I didn't know where to post this, but have read many comments about the tiny holes in the front of thin tee shirts, mostly by the bottom of the shirt. None of my kids' or hubby's clothes are affected. I have a walk in closet and it has only happened since we moved here in 2003.
I never saw these holes in my former house. So how could it be the jean button or seat belt of my car, if it never happened until we moved into this house?
By Ltb3105 from Bedford, TX
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Actually what is happening is that the material that they are making the clothes from now days is thinner than it used to be. This is starting to be very irritating now that 2 of my favorite shirts from Express has developed holes and my boyfriends Express Underwear. I have sewed up a few things but I'm very unhappy with this quality of cotton. It's one thing to have cute little light shirts but entirely unacceptable when you pay 50.00 for a shirt and it starts falling apart! That is what is happening. That's why all your experiments have the same outcome.
I think you got it about "the material that they are making the clothes from now days is thinner than it used to be." I also think it has to do with the way it is knitted because it seems that once a single threat of the knit gets snagged it starts a hole. They seem to be aroundthe area where the corner of the top of pants sticks up above the zipper or buttons. So that might be what causes the snag to start, but I think it is the cheap material and/or knitting technique that is to blame. The pictures I've seen posted by others are just like mine and lots of other peoples'.
I totally agree that a woman's fifty dollar cotton shirt it a ten dollar shirt SHOULD NOT HAVE TINY HOLES APPEARING towards the bottom of the shirt. I BLAME IT ON THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL WEAVING FROM THE TEXTILE
I agree that it is the quality and workmanship where the tee's are made my problem has been from JJill not cheap then went to jcpenney
Paid less same problem with Pima cotton tee's need to find tee's made in USA not Peru, Vietnam etc. Cost has nothing to do with problem. I'am tired of being taken advantage of. Taking mine back to the store for refund. 5/6/2017
These tiny holes have been appearing in my thin T-shirts for several years now, in the exact same spot on the shirt. They started appearing at about the same time that the term "tissue" started being used to describe the more sheer fabric of women's fashion T-shirts. My husband does not get them, but his shirts are thick athletic cotton T-shirts, much thicker than mine. I am 5'5" while he is taller and I don't believe he leans on the kitchen or bathroom counters the way I do or at the same level I do. I wear jeans and shorts with buttons almost all of the time. All the holes appear at my waist right where the button hits the shirt. I spend much more time in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and cooking than anyone else in the family.
I agree, it is how the shirts are being made, I tried everything. It's the quality of cotton and a real shame, some of my fav.
I agree, it is how the shirts are being made, I tried everything. It's the quality of cotton and a real shame, some of my fav. jersies have all these little holes. Sewing them does not help. My very, very old ones are perfect.
The reason for the holes is because the washer has many holes and on the other side they're sharp. I talked to a very smart salesman and he told me to drop the spin speed. I didn't have it on max, but the one between max and medium speed, that way they took less time to dry.
It's interesting reading all the comments in the posts regarding this. I just love the "Joe" line of clothing at Superstore but I have noticed small random holes in the t-shirts when they are still fairly new. None of my other clothes so I think the brand is pretty "fragile" (is that a politically correct term for it?) I do find the T's in the clearance shelf for under $5 so I guess you get what you pay for.
I like to buy thin cute t-shirts and I also find that I develop small holes toward the bottom front of the shirts. Lucky brand is the worst. The material is just a lot thinner than the old fashioned Hanes shirts that we used to get. I don't think it is your house, but just a decrease in the fabric quality since 2003.
All my Lucky Brand t shirts have holes at the bottom area!!!
If you happen to wash a "bra" with t-shirts, the "hooks" will certainly damage the shirts, just a thought.
Check the edge of your counter top where you stand at the sink. If is rough that may be the reason for the holes.
I've read that it's caused by poor quality fibers. Where they join together when being weaver.
Yes, I think you are right. That makes a lot of sense.
