Holes in t-thirts..why???

[Mikki77]

WHY do ally cotton t-shirts have tiny holes in? I don't wear belts so it's not that.
One friend swears it's moths the other says its biological washing tablets???

What is it and how do I stop it?

Following with interest because the same happens to me!

Me too. I’ve shortlisted moths, catching on zips in washing machine, catching on the washing machine itself..

Eveything seems to have holes. This never used to be the case (which probably means moths I guess)

IN mine I'm pretty sure it's because of the fabric getting caught between the button on my jeans and my granite worktops. Never happened when we had (softer) laminate worktops or with maternity jeans which didn't have buttons. Seems to have stopped now that I make an effort to stand back a bit.

For as long as I've been on Mumsnet (which is a long time), this question has come up.

Nobody knows op. Nobody knows. There's much theorising and speculation, but it's one of the mysteries of time and space itself.

It’s the button or zip on your jeans, I used to have the same problem with T-shirt’s until I bought a lickety klip on eBay. It’s like a clip you slip over the front of your jeans. Problem sorted!

DH's t-shirts always have this! But mine don't. It's really weird. He doesn't wear jeans or things with buttons or zips so I've no idea what's doing it!

Maybe it's rubbing against his desk actually now I think of it, because he sits with two work stations and moves between them in his chair.

I've put it down to the button/zip/belt on my jeans as the holes only occur in that area.

This never happens to me and I buy cheap t-shirts. Do you use fabric softener/use a tumble drier? I never do either of these things.

Aliens cause it, it’s the only answer.

Yep, in various items of clothing in random places. I agree with above poster - aliens!

I always assumed either moths (but then why don't they nibble on woollens in the same wardrobe?) or zips/buttons (but I wore leggings only the whole way through lockdown).

It drives me insane. I did read a theory that some materials don't like a fast spin on a washing machine, which we use quite often to reduce drying time, so could be but not done any statistically sound research on this one yet.

I think it's one of those questions that may never be answered!

I have this, I'm convinced that it's because of my granite worktop in the kitchen. It's the black granite with shiny silver sparkly bits.
All my tops end up in the bin sooner than they used to before new kitchen was installed.

I think it's the wee stick bit on belts rubbing when you lean against the bunker. When I got fatter and stopped wearing belts, I've not had any holey t shirts.

Have a look round the drum of the washing machine you could have a sharp piece.

I have a hole in a newish tshirt and DD has a hole in a new tshirt too, but we know what has caused it, DD's fucking rabbit. Chews the shit out of clothes if she gets chance. (and Wires and my sofa and cushions).

I'm pretty sure my car steering wheel causes them.
I have a fat tummy and very short legs so I can't really separate myself from it!
I now lift up my top above the steering wheel which is very attractive 😬

I don't wear belts or trousers with buttons (allergic to metal)
Yes I use fabric softener but surely it can't be that
There are moth traps everywhere.
No sharp kitchen tops or anything sharp in the washing machine.
BUT get this my cashmere jumpers are absolutely fine???

Happens here too!! I figured it can’t be moths otherwise surely other areas of clothing would be eaten too and not just the tummy?

Likewise if washing machine or detergent it wouldn’t be in same place.

Seems to happen ridiculously quickly on new stuff though, I can imagine the work top rubbing holes over time but seems odd to happen so quickly.

So annoying as seems to ruin clothes so quickly x

Moths don’t eat cotton though, so they?

It’s likely cheap yarn used, that just breaks/disintegrated

It’s also from washing t-shirts with jeans, or other clothes such as bras that contain metal bits that can pull and break the yarn

It’s from over filling your washing machine apparently then using too much detergent and or fabric conditioner. This kept happening to me and I thought my washing machine was broke but after I had called someone out (and £130 later) the engineer said it was due to over filling the machine. Your only supposed to put in just under half a load even if your machine weighs the washing. Or only 3 bath sheets or 3 pairs of heavy jeans (Levi’s).

If you put your bras in the same wash, it could be the bra hooks catching and making holes

Seat belts rub on the waist and friction against the buttons/zip.

I puzzled about this for ages and came to the conclusion that it was the zip of my jeans rubbing against the car seat belt. The holes were in all my t-shirts I wore with jeans and only in that place.

I haven’t worn any jeans for about 2 years, and it hasn’t happened to any of my t-shirts that I’ve bought since then.

This has stopped happening to my tshirts since I started tucking them in. Don't know if something else changed at the same time but untucked thirts was leading to holes at the front of mine.

I think it’s worktops rubbing, but the seat beat idea is a good one.

I also think it is more likely if you have a tummy. Me with large stomach gets them often and have done for some time. Dh only started a few years ago and I think that was around time he started to develop a gut. Ds's never seem to get them - they are all washboard flat stomaches. Granted they cook / wash up less so spend less time next to work surface edge but you think they would get the odd one. We are all similar heights so making contact at same point. I think they just stand without touching at all.