Holes in clothes photos
This page shows photos of holes that have appeared in clothes after washing, submitted by Whitegoods Help readers. The examples cover a range of fabric types, washing machine brands, and damage patterns. For a full explanation of causes, see the main guide: holes in clothes after washing – possible causes.
Until all other causes have been ruled out. Many holes in laundry have causes unrelated to the washing machine itself. Read the full guide before drawing conclusions.
Holes in Cotton Laundry
New cotton denim jeans, washed for the first time with three other pairs of similar jeans. Programme: coloureds economy E40, 1200 spin. Detergent: Bold 2-in-1, no other additives or bleach.
The damage shown in the photos below looks different to holes described by many others. These are more like tears or cuts – as though the fabric has been forced through something and cleanly cut. The description accompanying these photos:
“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. I’ve been careful to wash on the right speeds and not fill the drum 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 a small tear. It doesn’t seem to matter what brand of clothing – Old Navy, Target, Aeropostale, GAP. This is frustrating!”
(Washer/dryer – drum capacity not reported)
Holes in Polyester and Acrylic Clothing
Zanussi ZWF 1221W, 1 year old. Small holes of approximately 1cm appeared in a polyester jacket washed as a single item. Programme: synthetics, 40°C, spin selector at 1200 (resulting in 900rpm actual spin for synthetics). No other items in the drum.
Hole in Bed Sheet
Submitted by Henri. The hole appeared after the sheet’s first wash. Fraying around the edges is consistent with friction or being snagged on a sharp object.
This was the only hole in the sheet, which suggests it may have caught on a sharp object inside the drum – such as the wire from an underwire bra that has worked its way beneath the drum. Objects that get trapped under the drum, particularly near the heating element or its bracket, can snag fabric when centrifugal force pushes it through the drum holes during spin.
Multiple Holes in T-Shirts – Submitted by Jackie
The bottom right photo in particular shows what appears to be a cut – as though fabric has been forced through a hole and cut cleanly. The others are smaller. Jackie’s description:
“Even my Miele (with a honeycomb drum) is causing damage to my laundry, much to my surprise! Did a light, coloured wash yesterday and out came a relatively new t-shirt with a hole at the front just below the neck line. I used a 40 wash with 1200 spin speed – makes no difference in my experience what programme or speed is used. Some holes are fairly tiny, but enough to ruin an item of clothing, others are quite sizeable chunks ripped from the garment. Have now invested in a huge net laundry bag – but we shouldn’t have to use one for every wash, should we?”
The Miele Honeycomb drum design does not have conventional round drum holes, and is specifically engineered to be gentler on fabrics than standard drum designs. It is therefore difficult to attribute holes occurring in a Miele Honeycomb drum directly to the drum design. It may be more accurate to say the holes occurred despite the Honeycomb drum, rather than because of it. As the main causes guide documents, many holes in laundry have causes unrelated to the drum itself.
Further Examples: Small Holes After Washing
Read the full guide on causes
Holes in clothes and possible causes – Small holes in clothes after washing (Washerhelp forum discussion) – Biological detergents can damage woollens and silks
11 Comments
Grouped into 8 comment threads.
1 reply I’ve got lots of lil holes and it’s only in my pjs I’ve noticed a few days ago load of tiny hole only in my pjs and I keep them all in two drawers! It’s so weird I have been using Persil colour for about 2 yrs so I’m not sure if that is the problem but I’m not noticing it in any other clothes that I have in my chest of drawers just the two drawers that are attached to my bed. I actually have four drawers but it’s jus the two drawer and I’ve pulled everything out of the drawers and there’s nothing in them! Please someone help me with my mystery!!!!!????!!!!
1 reply ive been getting holes after washing and wondered if it could be caused by my washing machine not having a retaining clip around door seal?
ive been getting holes after washing and wondered if it could be caused by my washing machine not having a retaining clip around door seal?
