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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I have a Sears Kenmore HE3t washer with the same problems listed by all. I have observed the wash cycle in particular the spin cycle of the washer. During the spin cycle the cloths are sticking outside of the drum area and lapping the bellow of the washer. As the spin speed increases, some of the cloths go over the lip of the drum and are between the drum and the bellow area. The net result is a hole is born in the clothing. If you look at the bellow, the surface closest to the drum shows wear from other clothing pinched between the drum and the bellow. I also noted depending on the wash size that the bellow and the drum do not align up resulting in the cloths making it into that gap even easier. New bellow helps for a while until it wears down or becomes thinner and the whole process starts over again. I would like to know if anyone else has a washer with a better bellow arrangement that prevents the cloths from this situation.
I have this problem. Previously with my old washer, it was only if the load was overfull – so my own fault.
Now that I am living in rented accomodation, I am using the washing machine that was provided (and new). I’ve had problems frequently. Most of my clothes and my husbands clothes are made of jersey cotton (t shirt material) or denim. Denim doesn’t seem to be affected but everything else does, many of my clothes that are new and worn once are then unwearable as they have holes (2-5mm). These holes can be anywhere! It’s frustrating and upsetting – not to mention expensive!
One thing I have noticed is people saying that the holes weren’t there before they put the item in the washer. In knit fabrics, a cut yarn won’t show right away. Only after the fabric is disturbed will the yarn-ends pull back and slip from the neighboring yarns, making a visible hole. I’m not saying this is the only possible cause, but I’m pretty sure it is why the holes seem to appear after a session in the washer and dryer.
Wow – I can’t believe so many other people experience the same problem! I’ve been having this problem for the last 2 years, we were renting a property with a built in machine when it first started happening(and I can’t remember what kind of make it was). It was a smaller capacity machine though so I thought perhaps I was overloading so I cut down on how much laundry i was putting in but it still happened. We have now moved and have our own machine back, which had gone into storage and it’s still happening. When we first used this machine in our first house I never experienced holes in clothes, so what has changed bewteen living in that house and this one – my answer is my washing powder. But should that really make a difference? I used to just use Tesco branded washing powder and experienced no holes. I then had children and needed one that didn’t affect their skin and began using persil non bio liquid, an the holes began appearing. It has made me wonder if it is down to the liquid detergent. The holes have spoilt many of all the families clothes, although generally the children’s clothes seem to have not been affected often, but some of my favourite items have had quite a few holes in, so bad that I’ve had to sew them up from the inside just so I can continue to wear them. I cannot afford to throw them out just because of a few holes, and although the holes are fairly small, in some items there are quite afew little holes. They are always in the centre of the tops, towards the bottom, only ever tops, no trousers have been affected.
My machine is a Zanussi Progress 1200, Hydrosystem 6kg.
I’ve not thought of reducing the speed of the macine, but if even with a change of liquid detergent my clothes still appear with holes then it is something else to try.
Would be interesting if anyone else has expereinced these problems whilst using persil non bio.
if the holes are always in the same place on the garments, then they can’t be caused by the washing machine or detergent. the washing machine is tossing the clothes about randomly, and so there is no way that the machine could cause holes to appear always in the same place.
there is some activity that you are doing that is causing wear on these particular areas of your clothes. be very conscious of what types of activities you engage in while wearing the clothes that are developing the holes and you will find the cause.
best of luck,
jeff
I am very upset. I have Bosch washer/dryer Maxx 5. It keeps tearing my clothes. It is clear that they are torn because of the friction. I called the service people who came and changed the door seal but it keeps tearing my clothes. I don’t overload it, I don’t wash bras and stuff like that as there’s no woman at home. It seems that somehow it pushes the clothes towards the door and when it starts spinning they are rubbing against the door seal and that’s it. I always load half load and everytime it washes I’m there to watch it and when I see the clothes pushed to the door I stop it, open the door, and push back the clothes. Very irritating exercise. I contacted Bosch but they are useless. I explained everything in detail but what I got was the general advice they would give to anyone – don’t overload, don’t wash bras, bla bla. I’m very upset as it has torn some of my best clothes already. I don’t know what to do.
I used to have a cheap Sumsung washing machine and never had problems with it. I really regret that I changed it with the ‘fancy’ Bosch. I thought Germans made excellent appliances, but obviously I was wrong.
Well I’ve just discovered what was making little holes in my cotton t-shirts – a bra wire. I had a friend who fixes washing machines round cos there was a little lid (little one left something in her pockets!) stuck in the drum making a racket on the spin cycle and walla! a lid and a bra wire. hopefully no more holes in any of my other tops. it ruined about 5 of them
I am also having hole problems, mostly in cheaper asda plain colour jumpers. iv traced it back to overloading the machine. The jumpers catch on the rubber seal part of the drum when pushed up against it, and being more polyester based they simply wear away with the drum spinning so fast. After realizing this I now do 3/4 loads and the problem has completely disappeared!
For the past several months, my 20+year old Kenmore (USA) has punctured small holes in summer tshirts and in lower undergarmets regardless of the age of the clothing. I use a fragrance free name brand detergent and either polyester or gentle cycle. No zippers, underwires or coins. I’m currently doing the research in order to purchase a new machine.
I recently handwashed a new top (worn once) from French Connection.After drying it outside on the line I noticed holes at the front around the belly button area. I returned it to the shop I bought it and they kindly exchanged it.It then happened again, in extacly the same place a few weeks later, I thought I was going mad! My husband and daughter now think I’ve really lost it-it happened then again last week to another fine cotton top,again another favoutite and expensive! My initial theory was the kitchen cleaner rubbing against the top from the granite work top, but since I wore the second FC top on the day I returned from my holiday and didn’t cook that evening, that sort of blows that theory out. Why does it happen around the belly button area, also it’s been whilst the weather has been quite hot, more body sweat perhaps..HELP,I’ve just found another top with holes- this can’t go on..!