I had this happen once before and it was due to bleach in the laundry. Once I stopped using detergent with bleach the tiny holes stopped appearing. Hannah -- Dallas TX
All of my and my husband's shirts that have these tiny holes are in the front bottom, and they are all colored. So not a bleach problem. They are all shirts that are the very thin cotton. It is not because of leaning against a counter or a belt buckle or metal button. I would blame it on the material and my reasoning for them being in the front would be that it's where they get the most wear and tugging on. But, I along with all the rest of you, are completely frustrated and it always seem to be happening to my favorite shirts! The next time it happens, if I'm so moronic as to buy another shirt made from thin fabric, I will save the receipt and return it to the store. Ugh!
I have at least 5 shirts with these tiny holes at the front. I was perplexed but after hearing it could be from my granite I put one on backwards and went about my day of baking in the kitchen and lo and behold. Holes! Yes, the granite is the culprit. Guess I will get some use out of my pretty aprons now!
We women do so much that there is no telling what causes it. I mean think of all the things you do during your regular day. From washing clothes to cleaning bathrooms, floors. cooking and much more. I would say to just wear an apron. We are hard working women and the holes in our clothes show it! LOL
By any chance do oyu have a frontloader wash machine??? Everyone I talk to who has one gets these little holes in the bottom of their shirts. the manufactures deny it saying we are washing wrong! Whatever!! I never had this when I had my old regular washer and dryer. Im going back to the cheeper model. Save me money on clothes!Forget energy! TJ
I have also suspected my front washer since it started happening since then. But then again it's about the same time manufacturers started reducing costs by using thinner, cheaper material. And also, why always in the front?
I too have the same problem. I found that since I moved into this house there are tiny holes in my thin t-shirts. So I pay careful attention and found I am getting them at my kitchen sink. Due to the height of this counter. It meets the button on my jeans and lo and behold, holes in my shirt. I have a tile counter with a rough feeling grout. That is what is doing mine.
I have noticed this problem in my clothes for about 4 years now. I have come to the conclusion it is my jean buttons. I have been wearing Levis, below the waist jeans for about the same amount of time. I have changed cars, houses, washing machines, etc. over the years. The only thing to remain the same is the type of Jeans I buy. Although, I find this style of jeans very comfortable to wear, the down side is that the lower waist tends to put the metal button at my "widest" part and an area I tend to lean on, like counters and where the pressure of a seat belt goes. I have dozens of shirts of various quality and thickness that have these holes. Just recently, I wore a brand new, high quality T-shirt and after one day, there are holes, all in the same area. I think the only solution is to buy jeans without metal buttons or remove the metal buttons from my jeans and replace with plastic buttons or start tucking in all my shirts.
Wow, lots of tiny holes out there. I just started getting tiny holes in my t-shirts after purchasing my Ford Escape last spring. I've ruined 6 favorite t-shirts (it took a while to figure out where I am probably getting them from). There is a tiny button on the seat belt that must have a rough edge I can't feel with my finger. I can't imagine that a washer would put holes always in the same place. Does anyone else with these tiny t-shirt holes have a Ford Escape? I'm going to try something (like duct tape?) over the little button thingy and see if there is an improvement.
I agree it is the jeans,since i started wearing lower rise jeans i have holes in all my shirts. I believe it is the stiff piece of fabric over the button and the button hole. I have sewn it back so it doesn't stick out and poke my shirts, ( helped some) I have also thought about rounding the material so there is no corner on the jeans by the button,or even covering the top edge of the jeans with soft fabric like felt.
Yes! Tiny holes. It is from the seatbelt. Took me a long time to figure it out. I am going to glue a piece of fabric on the button on the seatbelt. If you feel the seatbelt you will see the side that is not up against you is smoother. Lets hope the little button on the belts were put on backwards and not that the seatbelts were put on the wrong side of the car. I ruined many, many T-shirts some I paid $20.00 a piece for that are not thin, heavy well made cotton from the good ole USA. Apparently when you put the belt on you pull it up and over, if your like me when I take it off I just unclip it and let it go. That is when it occurs. I made a point lately to check my shirt before and right after I got out of the car to actually know its the belt. No moths, no washer hope this helps everyone and glad to hear it's not just mine. For a while I was going crazy trying to figure it out.