Likely replying to james butcher
Hello James. The retaining clip around the door opening is there to prevent the door seal un-peeling from the door frame. If it’s not fitted, depending on how it’s designed it may not cause any issues at all or it may mean the door seal doesn’t fit very well and starts to come off. If it’s fitting is compromised I would expect the washing machine to leak water down the front.
1 reply After ten years of wondering, I think our small holes are caused by clothes pegs. Our plastic clothes pegs have two plastic stubs holding on the rubber gripper and I'm now thinking it's those. The holes are normally in the bottom of t-shirts but in the middle of sheets, and that's where we peg them. It's always thinner material that has the holes. Often it's two small holes at the start, about 1cm apart, just like the stubs. Check yours out.
After ten years of wondering, I think our small holes are caused by clothes pegs. Our plastic clothes pegs have two plastic stubs holding on the rubber gripper and I’m now thinking it’s those. The holes are normally in the bottom of t-shirts but in the middle of sheets, and that’s where we peg them. It’s always thinner material that has the holes. Often it’s two small holes at the start, about 1cm apart, just like the stubs. Check yours out.
0 replies Oxi clean stain remover left on overnight weakens the fabric and leaves irreversible, moth-like damage!!! Like on first pictures
Oxi clean stain remover left on overnight weakens the fabric and leaves irreversible, moth-like damage!!!
Like on first pictures
0 replies Good point Andreas. To be honest I'm not sure it's been mentioned before, even in my article. But open zips on laundry could potentially cause damage to other some other laundry. I'm not sure they would account for actual holes, certainly not many of them that are I've seen but good advice.
Good point Andreas. To be honest I’m not sure it’s been mentioned before, even in my article. But open zips on laundry could potentially cause damage to other some other laundry. I’m not sure they would account for actual holes, certainly not many of them that are I’ve seen but good advice.
0 replies Jeans should Always be buttoned the fabric is hard and it will not make the button go off. Otherwise the zipper opens and congratulations you now have snagged laundry. Same if you forget normal zippers. So button should always be opened to avoid falling off unless it’s jeans then you must close the button . And zippers always closed.
Jeans should Always be buttoned the fabric is hard and it will not make the button go off. Otherwise the zipper opens and congratulations you now have snagged laundry. Same if you forget normal zippers. So button should always be opened to avoid falling off unless it’s jeans then you must close the button . And zippers always closed.
0 replies Just reading this and i have had the same problem with a few of my t shirts.small holes have appeared in the cotton,only very small mind like in the pics above.dont think its my machine as its never happened before,i have a john lewis 1230 which is nearly 8 years old now.i use ariel liquid colour but have recently swapped to persil colour which i think maybe the problem?
Just reading this and i have had the same problem with a few of my t shirts.small holes have appeared in the cotton,only very small mind like in the pics above.dont think its my machine as its never happened before,i have a john lewis 1230 which is nearly 8 years old now.i use ariel liquid colour but have recently swapped to persil colour which i think maybe the problem?
0 replies I have the same thing going on with my clothes. We have discovered that it is the Oxyclean liquid stain remover. It breaks down the fabric
I have the same thing going on with my clothes. We have discovered that it is the Oxyclean liquid stain remover. It breaks down the fabric
I’ve got lots of lil holes and it’s only in my pjs I’ve noticed a few days ago load of tiny hole only in my pjs and I keep them all in two drawers! It’s so weird I have been using Persil colour for about 2 yrs so I’m not sure if that is the problem but I’m not noticing it in any other clothes that I have in my chest of drawers just the two drawers that are attached to my bed. I actually have four drawers but it’s jus the two drawer and I’ve pulled everything out of the drawers and there’s nothing in them! Please someone help me with my mystery!!!!!????!!!!
Likely replying to Sandra
Hello Sandra. All the possible causes I could think of are highlighted in detail on my main article Holes in clothes after washing. I’ve also just added a small section about moth lavae and insects.