damianmkv
#1. August 30th, 2007, at 1:40 PM.

I am experiencing the same thing - a Zanussi 6kg washing machine which states cotton should be spun at 1400rpm. For the last 3 months, small holes have appeared in T-shirts after washing. We have had an independent inspection of the machine carried out and he cannot find anything wrong with it but would have to take the machine apart to further test it. Zanussi are not interested as the machine is out of guarantee ( its 17 months old ) - as far as they are concerned its just bad luck. I am very annoyed - the machine is destroying hundreds of pounds worth of clothes !

Would be good to see a “firm” explanation of the reason why these holes occur.

damianmkv
#3. August 30th, 2007, at 3:10 PM.

Thanks for your reply, Andy. As far as I am concerned, it is definately the washing machine - last week we washed my son’s new school uniform ( he has never worn it before as he starts in September ). The T-shirt came out with a hole in it. The same with a T-shirt that was mine - the holes are around 2 mm in diameter.

We have tried all combinations to eliminate the problem - lower spin speeds, less washing in the machine but all to no avail. We still get holes. Generally there is only 1 hole per item, but very occasionally there are 2.

linda
#5. September 6th, 2007, at 4:53 AM.

Forget the washing machine theory - My son bought a tee shirt wore it once and before he even put it in the wash it had holes -
I have also had many tee shirts destroyed by these holes and the holes are usually on the bottom of the shirt and in group of about three - ( They are near where the zipper or belt would be - but I know there was no belt worn and the zippers are not able to snag it either -
So now what !

Susie Hayward
#6. September 10th, 2007, at 6:13 PM.

I have had this problem for nearly two years, small holes at waist level in fine cotton tshirts and jersey items lyocell and other syntheticsalso, always a small circle of several small holes. It started in my teenage daughters tops from GAP mostly, then spread to mine and my other teenage daughter, we have eliminated the washing machine, detergent, way of drying, etc. From looking on the web I think it is caused be carpet beetle larvae. At the present time we have about forty tops with holes in, some have not even made it into the wash they are brand new, they will be worn and then later the holes appear when you examine them the next day. Antoher theory is that the fabrics are contaminated with larvae in China and the clothes are made up and sold to us with larvae in them with only shows after a short time.

mike
#8. September 16th, 2007, at 9:39 PM.

I have been having this problem and believe it’s linked to wearing a belt in my case however if others are having this problem without wearing belts then I’m at a loss?

joy
#9. September 24th, 2007, at 5:32 PM.

I am having this problem as well, the holes are not limited to the bottom of the garment and has happened only in t-shirts and t-shirt like material. Several of my daughters brand new (washed once or twice) Hollister shirts are ruined. I do not think the dryer is causing this and I have seen no moths. I do not dry mine or my husbands shirts and they have been effected as well. I am so upset by this, I wish I knew what to do. Anyone know who I could show the damage to that would know the cause?

Erman
#10. September 25th, 2007, at 10:33 AM.

I am experiencing the same problem with a 6Kg 1200 rpm. The washer drier is about 5 years old and only now started chewing up the laundry. I have checked the inside and all feel fine. I don’t think is caused by the punched holes in the drums as this would became apparent from new and not after 5 years service. This sounds like a common problem with many washing machines and I suspect that manufactures are not trying to resolve this problem in order to sell more.

Diane Charlesworth
#11. September 25th, 2007, at 8:06 PM.

I have had this washer 5 yrs and never had a problem until 6mths.ago.do you think i need a new washer..? most maufacturers would say YES. Dont you think its really strange or should i say convenient this is happening to a lot of peoples clothes…is it a way of making us all buy a new washer?..i think so . we need watchdog involved..Its a good job people can buy modern clothes with holes already in.

Karen Wilkinson
#13. September 26th, 2007, at 7:47 PM.

I am reading this website amazed. I have been having this problem with my tee-shirts the last couple of years. ALL my cotton tee-shirts end up with a collection of small holes at the bottom of the front of the shirt. Today is the last straw which has lead to my looking it up on the web and finding you lot!! Today I am wearing a brand new white tee-shirt from GAP. I have never worn it before, it is new yesterday. I have just looked down and found 3 holes at the bottom of the front. Can somebody PLEASE explain this to me? It’s driving me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Madge
#14. September 30th, 2007, at 8:20 PM.