Last year I brought a new 2010 Silverado pickup truck. I began noticing all my shirts and sweaters over the winter were starting to have fuzzing and piling. The shirts and sweaters are high quality and I'm tired of ruining so many clothes. It took me a while to figure out it was the seat belt. I don't know what to do or how to stop this? Does anyone have any suggestions. I'm sure its the lap part of my seat belt. I had a brand new shirt on and I pulled it out over the seat belt and it was fine. Wore the same shirt again forgot to pull it out and it was ruined. It looks like a line across the bottom with fuzz. Has anyone else had this problem with seat belts? Thanks.
I have noticed that I get this and I've come to the conclusion that it's my belt buckle on my jeans! Or it could be where the buckle on my jeans has rubbed against the t-shirt while I'm wearing a seat belt.
I've read most of the answer relating to tiny holes in clothing. I was astonished at some of the answers. I've narrowed down to buttons on pants. Of course now with the style of clothes most tops are worn over our pants. My husband tucks all his shirts, t-shirts etc in his pants and therefore has no tiny holes on his clothes. I usually pay good money for my clothes and have ruined many tops. My only alternative to saving my tops is to wear a camisole under my tops. Works for me. By the way, I wash my husband's clothes in the same front loading machine, he wears a seat belt just like I do and he also works in the kitchen with me.....but does tuck in his shirts.
It's definitely the granite! Every shirt I own has these tiny little holes. I'm the only one in my house this happens to because I'm always at the kitchen sink and the counter lines up with shirt.
I think it's time to get rid of the granite! I heard some pieces of granite have radiation and could cause cancer!
I have read some of the most ridiculous answers on this thread and elsewhere on the Internet! Micro-organisms?
Really, the washer is not selective about putting holes in one area of your shirts. I even read someone say it's bugs in your drawers.
The answer is quite simple. It is not only granite counter tops, it's ALL counter tops. It's not the counter itself. It is the process of rubbing against the counter when you are wearing a metal button on your pants. It could be any type of counter, including your bathroom counter when you brush your teeth. This would not occur if you happen to be wearing pants without a button (ie yoga pants or leggings, etc.).
The placement of the holes are always in the front, but depending on your height or the height of the counter, they may be a little lower or higher on individual people.
So....either lift up your shirt when you are leaning on the counter, or just don't lean on it while you are at the sinks or cooking. You could try an apron, but that might not stop the shirt from rubbing on the button. You could also just wear a junk shirt when at home.
The placement of your seatbelt in your car could cause the same rubbing if the conditions are right. So put your shirt over your seatbelt if you aren't wearing a jacket.
Pretty simple, it seems.
Just to add to my answer, my 12 year old had the tiny holes on his shirt yesterday and I asked him if he had worn that shirt when he did the dishes for me one day a few weeks ago...the answer was yes. He never does the dishes and he has no holes on any of his other shirts.
So I've been suffering from the wholy shirt syndrome for a few years. After re-doing my kitchen counters and still getting holes I moved on from the counter blaming. I also moved to a new home with new, quartz counters that sure feel smooth. Did some research and came to the conclusion that it was my car seatbelt because I'm the only one in the family who has this problem. So I made a little, fuzzy seat belt cover for my car. Did not solve the problem.
Well...Got a brand new shirt yesterday. High end, thick, cotton tshirt. NO holes when I put it on this morning. Just got home from work and went to take it off and there is one tiny hole. Right below where my belly button is. Same place as always.
So I started to do more research and decided to do a 'counter trial'. Put an old, seldom worn tshirt with no holes and leaned against the counter where I had been reading the newspaper (for maybe 5 minutes) before changing my clothes and lightly rubbed back and forth a few times. Presto... there is a hole in my shirt!
I found it is not the counter top, it is the jean button/or above the button where it comes to a point and is very thick. If it was caused by a front loader I would think it would not be selective with holes only in the front at the bottom of the shirt, they would be on the back, the sleeves, etc. Seatbelts could be rubbing against the jeans and shirt causing the same holes as if you were rubbing against a countertop or any other surface.
I'm having the same problem. I know it's not silverfish because its only happening to the tops I wear all the time and it is always in the same location - in the front. From reading everyones answers, and the fact it has only started happening to me since I moved into my new house in October last year. I believe it is my granite bench tops.
I'm ruling out seatbelts because I've had my current car for 3 years and its only been the past 10 months that holes have started appearing in my tops. I also believe it is two particular low rise pairs of jeans that are causing the holes after I lean against my grainte bench tops.
