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Original poster

Those strange little holes that randomly appear on the front of tops???

123 replies

PuppyMonkey · 25/05/2011 13:30

I'm sure we've talked about them on here on numerous occasions. Did we ever solve the mystery?

The teeny tiny ones on the front of light/cotton tops, just at belly button level. Never anywhere else on the garment.

Not moths.

I'm getting bleddy fed up of them. Angry

OP posts:
betterwhenthesunshines · 25/05/2011 23:54

Another vote for leaning against kitchen worktops.

Original poster
PuppyMonkey · 26/05/2011 13:12

DP and me had a little experiment with a thick-ish paper towel, rubbing it against our granite worktop (oh the endless thrilling evenings Grin) and sure enough, some little holes appeared exactly in the style of the ones on my tops. Hmmmmm.

Only thing I would say, though, is that as I was standing leaning against the worktop, a lot of the holes in my own tops are further down than at worktop level. So why are they there then?? The story continues.....

OP posts:
midnightservant · 26/05/2011 20:20

Hot rocks? Wink

Jojocat · 26/05/2011 21:31

I have these holes on several tops and they are not cheap tops either.

I've put it down to my jeans belt. If you don't wear a belt I can't explain it.

I never used to get these holes. They have started appearing in the last year or so.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 26/05/2011 21:40

They appear in our house too (in random places). I always assume they come from things getting tangled up/snagging on buttons in the wash. In fact, my gym t-shirt which I wore all day yesterday (don't ask), developed one between taking it off last night and washing it this morning. Haven't seen any moths in the house either.

With our old machine I got sick of the number of long-sleeved tops that had the sleeves mangled, but then I realised I was overloading it.

melpomene · 27/05/2011 00:36

Perhaps the belt/jeans button explanation is correct for some people, and the worktop explanation for others? I get them quite a lot, and I'm pretty sure it's not the worktop because I always wear an apron when cooking or cleaning the kitchen.

bumpybecky · 27/05/2011 00:54

I don't wear a belt, don't have granite worktops and haven't had the chance to create any hot rocks Wink yet still got holes in my top

DoubleNegativePanda · 27/05/2011 04:13

How bizarre to find this thread. Just yesterday I was showing DH my top and asking him where the fecking holes came from. I have tiny clusters of holes in every single top, only at belly button level! Don't think it's moths for me, but could be my belt, or a combination of belt/ leaning on worktops.

Kat3L · 27/05/2011 06:12

What a reassuring thread! I have a few tops with these mysterious holes though mine generally appear further up - on the front (why not the back?!) more towards the shoulders. My affected tops are generally made of thinner t-shirt type material so there could be something in the weak area of fibres theory. Washing machines are pretty rough on clothes so a weak spot combined with a vigorous spin cycle could well be the culprit. Who knows?!

WillieWaggledagger · 27/05/2011 06:20

i get them further up between my boobs - a;lways assumed it was because the fabric was a bit streeeetched and also te seatbelt goes across there

BeeLister · 27/05/2011 08:08

Are those of you who get them further up t-shirts very short?! Grin

You must be, to fit my/others theory of the cleaning products on work surfaces weakening fabric.

I don't have granite surfaces either BB but the bottom edge of the laminate is quite sharp.

schobe · 27/05/2011 08:11

Think last time this was discussed it turned out that the majority of sufferers had granite worktops and cheap tops.

hth

WriterofDreams · 27/05/2011 09:57

Now explain this - I never get these holes. Is it because I don't wash my clothes very often? Or because I don't do any housework? No, I think it's because I've laid traps for those belly-button fluff stealing fairies, little vermin. And before anyone calls the bloody fairy protection league on me, they're humane traps. I release them into the launderette where this plenty of fluff for them.

BeeLister · 27/05/2011 10:34

No, I think it is your fur lined work surfaces that protect you, Writer Wink

WriterofDreams · 27/05/2011 10:36

Mmmm fur-lined surfaces.

Note: Am very sleep deprived. Fairies may, in fact, be a figment of my imagination.

betterwhenthesunshines · 27/05/2011 10:38

I always thought it was belt rubbing / jeans combination. For me it might be worktops, but they are in lots of DH's t-shirts too and his are definitely thicker material than mine than tend to be more lightweight.

onepieceofcremeegg · 27/05/2011 10:42

It happens to me as well. Not just cheap tops. Some of the slightly more expensive seem more prone to it. (Mantaray from Debenhams, White Stuff etc)
Some of the White Stuff fabric seems flimsy to begin with and says not to wash with biological detergent. I wonder whether some of it isn't really robust enough to machine wash? (but no one would buy if hand wash only)
I know it's not worktops with me. Rubbing on jeans button a slight possibility but not in all cases.
There was a thread a while ago but iirc there was no conclusion then either!
Is there an easy way to diagnose moths?
Surely everything would have holes, not just the lighter fabric tops?

WriterofDreams · 27/05/2011 10:47

Right I'm getting very perplexed now as to why I don't have this problem. Maybe I am a horrendous slattern?? (always suspected as much)

onepieceofcremeegg · 27/05/2011 10:51

I didn't have it until a year or so ago Writer.

I wonder if it is the brand of clothes?

I have googled moths and as far as I can see they take much bigger chunks out of clothes than the little pin size, or slightly larger holes that I have.

Could people on the thread please report back what brand of clothes and type of fabric that seem to be affected?

I've already noted mine, (White Stuff and Mantaray) All t-shirt type material pretty much 100% cotton, plus one thin cotton jumper.

DoubleNegativePanda · 27/05/2011 12:29

All of my tops that have the holes are fairly lightweight cotton from Lane Bryant. Except two, one of which is quite heavy cotton from LB and the other is a cheap Hanes tee that my sister tie-dyed. That one is really deteriorating into big holes because it's my favorite and I wear it a lot!

Writer, I am definitely a terrible slattern so don't feel too bad Wink

mistressploppy · 27/05/2011 13:03

Apparently moths prefer dirty clothes so maybe the front is where the most grub accumulates? Grin

BeeLister · 27/05/2011 13:09

I have holes in White stuff and Next tops. All fairly thin cotton.

GandTiceandaslice · 27/05/2011 13:29

I get these as well.
So "glad" I'm not the only one.

I don't wear a belt often.
I don't tumble dry either.

peachybums · 28/05/2011 23:21

Oooo i have these holes on my fave red dorothy perkins top! Always wondered what they were thought id cought in in the zip of my jeans at some point but i think id notice lol

No cats here, or dogs or any other type of pet apart from DP haha

MrsvWoolf · 28/05/2011 23:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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