Just found this forum after doing a search on Google. I am having exactly the same problem with my washing. Small holes in clothes, mainly tee shirt type material. I have a 6KG machine, 1200 rpm. I am going to write to the manunfactuer about this problem as it’s totally unacceptable, not to mention expensive! Will post the reply, if I get one! :-/

Kristin
#16. October 6th, 2007, at 2:22 AM.

I’m not crazy! We’re currently renting, so I’m not familiar with the life of our current washer/dryer. For several months now I’ve been finding small holes in clothing - mostly in cotton t-shirt type material. At first I assumed it was something I was doing wrong. So, I no longer buy any off brand detergent. I’ve been careful to wash on the right speeds and not fill the tub too full. The holes remain and they appear even in clothing worn only once. I know the holes were not there prior to washing. Some of the holes are small and some almost look like small tear. It doesn’t seem to matter what brand of clothing - Old Navy, Target, Aeropostale, GAP. This is frustrating!

Kristin
#18. October 7th, 2007, at 1:57 AM.

The washer is a Kenmore 80 Series. Where do I find the other info? I’m renting so don’t have paperwork on this.

Andrew
#19. October 7th, 2007, at 11:17 PM.

We have a Hotpoint Aquarius 1200 washing machine, bought from a reconditioner in late 1998. I don’t know the drum size, I would guess it’s a standard small one, and the max spin speed is 1200 although we normally use 1100 or 1000.

It’s been great with no problems at all until a year or so ago when small holes started appearing in the front of my wife’s t-shirts. She stopped wearing a beloved pair of jeans because she thought they were to blame.

Unfortunately the holes kept appearing, exclusively in stretchy cotton but on sleeves and the back as well as the front. Usually it’s one or two holes per garment, each torn and about 1-2mm across. My wife reports the machine has also become noisier, although we’ve also moved it so that may be a factor.

From my very limited knowledge of washing machines, I suspect the bearings have worn, bringing the inner drum into contact with the outer drum - does this sound plausible? In any case it isn’t only new machines. We’re now planning to replace the washing machine and were thinking of a bigger drum to wash duvets, but are worried we might find the same problem with a new one!

Rebecca Noble
#20. October 8th, 2007, at 10:10 AM.

I too have the same problem - mostly with T shirt type clothing and one or two holes in each garment - this is so annoying - lots of decent new tops are ruined - I called the manufacturer today and have arranged a service visit - we have a Bosch with a 6KG drum and 1200 spin speed - have tried all spin speeds and different load sizes - most of the holes are around the bottom of garmetn but not all (some on sleeves). Has anyone else called out a manufacturer and had them agree that the washing machine is at fault ?- I dont want to have to pay for their service visit and can guess that they will say it is not the machine at fault but I have eliminated everything else and know it is.

Sue
#22. October 14th, 2007, at 8:52 PM.

My friend has just pointed out holes in the top back of my t-shirt material tunic. I have noticed small holes in the t-shirts of my sons and husband but thought that they must have caught them or done something to cause the holes. I bought a new Zanussi washing machine 1400 spin with 7kg capacity. I am sure that the washing machine is to blame.

Lisa
#24. October 24th, 2007, at 2:47 PM.

This sounds way too familiar! We are having exactly the same problems, holes in clothing for the last year or so. We actually find items wedged in the gap between the door and the seal, which when released have the holes and snagging. I emailed the manufacturer who said we would need to get a service engineer out as the machine (waher/dryer) is out of warranty. We have decided after the most recent incident yesterday to no longer use our machine, it is almost 10 years old so guess it’s time for a new one, rather than pay to get it repaired. Some basic/cheaper items, like vests and pillow cases have been ruined, other quite expensive tops and t-shirts also. Does anyone know if these items would be covered via home insurance for accidental damage?

Lisa
#26. October 25th, 2007, at 4:27 PM.

