To ask you what is causing these holes in clothes (not moths)!!

[singingsoloudly]

Hopefully the imagine has added...

All my t-shirts are getting the same pattern of holes in the bottom (see photo) like little punctures. Is it from my washing machine? I can't see anything obvious to cause it and it's driving me mad as I don't want to pay £100s for a new washing machine if I'm not sure that is it, but some of my favourite t-shirts have been ruined (and I'm starting to look like a bit of a tramp as all my clothes have holes....)

I don't think it's moths as I haven't see any (despite leaving out traps) and woollens and silks are unaffected

So AIBU to buy a new washing machine based On this?

YANBU - it's the washing machine, buy a new one
YABU - it's moths you idiot. It will never stop. Burn all your clothes and run!

I cured the seatbelt ruining clothes - I keep a cheap, lightweight, sleeveless gilet in the car (oversized to cope with coats and jackets too) to put over what I am wearing, so it takes the rub and not my clothes.

For me it's the button on my jeans rubbing on the kitchen worktop.

I am 100% sure that it is the t shirt being rubbed against jeans zip or button by seat belts/leaning on things as people have said.

I used to get it on all my t-shirts and for a while worried about moths etc, but moths don’t just eat the area in front of your waist on every garment.

I have not worn jeans now for a few years and no t-shirt I have bought since stopping wearing jeans has any holes in at all.

I think that is a genuine longitudinal scientific study and conclusive proof!

Looks like moth damage, although odd it's only in one place on multiple items. I have damaged things with belt buckles, the prong catching on fabric in that exact area as you buckle and unbuckle or rubbing against rough or sharp edges. The washing machine wouldn't know which bit it was damaging so not that or anything in it.

I used to have to have keys on me when at work, I clipped them on my waistband and I used to get holes where the keys had been under my top.

I have it too on one top in particular, multiple holes. Not where seat belt, or handbag rests, not really near enough belt buckle. And they seem to develop overnight, though it is unlikely moths would get just that one top, but that was also my first thought. Fabric just seems to disintegrate. And it's a Seasalt top too, which normally are quite good fabrics. I've had a couple of holes on others, but this is a whole set of about 10 holes. Weird.

It's definitely wear caused by the fabric rubbing against belt buckles and buttons.

I've got some viscose T-shirts and they're heavier and a tighter knit than cotton ones and it doesn't happen to those. Or to heavier weight cotton ones.

Put zips and velcro items in a lingerie bag before doing the laundry. it might help

It's this, I have it on all my tops too. Particularly frustrating on a new top I got recently

Friction between kitchen counter/desk and button

Cats treading washing ?

Biological washing powder/liquid.

Since switching to non bio haven’t had the same issue.

That is definitely damage from something sharp/abrasive in the same place, over and over.

Moths do not chew through clothes in neat little parallel holes like that. Also you would find the little silky grey cocoon 'empties' they leave behind.

I suggest looking at your trousers/belt/zips and what you lean on often.

I think it is being caused mainly by belts in my instance! It's the same place in almost all my t-shirts and reading this thread I've just twigged it's where my t-shirts rest on my belt. I guess give up belts forever and embrace the builders bum? I'm going to try some of the other options though in case zippers and chemicals are exacerbating the issue by weakening the fabric as there are a few items where there are holes elsewhere

It’s not moths. It’s from rubbing.

One possibility is that when you sit or lean forward, the fabric catches in the fold of your body- you don’t have to be overweight for this. Otherwise seat belt, jeans etc.

I used to get these. Drove me mad. It was from washing bras in the same load that were not clasped. Once I started making sure any bras were done up it cured the little holes in stuff issue.

Before you give up the belts, try standing back from the worktop in the kitchen. That stopped it for me.

I never used to get these until I had my kitchen redone, with a quartz worktop (previous kitchens had wooden edging or rounded).

I try to avoid leaning, and/or wear an apron but it's hard to avoid. So many t shirts ruined.

It's from catching on other clothes/surfaces, mine was jeans buttons. It was also around the same height that the worktop was, or where I picked up the washing basket and held it against. I'm more aware of it now so take care when at the sink, carrying things, etc. I lost many a t-shirt to this!

I’ve had this in exactly the same place and figured out that it was my favourite pair of jeans causing the problem - the pull tab would stick up and snag on tops making tiny holes.

Bra wire caught in washing machine?

If it's around your front belly it's where you jean against the sink or other counters and the belt buckle or stud on jeans grates the fabric away.

Clothes pegs ?

Thanks for this thread. I too get holes in the same place at bottom middle front of tshirts and it was a very annoying mystery. But the quartz worktop definitely sounds convincing to me so I’m going to do a survey and find out the truth.

@thenightsky I think this is right and made worse by @StainlessSeal's suggestion of the seatbelt. I always get them but don't wear belts or zips particularly and my DS's and DH do too. Always wondered what the common denominator is and yes, I reckon seatbelts! 😆