There appears to be a problem with many washing machines routinely “causing” small holes in laundry. Judging from the correspondence I’ve received so far it is happening to a lot of people, with different makes of washing machine and with various drum sizes and spin speeds. Therefore, finding a pattern and identifying a definite cause is proving difficult.
However, almost everyone is blaming the washing machine. This article attracted 298 comments (bottom of this article) before being closed. They indicate that many of the holes may not be caused by the washing machine after all, though washing machines can clearly cause holes in laundry.
What’s causing holes in clothes after washing?
There is no one simple answer to the cause of holes in clothes but a detailed look at this article and its comments may help.
One common theory is that the quality of many modern fabrics are to blame, that they are too thin. It may be necessary to try and work out the cause by process of elimination and looking for clues. It’s not as simple as just blaming the washing machine.
The people having problems are finding holes routinely appearing in denim skirts & shirts, cotton shirts, t-shirts, sheets, dresses, corduroy skirts etc. so the problem doesn’t seem to be confined to one type of laundry. Up to now, many people who have complained to their washing machine manufacturer have been told the same thing.
They’ve been told the fault lies with themselves, and that they are probably spinning certain items too fast.
In my experience, many faults are caused by customers either misusing appliances or not reading instruction books (or the wash labels on the laundry!) properly so they are naturally the first suspects.
At this stage it is unclear whether or not there is a problem with the design or quality of some washing machine drums and tubs that could account for lots of small holes in laundry. However, it makes sense for anyone getting holes in their laundry on a regular basis to make absolutely sure that they are not inadvertently causing the problem themselves before pursuing a manufacturer or the seller of the appliance.
Make sure you are not inadvertently causing the holes in clothes
If you are experiencing regular random holes in your washing you need to check that you are not washing items on wash programmes with a final spin speed that is too fast for them. This is the explanation some manufacturers have given to customers who complained about holes in washing.
If you know you are definitely using the washing machine correctly then at least you can say with confidence that the manufacturer, or their engineer is wrong if they try to blame incorrect spin speeds for the damage.
To help you decide you really should check out the instruction book but here is a rough guide from my Miele 1400 rpm spin washing machine operating instructions which has a 6kg drum.
Different manufacturers and different models of washing machine may vary but this chart shows that certain items should not be spun at full spin speed
- Cottons: – 1400 rpm
- Minimum iron: – 1200 rpm
- Delicates: – 600 rpm
- Woollens: – 1200 rpm
- Silks: – 400 rpm
- Shirts: – 600 rpm
- Denim: – 900 rpm
Make sure you aren’t overloading the drum
Many people don’t realise that different types of laundry have different wash load capacities and that exceeding them amounts to overloading.
In most cases the consequences are more likely to be reduced wash efficiency but if you put a full load of denim, or shirts on a wash programme that does the maximum spin then the manufacturer could claim some may get damaged.
Here is a link to a previous article showing the maximum recommended loads for certain fabrics (again, consult your washing machine’s instruction book because the load sizes will vary amongst manufacturers and models – especially models with larger or smaller drum capacities) Laundry comes out of washing machine badly creased?
Other possible causes of holes
Bra wire (or underwires)
Bra wires are an extremely common problem with washing machines. Many of them (especially from cheaper bras) escape during the wash and get trapped under the drum.
Commonly you will hear a gentle metallic scraping noise as the drum turns but depending where it settles it may not make any noise at all. The ends of bra wires can be sharp, especially if they break. As the clothes are forced through the small holes in the drum (particularly cottons) during spin they can snag on the underwire and cause damage to the laundry.
If underwires from a bra are removable they should always be removed before washing. I’m sure many of them are supposed to be hand washed only!
Here’s an article I’ve published about washing nets designed specifically to protect a bra in the washing machine – Bra washing nets
Other obstructions in the tub, a damaged drum, loose drum lifter etc.
Coins and other metallic obstructions commonly cause problems with washing machines. They can damage the drum or loosen and break the plastic drum lifter (paddles) leaving a small hole or gap where laundry can snag.
Carefully examine the drum for dints or even tears, maybe an elongated drum hole that now has a sharp edge. TIP: Try using a nylon stocking stretched over a hand to feel all the way round a drum and paddles to see if anything snags.
Check none of the drum lifters or paddles are damaged or loose revealing a hole with sharp edges.
If you have a loose or broken drum paddle (lifter) it can cause damage to clothes. You can buy a replacement drum lifter or paddle for your washing machine on Spares4Appliances Drum lifter (paddles)
Zips and buckles
As a precaution try turning garments with zips inside out after zipping up the zipper. Watch out for garments that have metal buttons or buckles. Also try placing delicate laundry in net wash bags.
