Holes in clothes

[potatochips]

Lately I’ve noticed some of my clothes have holes in them like what’s shown in the picture below. Some shirts just have one, some have a few near the belt line. NOW, I’m trying to figure out and rule out the washing machine. I always wash clothes like shirts separate from pants. Always warm water wash, cold rinse. I try to err on the side of delicacy and usually use shorter wash times.

This particular shirt is about four years old now. It’s mostly been washed in front loafers, like a Neptune. Has spent time in a 712 and a LAT9806, as well as a BD Kenmore. Is there a possibility these holes come from the machine? Or could it be age? I figure belt line holes are from belt snaps on jeans but one up by the collar has me puzzled. I have looked up how to fix these.

So, thoughts? Anyone fix these either?

 

[combo52]

Small holes in clothing

Its Not The Washer, as you have noticed most holes appear in high wear areas of the clothing item.

John L.

 

[quincyman]

Your Dilemma

I can only imagine that washing anything in a Front Loafer might ruin a load of wash.
That said, items that are aged and worn, can easily give to other things in the wash, like zippers, clasps, buttons. Same can happen to newer items. Sorting can be important.

 

[good-shepherd]

I’ve noticed some of my clothes have holes

Poor quality cotton that is so common these days.

I have shirts that are 20+ years old with many trips through top load washers that are still holding up.

Whereas other, far newer items are in the rag bin already.

 

[potatochips]

Its a shame because they only may last a handful of years, which really means you may only wear it once or twice a month. I do sort my clothes, jeans and other items with things that may snag fabric like zippers get washed on their own. Anyone ever repair these?

 

[foraloysius]

Have you checked the seatbelt of your car for rough spots?

 

[rolls_rapide]

I too think it is poor quality clothing these days.

I have a cheap casual shirt which had a small hole similar to 'Potatochips' example, when brand new. I didn't notice it until after I'd removed the scratchy labels.

Damage to the clothing in the machine might also manifest itself initially as snags, pooks, or trailing threads.

Another thing: that hole on the neck area... check for sharp snagging clasps on jewellery/chains, and sharp scratchy labels on jumpers and jackets.

 

[DADoES]

 
Attached manufacturer tags and store security devices sometimes cause small holes in new items, which may stretch or wear larger with successive washings.

 

[beekeyknee]

Zigzag setting on sewing machine. Go back and forth over hole until it’s filled in. If you don’t, I would zip up all zippers, especially metal ones and fasten buttons. Check your agitator for rough spots and if you find any get some fine emory paper and polish out the spots. I wash mixed loads with jeans to help cushion the machine from rivets and metal buttons. The only things I wash separately are towels and sheets; things like that, that won’t snag. Also, keep in mind it’s harder to find quality, durable clothing than it used to be. Corporations are making cheaper goods and decreasing volumes of consumables while keeping prices the same or higher. They might be able to get away with this with younger people who don’t have the reference of the past, but this type of chicanery doesn’t fly with older folks.

 

[awooff]

Holes from crickets

Have noticed those same small holes in clothing containing cotton and thought it was from leaving dirty clothes on the basement floor and attracting crickets. Noticed more during summer months and after hearing a cricket or 2 sounding off.

 

[lordkenmore]

I use a single speed Shredmore type washer. (Shudder!) I think I have noted accelerated wear and tear, particularly IIRC the early months I used the washer. But I've concluded that, while I think the washer is probably harder than I'd like, the bigger problem is often most likely age or poor quality material/construction. Early on, one issue (I speculate) was just that a lot of stuff was probably marginal, but didn't get pushed over the edge until it was subjected to a washer with more vigorous agitation than the previous washer (a WCI Frigidaire).

 

I also recall noticing issues when I moved to using a BD KM (after using a a different WCI Frigidaire) about 10 years ago. I had considerably fewer issues crop up then, but, thinking back, I'm guessing the problems were, again, due to age & wear, bad quality clothing, and a washer with better agitiation than the predecessor.

[this post was last edited: 11/11/2018-17:46]