Did we ever solve the mystery of tiny holes appearing in cotton clothes?

[nighbynight]

Sorry, I cant find the original thread.
Did we eliminate those anti calk tablets that you add to the washing machine to stop it calking up?

Because I just realised, that the little holes are since coming to germany, where we live in a ridiculously hard water area, and I have to use thes tablets, or my washing machine lasts only about 3 weeks before being totally full of calk.

So...if you get the little holes all over your knitted cotton clothes, do you use these hard water tabs? (apologies if this question was already asked, I cant remember, and I am fed up with the little holes in everything)

pleeeeease!

nope, i have cats.

my curtains have little holes in them too, and my cushions

Nope, we live in a soft water area and these appear in dh's tshirts and various other clothes from time to time.

It's your jeans/trousers. Either the zips or a stray bit or tough thread at the waistband area. I identified my cuplrit jeans in teh end.

I remember the thread and don't think anyone ever came up with an explanation. Belts were mentioned as a possibilty but DH's t-shirts get homes and he doesn't wear a belt. I don't use the tablets.

I've wondered if its caused by putting too much in the washing machines and the clothes can't move around enough and get pushed up against the little hard spikes in the drum.

damn, thought I was onto a good one with the tabs.
Our washing machine is smooth inside.
I will try washing jeans separately (nuisance though).

Am fed up with all clothes going this way.

I was meaning when you wear your jeans but I'm assuming all the holes were near your waistband? Hadn't thought about the rogue jeans causing damage whilst in the machine

no, the holes are randomly all over knitted cotton garments.

I have this and it is jeans for sure. Very annoying as haven't worked out which pair yet.

do you have a fast spin on your machine? i have a 1600 spin - and when i googled for the anwswer to the mysterious little holes, there was a suggestion that the fast spin forces the fabric through the holes in the drum where the fabric then gets snagged on the inner bits of the drum iyswim.

anyway, another quick google and i am now waiting for my current machine to break so i can buy a miele one with honeycomb drum.

Not sure - the machine is too cheap to tell me how fast the spin is! But I shouldnt complain - it only cost 200 euros, and it has been going for around 7 years now (fingers crossed).

I use a half a scoop (I use the washing powder scoop for this) of soda crstals in every wash as a water softener, my machine is now 5 years old and has very little limescale, and we are in a very chalky hard water area.

oo I forgot to add that mine is a 1600 spin too

Ive never considered those options.

I'd always thought it was moths or the laundry detergent, esp biological stuff.

There was a huge thing in the 90s about how Persil ate thru clothes/weakened fibers and made them holey.

I always assumed it was the washing machine eating my clothes.

I always used to use non bio in the UK, but then I couldnt find it in France, so I started using bio.
Never had teh little holes in the UK though, so maybe there is something int eh bio/non bio question.

v confusing, as here, bio=organic.

Tiny Hole Update...Tiny Hole Update...Tiny Hole Update...

Mine have stopped appearing just as mysteriously as they started. The only thing I've done differently is that I've tried very hard not to overload my machine.

Have never used any water softening potion of any sort, though.

I solved the mystery of mine - tis a combination of my jeans belt buckle and my granite worktop, tried rubbing the top against the edge of the worktop and didnt do anything but when I tried again putting the top against the smooth metal bit of my belt it rubbed holes straight away. There are tiny little blemishes on the edge of the granite which you cant really feel with your hands. It accounts for why DH doesnt get them as he is taller than me so his belt doesnt sit at the edge of the worktop like mine does and also why its only on some tops (obviously some jeans sit at different heights on my tum and sometimes I dont wear belts) I know that makes me a fashion criminal!! Also doesnt seem to affect thicker material tops. And if thats not scientific enough for you the granite bloke said they do get people complaining and asking for compensation for clothing - snigger. Hope that helps some of you at least. I sleep much better now I know!!!

Ours happen all over, including on the shoulders and at the backs of the neck, and on the body.
Cant be moths, no moths in their right minds would lay eggs on the ds's clothes.

misshardbroom. I wish the Tiny Hole fairy would leave us alone too.

I've been watching my small hole in my cotton t shirt grow as the day wears on. At last I know what it is.......its the waistband of my jeans. The little corner that sticks out above the button. The constant friction,

Dh's t-shirts get holes in, mine don't. His are holes all over not waistband. Washed the same.