Good news, my insurers have agreed an amount to cover our damaged clothing - result! Think we may have to use this towards a new machine. I know you don’t like to specify/mention makes and models, but any advice before we chose a new model would be really helpful. Not sure we really need another washer/dryer, just a good, decent reliable machine that won’t cost the earth!
Thanks for your help and advice so far.

Patricia
#28. November 1st, 2007, at 10:59 PM.

I have an LG washing machine, that I’ve had for almost 5 yrs. I only started experiencing the holes about one year ago or less. Prior to that I never had any problems. I have ruled out anything else that it could be. It’s always cotton t-shirts, from any member of the family, generally one hole per garment. Often at least a couple garments per load are affected. I finally hit the roof this past weekend and stopped using the machine, as I can’t stand to continue to see our good clothing ruined. The machine is 7kg capacity and max spin speed is 1200. I use the “cotton” cycle for all the items that get affected (this never happens on other cycles and with other types of clothing), which on my machine spins at a default of 800, so compared to what I’ve read here, that’s much slower than what most people are spinning at when they experience the same problem.
After reading all these comments, I’m not sure if it’s worth having someone come out to check it or not…

Cara
#30. November 17th, 2007, at 1:17 AM.

We’ve noticed this too - and I’ve found it affecting shirts that haven’t even been laundered yet! I have a GE front loading washer, and it is supposed to be gentler than the standard old-style top loading machines. I really don’t think this is a laundry issue - I think it is something to do with the thin knits of the shirts.

Are your shirts affected 100% cotton, or cotton/spandex blends? So far, ours are both. It’s really annoying, not to mention expensive, when good shirts are ruined by these unsightly holes. In the same place everytime - navel level.

Generally, I don’t wear belts, my daughter NEVER does. So it isn’t being caused by that.

Bob
#32. December 13th, 2007, at 3:00 PM.

This problem is occurring with our 3 month old Miele Machine. Its a 1200 spin and 5kg load and my wife is fastidious in the care she takes with not overloading, closing zips etc. Will contact them to see what they have to say. So far only cotton items have been affected- 2 of my tshirts and one of the wifes new ones!

kim
#34. December 27th, 2007, at 3:57 AM.

Thank you for each of your comments. My sister and I have the same issue and are equally as frustrated. Any additional information would be very appreciated.

Leo
#36. January 1st, 2008, at 6:15 PM.

We have this problem too. Small holes only in cotton sweaters and underwear. We have a brand new Kenmore front-load washing and dryer. We live in Canada.

My theory is the zipper, especially zippers in jeans. When clothing is wet and becomes sticky. Anything has an edge will be able to cause some damage when spinning together.

I want to share how we handled this issue. First, we wash jeans separately and zip up everything that has a zipper on it. (this advice is on our userguide from the manufacture) We even reversed some sweater in order to “hide” the zippers. After doing these, holes become rare. Of course, we can’t be sure it solves the whole issue completely.

I don’t what to rule out the “drum-hole” theory (during high spinning, the clothing contacts the edge inside). If that is the case, just use large washing bag and that should be enough because the bag is acting like a “shell”.

Hope it helpful.

Leo

Karen
#37. January 14th, 2008, at 12:34 PM.

I have had this problem for quite some time now. I had a Hotpoint and noticed that on quite a few cotton tops two little holes appeared after the first wash. The engineers were called out but couldn’t find anything wrong so decided not to do anything about it. I then showed the engineer the damage that the machine had caused, he then decided to change the drum. When he came back to replace the drum, it was faulty so the machine was replaced. I now have a new washing machine that is still making holes in clothes. I am really fed up as it is the same make and is still damaging new clothes. I am thinking of buying a new washing machine, but a different make, but am concerned that I’ll be wasting my money because reading all the above comments it’s not just a fault with one particular make.

Melissa
#39. January 19th, 2008, at 11:09 PM.