Biological detergents could damage woollens and silks
I’ve just written another related article describing how some holes in clothing could be caused by using biological detergent.
This issue is only related to silks and woollens though – Biological washing machine detergents can damage woollens and silks causing holes
Insects – Moths?
Don’t forget that certain insects and moth larvae can damage clothes. They cause lots of small holes that look very similar to the holes in clothes photos I’ve received. Obviously if holes only appear in specific places on clothes (like only the front lower part of a t-shirt) it’s not likely to be caused by insects or moth larvae randomly chewing on them. Try searching for the following subjects – clothes damaged by insects – clothes damaged by larvae – what do moth holes look like? There’s a good artcile here too. Notice the holes are virtually the same as in some of my photos except they are cleaner holes than some of my examples – Do moths eat cotton?
Removing a drum paddle (lifter) to gain access to the bottom of the tub
Bleach
Undiluted bleach should not be used in a washing machine. It’s corrosive. Even dilute bleach can weaken laundry. Read the label carefully before using.
Sometimes you can get an obstruction out through the dispenser/tub hose or the heating element
If you suspect the obstruction is trapped somewhere in the middle of the drum you may be able to get to it through the hole in the outer drum where the dispenser hose is attached. This is where the water and detergent is washed into the drum from the soap drawer.
Sometimes an underwire gets mangled and trapped on the heating element and removing the element can allow access to it. However, it depends where the heater is, some are right at the front of the machine and very hard to access and some are at the back behind the rear panel and easy to access. This method is not recommended though unless desperate because it may involve stripping a washing machine down, and you may not be able to refit the heater even if you get it out.
Worse still you could refit it incorrectly and it pops out during a wash cycle flooding the kitchen, or you don’t get it located under its holding bracket and the drum bashes it relentlessly on spin.
However, this article looks at where is the heater and how to remove it?
I’ve written another article on this subject here Holes in clothes photos which features many photos sent in to me with holes of all sizes and on various laundry.
If tiny holes are appearing only in t-shirts at the front
This can be caused by physical wear caused by rubbing against jeans, belts, and even kitchen worktops whilst working in the kitchen.
Photos of damaged laundry
For further details see the many comments below this article. Several people have identified their holes in the front lower half of t-shirts as being caused by rubbing against the kitchen worktop. Granite worktops are particularly implicated.
Try this experiment
Jeff suggested a great experiment in my comments section, which should prove whether the small holes in t shirts are caused by the washing machine or by the wearer.
Buy a new t shirt of the type that has been getting the holes (but never wear it). Each time you do laundry, throw it in with everything else and see if it ever gets holes. If it does, then as it has never been worn it’s probably the washing machine/detergent/faulty fabric. But if holes do not appear, then the holes in the other t shirts are most probably being caused by something the wearer of the shirts is doing to stress the fabric and not caused by washing.
Protect t-shirts and other laundry when washing
Use a net washing bag to protect delicate laundry, which helps prolong the life of clothes, and prevents wear and tear from friction
Comments now disabled
There are many comments below to research but new comments have been disabled because they have reached a large enough number for it to be impractical for most people to read them – let alone even more.
However, I strongly advise you take the time to read through them if this is a serious problem for you as there are many thoughts, speculations and ideas that may help. If you have any useful advice or information please contact me and I can either open up the comments for you or add your thoughts to the article.
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Jackie: In your case- large holes that can and do appear in various places on ALL your families clothes may indicate moths or some other pest. OR- you may actually be one of the few people who REALLY DOES have a BAD WASHER. Sorry you havent found any conclusive answers yet!
As far as I can see Shannon most people have front loaders.
i wanted to get in touch as i am also experiencing small holes in my mainly cotton clothing after washing in machine. I have a brand new hotpoint aqualtis which was heavily advertised on telly for its larger drum. I purchased mine in february and noticed small holes appearing in my washed clothing immediately. To start with i thought the odd items, being older peices of clothing had just worn through, but as it started then to happen on brand new items, which had only been worn once i began to question the machine. The holes are very small and often a few appear in the same patch at the same time.
I thought it was the spin being too vigorous and have since turned this down as an option when i now wash, but this does not seem to help as today once again another brand new item of clothing has come out with several small holes in. On further investigation i can feel that when i push my finger onto the drainage holes in the machine and the skin is pushed inside i can feel that there is a sharpness there a bit like a cheese grater which appears to be on the other side of the drum. I also have a friend with the exact same machine and guess what? Yep she also has holes in her clothes too. I think that the larger drum is the reason for the fault as there is little space between the outside of the drum and the machine itself. I am now in touch with my retailer and will be seeking a replacement machine (not the one i already have) and compensation for half of my ruined wardrobe. I will keep you posted to the outcome.