I checked a couple of my other tops this morning that are thicker material and I can see that they almost have holes in them too. Very frustrating, expensive problem and its hard to remember to change your top before going into the kitchen!
Just complained to my daughter that I have ruined another new top! It only happens when I wear jeans and it happens with all my jeans (different brands). So frustrating. Last year I put packing tape over the button and that helped, but what a pain to have to do that. Wish I could figure out some other way to cover the button. Hate to not be able to wear my jeans.
I have a kinda same problem but different, I am a plus size woman, and every pair of pants I own that are cotton have tiny holes in the right side of my behind towards the top of my pants. It has been driving me crazy to figure out why. What makes it even more crazy is that it is in the exact same spot in every pair. I have checked everywhere and can't find anything!
I just bought a new pair of pants because of this reason and today was the first day wearing them, I wore them about 6 hours, didn't think about the holes, just took them off to do some laundry, and low and behold 3 tiny hole starting in the exact same spot, I wish somebody could help me, I am in tears right now! Any thoughts?
Since I was convinced it is the bulk of fabric at the corner of the waistband of the jeans (the side with the snap or button), I tried an experiment to find the cause of the annoying and costly problem:
After purchasing a new shirt (t-shirt knit), I inspected it for any defects, paying particular attention to the center, mid-way to bottom of the shirt.
Throughout the day I checked the area of the shirt where this problem always occurs, (the bulk of the fabric corner of waistband on the jean which curled forward).
Even before noon, I began to notice shiny spots appearing, indicating a definite wear pattern exactly where the jeans waistband touched the shirt. By the end of day several tiny holes appeared where the shiny spots began.
I have tried ironing a light-weight knit interfacing to the area of the shirts where the holes tend to appear which did help but the hang of the shirt suffered somewhat. I am now wearing a camisole on top as a buffer (helps also); but want to eliminate the bulk of fabric without causing another problem (fraying of the jeans).
A friend suggested duct taping!
I'm 5'1''. When I lean against the counter to wash dishes, my jeans button meets up with the bottom edge of the counter with the shirt in between and cuts littles holes in the shirt. I solved the problem by putting clear Scotch packing tape along the edge of the counter. It barely shows so that it is not noticable. I didn't have any more holes in my shirts for two years before needing to replace the tape.
There have been a lot of explanations for the tiny holes in t-shirts. The simple fact is that there is a friction between denim and jersey fabric, along with the pointed corner of the waistband that cause the tiny holes.
I have battle this problem for years and came up with a solution. You can view this garment protector at www.etsy.com/listing/181602362/garment-protectors-adhesive-backed?
I have many shirts, some almost new, the same way. I believe mine, along with a severe stroke, were caused by metabolic acidosis from not wearing my CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Check either your urine or saliva ph level.
I have these holes too. I never had them until I started wearing a belt. It is the "stem" of the buckle (the part that goes in the holes) that rubs on your shirt and causes the holes. I have to wear a belt so I'm putting some packing tape on the stem to see if that helps.
Very frustrating! New lightweight sweater - wore it 3 times - and two new holes have appeared like numerous other tops of mine. It is not caused by granite counter tops, since I have laminate. The problem started 3 years ago with the purchase of new GM cars. My daughter has a Ford and the seat belts are a bit different in how they are sewn. My seatbelt stitching has two very sharp start and end points. When the holes come, they are always in pairs of two, spaced apart as the width of the seatbelt. I bought a strap cover meant for baby car seats, but it continually slips. I am convinced the holes are caused by the seat belts. I believe that my husband does not have the problem because he always wears cotton button up shirts, and I wear knits.
Glad I googled "holes in clothes"! I was mystified & mortified about these little holes right by where my belly button is in front of new t-shirts, especially my favorites. After reading comments I now realize it could be from the car seatbelts and/or rubbing on granite countertops. What I think the real culprit is the washes (acid wash, bleached, faded look) on the t-shirts we buy that manufacturers give the fabric to make them feel softer and not spanking new. I've ruined J.Crew & Ann Taylor cotton (100%) tops and even a BCBG that was 100% rayon.