Hi there,I live in New Zealand & experience exactly the same phenomena!! My shirts.. not my husbands & nothing has changed ie laundry detergent, washing machine, style of laundering & car for the last few years. So why does it happen to shirts new & old. I feel that the carpet larvae is a very viable answer & why the belly button area??? My t shirts are a lot thinner than my husbands, have a lot of diesel shirts & designer brands. perhaps at this point friction occurs (I don’t have the flattest of tums!!) therefore making the fabric at that point more desirable. I don’t believe in the seatbelt making holes theory… as I said same car, shirts etc & the holes are getting more & more common. I fold my clothes on the floor on the carpet so I am definitely not going to do that. From what I understand carpet larvae are extremely difficult to get rid of

Julie
#40. February 11th, 2008, at 9:05 PM.

Hi,

My husband and i have been having this problem for about 3 years on and off, it started when we lived in the states and now we have been living back in the UK for 6 months and its still happening. In that time we had a top loading US style machine, and have been using other machines since we came back - same issue. Our problem is not the washing machine. We both get small holes only in the front of tops at waist level, our theory is that is is friction rubbing against our jeans (y’know the bit that buttons and you have the little pointy bit of denim that sticks out where your waistband overlaps?) My theory up till now is that items of clothing have been created more cheaply than ever before AND the fact that everyone wears hipster jeans now, which hug your hips at the broadest part rather than the thinner waist where old style jeans hugged. I am getting so frustrated now as more and more of my tops are being affected, its so disheartening to have a top you love ruined after one or two wears! The beetle larvae thing really freaked me out though as i hate all things insect like, but that theory cant really explain to me why our holes ONLY occur on the front at waist level. I hope this helps, if someone could let me know if you think my theory is wrong, what the hell is ruining my clothes please, i am desperate (i even started snipping bits off the waistband of my jeans in desperation!) Thanks.

Fiona
#41. February 17th, 2008, at 11:32 AM.

We have an AEG washer dryer (L14710 vit 5kg , max speed 1400) which is about 1 year old . I noticed small holes appearing in the front of cotton t-shirts about 6 months ago and it is getting more frequent. After finding this site I will definately get someone out to investigate. This is the first washer dryer we have bought and previously had a bosch washing machine which we used for 3 years without any problems. Has anyone else had problems with this make and model.

Karen
#43. February 24th, 2008, at 11:13 PM.

I have been getting these small mysterious holes in my cotton t-shirts for 18 months…some shirts brand new. I went thru all the logical ideas for why this was happening…moths, detergents, HE machines, etc., but I do believe the common link in all of this is that the cotton t-shirts are all made in the far east, mostly China, and they either over or under process the material and when the material comes in contact with an abrasive, such as denim, it breaks down the fibers and the result is small holes. I’ve even noticed that when I lean against my kitchen countertop (made of Silestone) and the edge is slightly abrasive. I have now covered the edge with clear shipping tape. Well see if that helps.

Iaker
#45. March 23rd, 2008, at 12:10 AM.

I have been getting holes in the front of my cotton t-shirts
in the crotch area, about five inches above the bottom of the shirt, for as long as I can remember. This ONLY happens with cotton t-shirts. Some of the
explanations offered seem to make sense, but then again they
typically don’t. It is surprising how many experience a similar phenomenon.
For me the holes tend to appear in the formation of a rectangle, sometimes
only one or two corners of it and sometimes all four, but always the same shape
and size of what appears to be an irregular rectangle about 2in across and
1in high. It’s very weird how it is always the same configuration. I have heard
seatbelt but I don’t drive and rarely find myself in a car, much less the same car,
more often than once or twice a week. And usually I leave my coat or
overshirt on in that situation.

I am thinking it has to be the inside of some pair of pants that I have,
as I often tuck in my undershirt and leave the overshirt out of the pants.
I notice that with shirts that I wear more frequently, usually all four holes
are present.

The other possibility is that my saxophone has a keyguard which
typically rests in that area during seated playing. However this
doesn’t explain the square formation. Still searching for the answer…

Daisy
#46. March 30th, 2008, at 11:46 AM.

Tops only for me too, and around the waist. Have assumed to far it’s from rubbing against the edge of my granite worktops as have caught myself doing this. Assuming t-shirt type material as it’s thinner and the
In my case it can’t be beetle larvae from China (?!) as all my stuff is from Britain, Italy, or France. Unless they bought the cotton in from somewhere else…it’s just happening on cotton.
Washing machine is a Bosch and whilst shortly to be changed to a Miele (yay!), I don’t blame the machine.