My wife and son were always having problems with small holes in the FRONT of their cotton t shirts. After Reading most of your articles it is now clear to me that whilst wearing jeans rubbing has caused these particular holes together with seatbelt friction ruining a few of my wifes finer tops after only one wear. With all this observation going on I haven’t read anyone checking for these holes prior to washing. It is likely they are only discovered when been ironed. Others who are complaining about larger tears in various areas of clothing then there is the obvious cause of the drum snagging clothes which I would suggest would be easy to notice owing to the frequency with which it happens. I would like to thank the contributors as it was only after Reading there comments that the cause became apparent. Aprons whilst cooking and eating are the way ahead.
I FOUND THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM:I also had tiny holes in all my t-shirts. I believe that it is a combination of all new washers
( mine is a Maytag Centennial) which spins at an accelerated speed that older washers & the new rage 2x detergents.
I found a detergent that was not 2x concentrated & I do not have that ” tiny holes problem” since I made the switch to a regular detergent.
Good luck! I experienced that problem for months but no more!
Enough wasting clothes!!!
We have the prob. of holes in the back/bottom of our T shirts.
It only happens to some of them…and are ALWAYS in the back on the bottom. This leads me to believe it cannot be the washing machine because why would it always be on the bottom of the back of the shirt? They are perfect round, small holes, and there are usually many of them making the lower back of the shirt look like swiss cheese. Does anyone have a logical explaintion of why this is happening? One that makes sense…we aren’t near bleaches, acids, and do not rub against grainite…so what else can explain this? HELP!!
Diane-
The problem is with FRICTION. Doesnt have to be granite. Something you are regularly doing without realizing it (of course) is creating friction against the cotton material (whether front or back) some holes may not be apparent at first- but after a wash and dry they show up (exactly as described) “cottage cheese” like was a good description once it gets so bad. Usually starts with just a few small ones at first. It’s not rocket science to figure this out- and I feel for anyone who is worrying over it. Hang in there!
Recntly our washing machine has been making tiny holes in all our new t-shirts at the bottom of the front. The holes are appering in exactly the same positons and place in all new garments despite us all being completely different heights. My family has been gatting really annoyed and freaked out thinking it’s a ghost that all our new clothes have holes in bottom front in the exactly the same places and so I decided to go on the interne to see if anyone else is experiencing this same problem. I don’t see how the washing machine could be making these holes as surely the holes would be random not EXACTLY the same (i think it’s bout 6 holes if i remmeber righty so), it cannot be a work surface or something we lean on as we are different heights and why is it just on our new clothes? If you have any logical explanation for this lety me know. Please help thank you x x
We had a Beko machine. Small holes started to appear in an assortment of washing but yes mainly cottons. Thinking it was the washing machine, we shelled out and purchased a new machine. Again a Beko, 1400 spin 7kg drum. To my dismay clothes have again started appearing with holes in. Only usually one hole but enough to damage the item.
It has happened to my daughters swim costume which was only in with soft towels, so clearly not a zip or anything.
Also on fully and low loads. Dont know what to do as i have two small children and washing on all the time but cant afford to keep damaging clothing?? Help ??
i thought i was the only one having this very bizarre and very frustrating problem. for several years i have had the small-holes-in-the-lower-front-of-T-shirts problem. interestingly, i also get these holes in the front of my boxer shorts – and the position of these holes is essentially in line with the holes on the t-shirts when the clothes are on.
as others have mentioned, the non-randomness of the holes rules out bugs, detergents, and washing machines as the culprits. the friction idea seems to be the best so far, but it’s just hard to imagine that there is that much more friction in the low-stomach area than in other areas of the shirt. my t-shirts do not come into contact with buttons, zippers, or belt buckles.
after the last round of replacing the t-shirts, i decided not to store them folded up in a drawer, because at that time i thought that possibly some bug could be the culprit. so for the last few months i have been hanging up my t-shirts after laundering, and since then i have not seen any holes in these t-shirts.
with that said, i recently noticed a small hole in one of my boxer shorts (in the usual place) and a small hole on the backside of a pair of thermal underwear pants (which i have always kept hung up).
99.9% of the issue with the holes has been as i described: on the lower front of cotton t-shirts and the front of poly/cotton boxer shorts, whith only a couple instances of holes that deviated from this pattern: i had one printed cotton t-shirt get these holes in the armpit area, and the hole on the backside of the thermal underwear pants (98% polyester, 2% spandex) was also anomolous.
i really wish there was a satisfiying explanation for this probelm, as it has caused me so much aggrivation.