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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Help! mystery holes in tops/t-shirts

136 replies

arfur · 21/01/2010 13:58

Have noticed for a while small holes in my tops/t-shirts around the area of the belt buckle and assumed it was catching but have ruled that out. Have inspected areas around home that I could possibly be catching this area on like worktop in front of sink etc but can find nothing. Yesterday I wore brand new top for first time and have just taken it out of the washing machine to find about 10 small holes in the bottom centre of it!!! Definitely not the belt/jeans I wore with it yesterday. Could my washing machine in some scary way be targeting only this area of my clothes. Driving me insane and am v about new top! Any help/ideas please??? PS no one else in family's clothes affected?!?!

OP posts:
andirobobo · 24/01/2010 22:03

I get these too and noticed a new hole on a new jumper I got (Primark). I blamed the zip on my jeans / button as the larger tummy rubs on it. So I tried an experiment - I put a price of ribbon between my top and the jeans - over the button and down over the zip with a safety pin to hold in place. Not a great look but with longer tops it wasnt seen!! I still got holes as well.

I now suscribe to the seatbelt theory - possibly the button on my jeans and the seatbelt rubbing together - it has not occured on my work tops - so I reckon it is the jeans. So now I have pinched one of the pillow things that the kids have over their seatbelts to try that!

It is indeed a mystery but MN shall solve it!!

Nyx · 25/01/2010 09:53

I REALLY don't think it's the seatbelts. I hardly ever wear jeans, I generally have a coat or jacket closed over my top anyway. I do have an indesit washing machine...but why is it just my clothes, and why is it always around the same place? It's driving me insane. I may have mentioned that before.

EssenceOfJack · 25/01/2010 21:59

I drive nearly every day and always use a seatbelt, and it doesn;t happen to me!

Mongolia · 25/01/2010 22:02

Is this a worldwide phenomenon? should I go and look for holes in my corn field?

BosomsByTheSea · 27/01/2010 19:11

My mum has this!

We need a proper inquiry!

Katdes · 18/05/2010 23:27

My daughter and myself have small holes in the front of our T-shirts and fine woollen jumpers at first I thought it was my washing machine (but why were these holes in exactly the same place in all our clothes) Then I thought it was my ironing board (but my daughter very rarely irons). Can't be moths as my husbands' clothes are not effected. The holes are exacting in the same place in all our clothes. I am now convinced it is my composite stone worktop as the holes appeared shortly after my new kitchen was installed. Has anyone any advice as I have to wear an apron even to make a cup of coffee?

StayFrosty · 18/05/2010 23:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lovesdogsandcats · 20/05/2010 18:15

Can I throw a spanner in the works - its def not seatbelts - a friend who NEVER gets in a car to either drive or as passenger, gets these holes on most tops!
So do I, i do drive.

I think its something to do with leaning on something, like worktops?

HairBearBunch · 23/05/2010 01:42

Do you do the zips up on the rest of the laundry in the washing machine?

My Mum thinks its the fault of zips left open, she might have a point as it happens considerably less now I make sure they are done up

magnum1 · 05/06/2010 01:08

I believe I have worked out where my holes in the tops are coming from ,,, at first I believed my tops may be getting pulled in the fly of pants usually i do my pants up and then pull the top from under it but i tried carefully not to do it and still got annoying holes in new clothes then i made sure every time i did my fly up the little tip of the zipper is tucked under its a sharp end and could punch clothes easily especially when your leaning against something and to date no holes ..

RicePuddingWithJam · 12/06/2010 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Divatheshopaholic · 25/06/2010 12:45

OMG, i just googled hole in my tops, and this came up. I have thise since last year. All my tops have a hole or two or even 3 right down the waist area. I just found out my new Rocha tops has got 3 holes already
Dh is convinced this is due tot he seatbelts and muffin top

luciemule · 25/06/2010 12:58

I thought it was belt bucjle or moths but moths wouldn't be so selctive in where they nibbled .

Can't be cleaning fluids on worktop as I don't lean on worktop. Must be cheap cotton and rubbing of belt causing it I reckon.

Divatheshopaholic · 25/06/2010 13:27

Hmm, i dont wear cheap tops I think i should wear primark and throw them away every week.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 25/06/2010 13:31

I think it's the washing machine. I get it, and DS's clothes seem to get it to (he certainly doesn't do any cleaning).

Have not had any new ones since I got my shiny n ew Miele machine.

Divatheshopaholic · 25/06/2010 13:45

Could it be old machine, mine is 8 yr old

Meid · 25/06/2010 13:49

I get this too.
I concluded (after lots of pondering on the subject) that it was caused by leaning against the kitchen work surface, especially when washing up.
I also have a big tummy and think it contributes to the problem. Somehow.
Now reading this thread has got my mind spinning.

Divatheshopaholic · 25/06/2010 13:56

I dont wear apron during cooking or cleaing. May be you are right. Could be chemicals in washing up liquid.

warbo · 26/09/2010 13:20

I'm just throwing out 5 cotton tops all with holes in the same place, just below the navel. I'm now going to check every work surface as that is the precise height. Also I'm going to check my desk at work. My eldest daughter has the same problem and also my best friend. Its got to be something simple.

akhems · 26/09/2010 13:41

I used to have this problem when I used Persil detergent.. changed brand and it doesn't happen anymore.

mrstimlovejoy · 26/09/2010 15:42

i had this problem think it was from bra hooks as now i fasten them when i wash them with other items and it hasn't happened since

DiscoSquish · 26/09/2010 23:17

Me too, DD1 (18) and I suffer from this but not DD2 (14) or DP. It can't be the washing machine or tumble dryer or the holes would be more random and DD1 definitely does not do much in the way of cleaning. No cats here and the dogs don't jump up. Seatbelts a possibility but DDs tend to fight over who gets to go in the front so it's quite even who sits there.

I can't understand why we get holes and DD2 and DP don't Confused

FortunateHamster · 14/10/2010 17:03

Just googling this problem and this thread came up. Does no one have an answer yet? Wearing new bfeeding top for second time and noticed several tiny holes below bellybutton area on lefthand side. Don't understand why bugs would be attracted to a specific area, but also don't think it's rubbing against counters. What is it? This has been annoying me for years!

agedknees · 15/10/2010 19:28

It's aliens, honestly. (Also happens to me aswell).

Arw26 · 24/10/2010 15:03

I too am puzzled by this phenomenon. I have several tops affected but not all. Its beginning to look like they have all been bought at the same retailer. I've started to look at importers and see if there's any correlation. Any info you can give will be helpful.....