Incidentally, when visiting a friend abroad who had an American style washer, I put in a cotton cardigan that had been washed many times on a usual cotton wash on my machine, but it came out of that machine practically shredded at the neckline and I had holes in a couple of other things - I think it was the spin.

Kevin Heyworth
#47. April 27th, 2008, at 12:36 PM.

I rent and repair washing machines. To date I have only had two complaints of holes in clothes. I tested both machines extensively, checking all possibilities and even exchanged one for a new one. We eventually discovered that the cause was moth larvae, which like to eat cotton rich clothing.

Kevin Heyworth
#48. April 27th, 2008, at 12:56 PM.

Further to my post re the clothes being eaten by larvae, one clue was that, when the fabric was placed on a flat surface, there was a hole - some of the fabric was missing, as opposed to a rip or tear which could have been pushed back together. There was also no sign of any fraying or distortion around the edges of the hole, as one would expect with a rip or a tear. On possible cause of small rips in the fabric could be a riser, or paddle, coming loose and trapping fabric between itself and the drum, although this is very rare, it’s worth checking them for movement. Many of these clip in and will slide a little, but you should no be able to pull them away from the drum. If you can, then a clip or locating lugg may be broken. This tends to happen more when training shoes are washed - don’t do it!

Bev
#50. April 28th, 2008, at 8:02 PM.

I too have holes in my t-shirts and tanks. I packed away 11 last year. we had our agitator replaced and the whole machine checked. Now I am starting to think it is not the washer but my clothes. It is always in front at waist level. What can we do about
it? I have bought cheap and expensive brands and it still happens, maybe slower on the thicker cotton. Is beetle or moth larvae invisible to the eye? I don’t see any moths or anything.
I have used all cycles on the washer so it is not that. I thought about going to the university’s ag. dept and asking them to investigate

Jackie
#51. May 5th, 2008, at 10:08 PM.

I posted very early on the forum regarding this subject, I had begun to think I was going mad until I discovered I wasn’t the only one with this problem.
I eventually threw my 4 year old washing machine away in despair and bought a Miele, 1400 spin with honey comb drum, about a year ago. The only time I use 1400 spin is on towels, the rest of the time 1200 is sufficient. For years I had used tablets in the wash, but at this time I reverted back to using Persil powder.
Guess what? The last few weeks I have noticed it has started happening again! So far it is always on cotton t-shirts, but not restricted to the waist or the front. Several holes can appear on one top at a time,some minute and others enough to completely prevent them being worn again.
As has been said, the holes are clean and the material is completely missing, not a jagged rip or a tear. I am at my wits end with this, as others are. There MUST be an answer to it-but what it is I have no idea.

Jackie
#53. May 7th, 2008, at 9:21 PM.

As you say, the Miele drum is very kind to laundry and it falls away from the sides of the drum at the end of a wash cycle instead of being forced into the holes and needs to be pulled out. That is the main reason I bought the Miele after my experiences previously with damaged laundry.
I too feel it is unlikely the machine is causing the problem. But having worn a t-shirt one day with no holes, then it goes in for a wash-and as I am ironing it I find holes, just doesn’t make sense.
I have dozens of cotton t-shirts hanging in my wardrobe, some only worn on holidays. Today I have taken them all out and examined them carefully, apart from ones recently damaged there are no holes at all in any of the others???
Read your posts re moths and don’t feel that is the cause either, in my circumstances anyway. Very fastidious about cleaning, have no pets and feel lots of other items would show damage if they were present in my home.
One thing that has struck me though is……I have a natural wicker laundry basket that is kept in my bathroom. Obvious access via the weave for any munch-bunch insects to get in, between wearing and washing clothes. I wonder if we could do a survey amongst any of the other posters and see if we have this in common? Actually, I would think ALL laundry baskets have some sort of ventilation holes which would be accessible-maybe that is the answer we are all looking for????