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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Small holes in clothes after washing, how/why?

59 replies

Pannacotta · 14/11/2008 09:53

Very bizzare, several holes have appeared in clothes (all belonging to me) after being washed in the machine.

Am bit pissed off as about five of my favourite tops now have obvious holes in the front (and weirdly mainly in the same place).

Any ideas what is causing this? Do I have a washing mahcine poltergeist?

OP posts:

tealady · 14/11/2008 11:38

I have had this too on a spin speed of 1600. Had washinh machine repair man out and no probs with machine. He suggested that I only use the machine at spin speed max of 1200 and I think it has stopped. I am annoyed that they sell machines that rip up your clothes! Mine is a Bosch. Seems to affect fine knit t- shirts and tops the most.

It does seem to be only my clothes as well - and also in the naval area. I think it is the type of material. Kids and dhs stuff tends to be thicker cotton.

Wierd and incredibly annoying.

rosealbie · 14/11/2008 11:38

I thought we had a moth infestation too but wise mumsnetters prompted me to make sure that all zips, buttons etc were done up before putting clothes in the washing machine.

I haven't noticed any holes for quite a while now.

Psychobabble · 14/11/2008 11:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 14/11/2008 11:42

water mice

Although they are native to australia, here they can thrive in the brackish water of dishwashers and washing machines. It is thought they came here hiding in unwashed clothing in backpackers rucksacks as their native habitats are endangered.
They cause particular problems when you wash at night although hot washes are also known to provoke them into a fury of ripping and nipping. Until you can get rentokil out I'd do washes on cold cycles only.

EachPeachPearMum · 14/11/2008 11:43

DH always has this too- around his tummy button- never happens to my clothes.
He is 6'2"....I am 5'0".
He doesn't usually wear belts. Our clothes go in the same washes.
What is it?

Also- bet you can't answer this one.....
What causes the same to happen to the seat of his trousers???
EVERY single pair of trousers/jeans he owns get a little hole in the bottom area....
He doesn't have a pointy bottom!

RubyrubyrubyRedMist · 14/11/2008 11:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RGPargy · 14/11/2008 11:49

This happens to my clothes too! I was convinced it was my ironing board because the cover of my ironing board is thread-bare and absolutely knackered to the point where the bare metal of it is showing through and i thought it was the force of the iron on the metal bits that was causing the holes.

I might try spinning at 1200 too then as i always spin on 1600 to save on tumble drying time lol.

RubyrubyrubyRedMist · 14/11/2008 11:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EachPeachPearMum · 14/11/2008 11:57

erm- they are at the back

It's not that long, and if it were... I'm sure it wouldn't be tucked between his legs

MrsBadger · 14/11/2008 12:32

the trouser holes are def about material stress - my jeans always go in one particluar spot on the inside of the left thigh and I reckon it's because of how I sit at work or when driving.

DD's had a couple of pairs of dungarees go in a spot on the bum - in fact I heard the last pair go when I picked her up. Something to do with the material being reinforced at the seams but not in the middle so the stress is transferred and the rip appears where it's weakest.

EachPeachPearMum · 14/11/2008 12:43

Very interesting MrsB!

He is v gaunt slender, so I am surprised at the stress thing.... but he does fill his pockets to utter bursting point, so there would be stresses when he sits down (ie all day- he is a code poet)

Tatties · 14/11/2008 13:15

LOL I get this too! (Yes, at the navel; yes, only my tops)

If it was the washing machine why would the holes always be in the same place?

Original poster

Pannacotta · 14/11/2008 14:06

We have a Miele and I think it may be the spin cycle which is doing the damage as it happens to thin knit tops where the material is obviously not so robust as other types.
Holes are often but not always in the same place.
Will also make sure I do up all zips etc...

OP posts:

sunshinejune · 08/01/2009 21:07

has anyone got any more info on the hotpoint machine causing damage as my hotpoint has just started doing this. Thanks

loop118 · 31/01/2009 13:50

OMG I have been suffering from this problem too. Thought it was definitely moths and when DD was 3 months old went on a mad washing spree and cleared out the entire wardrobe of mine and DH stuff. Washing and ironing for weeks. What a waste of time as it has started happening again. Only my clothes, and only the stuff which actually fits me. Ha ha. Gonna try freezing everything next

peanutbutterkid · 31/01/2009 14:30

We treated ourselves to a new washing machine 4 years ago. The old one only had a max spin speed of 600rpm, new one is 1200.

New one has SHREDDED many of my cloth nappies (all kinds, but hemp especially), and has caused all sorts of damage to many other items. It's quite scarey.

peanutbutterkid · 31/01/2009 14:31

ps: our W-machine is a Siemens.

brimfull · 31/01/2009 14:32

panacotta- how bizarre

same thing has happened to me,in fact I sent two tops bakc to white co. and got full refund as I thought it was a fault of the fabric

since has happened to my fav t-shirt as well.

brimfull · 31/01/2009 14:37

omg mine are all in the belly button area as well!!!

how weird!

can't be the machine

I rarely wear a belt

SpookyMadMummy · 31/01/2009 15:41

Happens to me, but usually on my (very few and far between) Next clothes.

Countingthegreyhairs · 31/01/2009 15:43

I've had this happen - most frequently with wool jumpers - and I don't spin them or wash them with other items that have zips etc + I always use Woolite. I can't understand it ...

31jasper · 10/06/2013 17:46

Can't believe I'm reading this! Siemens washing machine SI14-44 has ruined my clothes for about a year and I've only just worked out it's the washing machine drum! Time to go to war!

31jasper · 10/06/2013 17:48

All in the same place around the belly button area I have small holes on all my beautiful Ted Baker clothes.

e1y1 · 10/06/2013 23:53

I think there has been threads on this before, I will have a look for them. It is odd, I've had it too and it seems to be same spot. Think someone did mention about it possibly being detergent, as remembering powder detergent (except the colour version) has bleach in it and this may wear down the fabric over time. It is funny that a lot of people seem to get it around the belly button, there maybe more stress on that area than we realise e.g. worktop, sitting at desk/table height. Plus the faster and faster spins may not help (mine is 1400 and i'm shocked that 800rpm is the recommended for jeans - but this would explain why they are so bloody hard to iron creases out, i'm spinning them too fast )

DinosaursHateUnderpants · 11/06/2013 02:08

I've always thought this was down to a seatbelt v's button v's belt combination - all or some of them rubbing against one another. It doesn't happen to me in Winter and I assumed that was because my coats are buttoned up and cover my clothes, protecting them from the seatbelt.

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