Small holes always appear in my tops..... how to stop them??

[foolmadammas]

So, I've noticed over a long period of time that most of my tops (cotton t-shirts, woollen/cotton knits etc) all seem to develop small holes in them - usually at waist height at the front i.e. where the waistband of my trousers is.

I spent some birthday money last week on new clothes, and one longish tunic top, in cotton t-shirt material, already has three or four holes in!!

My thoughts are that it is either

a) my belt catching my tops? (I don't always wear belts though)

b) the waist band on my jeans catching the tops?

c) or maybe it is caused by the seat belt when driving??

d) or my washing machine?? (but the holes seem to usually be in the same place).

Does anybody else have this happen?? It is so annoying and wasteful! I have put another new top on today - gorgeous silk knitted loose top - I am wearing jeans, no belt, but I am paranoid that this is going to get holes in today as well!! But no point in having clothes in the wardrobe and not wearing them though.......

Thoughts??

I have noticed this a lot recently (mostly with h&m tshirts!!). I tend to wear leggings a lot so I was baffled for a long time but I noticed I rub that part of my tummy on the kitchen surfaces ALL the time, and since consciously sticking my bum out while washing up, I haven't seen any more holes appear. The theory of carrying children also makes a lot of sense!

I'm convinced its the worktops! I've started wearing an apron for all kitchen tasks now, and haven't noticed any holes in my favourite tops. Twee I know but it seems to help. Tummy area gets wet when doing stuff at the sink, exposed to heat while cooking on the hob, then rubs along the worktop, its a recipe for wear and tear on clothes!

Or I wear an old t shirt for cooking/clearing up. Not very attractive but if its already got holes I don't care! Plus when little cooking splashes get on it I don't mind too much.

I have this problem. I think it's where I lean against the kitchen counter when cooking, washing up etc. it's when your belt or buttons are pushing against the counter it weakens the material. Hope this makes sense

It's almost certainly your belt or jeans button. I avoid this by tucking in the front of the top so that it can't catch on the belt buckle.

I have changed into an old t-shirt now to do the housework this morning :-) And I think I will dig an apron out of the cupboard for future use too.......

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

Belly button mites.

I never used to get this, but in the last year or two started to.

(obv not washing machine as always same place; never wear belt though I guess if you do that could contribute; always used a cross-body bag/seatbelt, no change there; DD way beyond being carried! )

It coincided with losing weight and getting new jeans, so I thought it must be something to do with that - I decided it was one particular pair and ripped out the button. But still getting it.... I realised recently that it possibly also correlated with having the kitchen redone. So I think it's some interaction between jeans button and worktop. I think it's also worse in some of the newer t-shirts which are a size smaller though the larger ones aren't immune. I've resolved that I must start wearing an apron (that'd also help with my other ruination of tops, the fact that I always seem to manage to splash tomato-based sauces on them).

I'm quite cross that it's taken me so long to figure this out (if it is indeed the full story) - I've spoilt a ridiculous number of tops.

My DH gets this, but no one else in the family so I have eliminated the washing machine, seat belt and moths. So I suspect it's his zip or belt. Does anyone else in the family have this problem? That might help you work out whether it's down to something personal to you (in which case try to be more careful for a while) or perhaps something like the washing machine.

It seems to be only my tops that this is happening to.......

Belly button mites!!

Tiger - see whether there's a worktop which is at his belt/button level but not at yours.

Does anyone get this phenomenon (the sort where the holes are in the same place, not randoms which could be washing machine/moths) who doesn't have a worktop at belt/button level?

I've stopped wearing my decent tops if I am going it be in the kitchen for any length of time, as a result the tops that I don't wear in the kitchen no longer get holes in them. Alternatively I tuck my top in my jeans while I am cooking etc.

I tried on a really old top recently and it was much shorter than tops are now, and jeans were much higher, I reckon thats why it didn't used to happen as much.

I get small holes in odd places. My ds gets small holes in cotton tees. Reckon its moths.

Saying that, i was on holiday and wearing a brand new vest top. After wearing it on and off [ washing inbetween] i noticed it had a small hole at the shoulder! Very annoying but i put it down to w.stuff poor quality tees.

Do you machine wash your bras? I do, and I have to hook them together otherwise the hooks catch on my other clothes and make tiny holes. I could of course hand wash bras but frankly can't be arsed.

Moths are more likely to attack wool or silk (protein fibres) rather than cotton.

Get this with my tops all the time, have to try wearing an apron in kitchen cant believe i never thought of the worktops lol its been driving me mad????

My new White Stuff got a hole recently, it was really annoying.

Oh God, do I really need to buy an apron?

I could of course hand wash bras but frankly can't be arsed.

I'd suggest getting one of those laundry bags that you put them in and zip up before chucking in the machine. If you wear underwired bras it is essential.

I know this is a good idea because a friend had an under wire escape from her bra and made its way through the holes in the drum into the depths of the machine. When the engineer came round to sort it out he told her it was a very common problem and in some cases an escaping wire can ruin a machine. It's something to do with the size of the holes, the curve of the wire and the way the machine works - once a wire has escaped then it is very easy for it to get through the holes.

He told her either put them in a bag or don't put them in the machine at all.

^vest

Aprons cheap and should last many years. I'm still using ones I got in Woolworths plus a kidston style one I bought more recently in lidl. An oilcloth type one is probably even better? But I've avoided them so far in case it makes me sweaty.

Oh dear! Just went into the kitchen to see where the worktops come up to on my front and there was a little hole right there. I really like this top!

However, I'm still not sure that these holes are due to rubbing and wear - they always seem to be very clean holes, as if caused by catching on something sharp. This one certainly has no thin patch surrounding it, and no sign of rubbing. I'd definitely rule out the washing machine, though, they are always always in the same place.

I have one particular belt that definately causes it.

I wear an apron.

Agree with minipie. The holes are always in the same place so can't be moths or washing machine. Fabric rubs against waistband/belt/buckle/button, worse when you're leaning against something. I am sitting with my stomach pushed up to the edge of my desk right now and can see shiny lines on my brown cotton top where it has rubbed.

Some cotton is so thin these days you could easily push your finger through it thinking of the overpriced vest top I bought from White Stuff which was completely perforated within weeks