new stuff looked a mess.

Likewise, old short and long sleeved T shirts, are still going strong when new stuff has gone in the bin.

Where the irritating holes appear is dependant on the wearer and their habits, but the basic cause is, I'm certain softer grotty cotton, that's fibres break.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 17/09/2014 15:37

DD has a White Stuff Dress that's a perfect example. After a few washes it lost all it's structure. It went floppy like a loosely woven dish cloth.

It then developed holes in the front.

It was not cheap and it's very much put me off WS.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 17/09/2014 15:44

Oh and it's not moths. We had hordes of clothes moths, they destroyed my (fortunately too small) wool coat and DH and me's wool university scarves in a totally different place, but nothing else.

DD1 is allergic to wool, and you never ever see them in her room.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 17/09/2014 16:17

What pipbin said. I had problems with these as a student!

Listmaker · 18/09/2014 13:54

Ha I feel a bit better to know it's not just me but it seems there is no answer from all your posts.

It can't be moths because it's always the same place and moths can't be that organised! I have cats and I did think it might be them at first but they don't paw me that much and not in that area - it's higher than my lap.

It's not tumble drying because I never use a tumble dryer.

In the end I figured it was my belt against things like worktops. I changed my belt and it seems to be a bit better on newer things but some older tops are completely ruined now. Mostly t-shirt type material and mostly Next stuff.

May try no fabric conditioner for a while...

PecanSandy · 18/09/2014 14:00

My theory is that it's friction against the "corner" point of the waistband on jeans, the side with the buttonhole. I thought I was the only one to have this problem because my tops are too tight over my stomach!

alemci · 18/09/2014 14:14

elephant I definitely think the cotton is weaker, this never happened to older stuff

Iamcuriousyellow · 18/09/2014 14:26

lots of clothes are made from recycled fibres now, particularly cotton.. The textiles are chopped, and then the separate fibres are twisted into new thread. Because the staple (individual fibre) is now much much shorter, there sre more "ends" in the thread, in fact all the way along, and so much more likelihood of bobbling. This may explain the holes, it may not. For years I thought it was something that just happened to me (echo pipbin above)!

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