Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
bialystockandbloom · 18/09/2014 14:36

Omg I can't believe this is so widespread, thought it was just me! I have spent the last two years regularly clearing out drawers, using moth balls, sachets, etc and still the little buggering holes appear. Always around tummy area. But I can't see how it can be just from belts/waistbands, as it's not affected a couple of dresses. Must be my belly Sad

Have noticed it happens more with materials with viscose (which is most bloody tops now), not pure cotton or wool.

bialystockandbloom · 18/09/2014 14:46

now affected dress, not not

alemci · 18/09/2014 14:47

helpful analysis

perhaps we all need to complain more if holes develop and ask manufacturers to improve their methods, and strengthen the cotton regardless of whether it is recycled

BlackStiltonBoots · 18/09/2014 14:50

Yes! I've been noticing these tiny holes for the past 6 months or so- always on well washed tops, mainly cotton ones. I have a feeling it could be when they go in the washing machine as we get a few tiny holes evenly spaced on the tops. I do use tons of yellow lenor fabric softener and tumble dry pretty much everything. I think cotton is getting thinner too.
I hope it is the washing machine and not moths!

Sorry that doesn't help with the returning the clothes issue- if it happened really quickly I might let the store know about it but after a while it might just be classed as wear and tear.

bruffin · 18/09/2014 15:05

If its always in the tummy area its belts. DS has a metal belt that causes the holes all round. I had a jeans belt that had a big square jewelled buckle and the holes appeared where that was

minipie · 18/09/2014 15:15

Quite a few threads on MN about this mystery! Grin

Best explanation I've seen is that the holes develop gradually - the fabric weakens as it rubs on your belt/jeans button and then at some point (probably in the wash) the weakened threads snap and you get a little hole or two.

Also said to be linked to less good quality/thinner thread being used - see yellow's post above.

bialy most of my tops are pure cotton and I have loads of holes Sad

Giraffinalaugh · 18/09/2014 15:49

Just a thought but to those of you saying it could be fabric conditioner or the washing machine, moths or cotton, why does this not happen to any of my bedding?

I get it from my h & m tops in the tummy area but never wear belts, I've also had it with leggings but it doesn't happen to dp or ds' s stuff.

Weird theory but could it be to do with bacteria people have around their belly buttons or something like that? It drives me round the bend. Only other thing I could think of was cleaning products when standing doing the dishes or cooking.

minipie · 18/09/2014 15:53

I never use fabric softener or tumble dryer so don't think it's that.

Giriffin I think the cotton used for bedding is stronger. It certainly seems more substantial.

Tingatingatale · 18/09/2014 17:03

Thank you! 80% of my tops have little holes. It drives me mad as I cannot afford to replace them
So am always wearing clothes with holes in them! Will try a shorter cycle

KatherinaMinola · 18/09/2014 17:11

I get this too. I don't think it's moths - I think it's cheap cotton. I would definitely return a Boden item - apparently the customer service is very good (I've never tested it) and they do accept returns within one year.

MintyCoolMojito · 18/09/2014 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MintyCoolMojito · 18/09/2014 17:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HamishBamish · 18/09/2014 17:48

Hot rock burns?

Only joking :-) Just rubbish material I imagine.

alemci · 18/09/2014 17:54

I think emails to the companies with photos is the way forward and if t shirt is new take it back and complain.

MexicanSpringtime · 18/09/2014 17:58

I got a lot of these little holes in my tops when I washed with Ariel. I don't know if Ariel uses the same formula, or what detergent in the UK does not have the nasty ingredient that causes this, but it ceases to be a problem for me once I changed to a more old fashioned product here in Mexico.

girlwhowearsglasses · 18/09/2014 18:30

I think it's that you are spraying bleach onto work surfaces and the spray drops make the fabric weaker.

I have moths and holes aren't generally in tummy area- they are where clothes have sweat or dirt quite often (collars, cuffs, front, lapels)

bialystockandbloom · 18/09/2014 19:23

We don't use bleach on our worktops. Don't use a tumble drier. Wash at 30. Don't use Ariel.

And I have it in a few of my dresses, so can't just be the belt theory.

WTF IS IT?!

indigo18 · 18/09/2014 19:27

I have these too! I decided it was the corner of the waisband on jeans, combined with leaning against the sink/worktop. Can't be moths as always in same place. Three t-shirts from White Stuff developed holes in a few weeks this summer.

madasa · 18/09/2014 19:33

I had this...drove me mad.

Turned my spin cycle down to 1200 and put my t-shirts etc. in a mesh bag in the wash.....problem solved

lastnightIwenttoManderley · 18/09/2014 19:36

Mine are the same as pecans, the little point bit where my jeans do up. I've even got one t-shirt where that corner bit seems to lock into the hole now!

HopefulHamster · 18/09/2014 19:46

I've had this problem for years. Don't think it's to do with seatbelts - the holes are usually by the bellybutton.

I very rarely wear belts.

It's happened on dresses/tunics so can't be from wear from jean zips.

Don't have granite worktops.

Do clean a bit more these days but used to be rather lax so wouldn't be bleach!

I think it's a mix of either moths/carpet beetles and thinner cottons. Annoying though when some expensive 'lux' cotton top type things can get holes in after a wash or so.

Rainbunny · 18/09/2014 20:27

It happens in t-shirts that I get from cheaper stores. I love "tissue weight" t-shirts (extra thin cotton) and if I get them from cheaper places (which includes the Gap unfortunately) I've had them occur after the very first wash & tumble dry. It's just poor quality cotton in my case, something about the washing process or tumble drying is too much. I have tissue-weight tops from some more expensive brands and they have lasted for years just fine.

myusernameis · 19/09/2014 11:05

I don't have this problem and I never wear belt and rarely get in a car.

SarahSnail · 19/09/2014 11:23

do you wear jeans/trousers with buttons or zips?
I have a textile/fashion student niece and apparently this occurs from the top rubbing and rubbing over the months in the same spot over the zips and buttons of trousers, eventually the fabric wears down and often happens after a spin in the washing machine, that's why most people think it is something to do with the washing machine. x

alemci · 19/09/2014 11:44

I still think the quality is worse, this problem is only recent and we have all been wearing zip jeans and tops since I was 10, it isn't a new fashion.

I have old cotton knickers for certain times of the month still going strong and the newer ones seem to develop holes