I thought at first it was moths but never saw them & my husband pointed out they wouldn't be making holes always in the same spot. So anyway, these "washes" weaken the fabric so any little friction breaks the fibers thus causing little holes. I just figured this out from reading your posts. So thanks a bunch! From now on I'll work in the kitchen on my old t-shirts, or the ones with holes. Now about the car seatbelts, guess I'll have to wrap it up with something.
I get the same problem; but it really sucks when you budget your shopping and get 8 tops from Express and ALL 8 have end up with this holes in them and,less than a year old cloth. I can only wear them to sleep or clean the house! #boycottexpress
I agree and understand on the cheaper or worn material. I come from a family of hand me downs, don't think I owned a pair of jeans that didn't have holes growing up lol. My jeans now all have holes flooring contractor by trade. I came here because this just happened to me and it was to pairs of jeans I've had for 5 years as well as ones recently bought. I was looking or thinking maybe it had something to do with the water or laundry soap I used tide (He turbo) and I did wash in warm/warm warter when normally I use cold / cold. has anyone with the holes use that freshner pack that came with the detergent I also used half of that
I googled answers for tiny holes in clothing when I saw my third cashmere sweater have tiny holes from 1 to 6 mm in diameter. All those sweaters had no holes when I placed them in the drawer. It is also the same drawer and only happened to my cashmere sweaters maybe because they were thinner. I thought it snagged from the drawer but I tried to feel the top and it was pretty smooth. I was trying to look for insects but did not see any. I live in Miami and Cashmere is seldom used but only during the colder months and only for few days or nights to use cold weather clothes. I discover the holes when I am organizing my drawers. It seems like every year I have thin cashmere sweater that will have holes in them. Cashmeres are expensive and putting beads or apliques will not look good on it . The holes can be in the sleeves or by the chest, by the bottom, by the neck area, randomly scattered and some clustered together. If it is some sort of microscopic insect or bacteria, what can I do to treat my drawer? How can I protect my clothes from these tiny creatures?
Some one told me cedar chips in drawers and it is moths!
I have been plagued by the same problems of 100's of people regarding holes in t-shirts and have read 100's of theories. Having done so, I just carried out a little experiment with the t-shirt I am wearing with holes in. I took a pair of my Levi jeans and put one of the copper rivets behind the t-shirt. I then rubbed the t-shirt with the rivet behind it several times along a car seat belt. Nothing happened other than a dirty mark on the t-shirt. I then took it to the kitchen and rubbed it heavily against the edge of the work surface and nothing happened. However, I then rubbed it once and fairly gently along the stainless steel drawer handle in our fitted kitchen and low and behold the tiny tell tale hole appeared just like all the others. It would appear that if a cotton t-shirt is rubbed between two metals ie copper rivet and stainless steel drawer handle, it takes very effort to make a hole appear. As I am a house husband and do all the kitchen work in our home, it would explain why my wife's and son's t-shirts are not affected. Also, I always wear my t-shirts outside my jeans so the top button and copper rivets are always under the t-shirt. We do not have moths and I have fully checked out our front loading washing machine. There are no sharp edges of any kind! I suggest that if you have modern protruding metal drawer handles the answer may be to change them or wear your t-shirt inside your jeans!
Has any investigation been done into the correlation between these alien holes in cotton blend tees and the new HE washing machines that do not agitate but are called impellers. I NEVER had a issue prior to the purchase of a 'efficient' environmentally protective washer! just saying...sometimes the old is not necessarily bad!
You are correct, Doodles. They are using cheap fabric. This happens to all my cotton tshirts from Old Navy. I am tired of it. Naturally they are making more clothing with "faux" fabric like rayon and such, to get around not using the cheap thin cotton. It's annoying!
It's from the kitchen counter rubbing on the fabric and cleaning chemicals. Wear an apron!
Just made the holes after wearing shirt backwards. Only started after moving to new house w granite....it's my jeans button rubbing against the beveled edge of the countertop. I actually heard it.
I just read my own suggestion to this from 2 1/2 years ago: I replied that I thought the holes came from over stuffing drawers. (Creates a small hole that may not show until laundering when the agitation further stresses the fabric revealing the hole.) Have culled and been folding/storing differently to not over stuff drawers. Haven't had holes!
I had the same problem with some new briefs one year. Turned out to be ants. They didn't make holes in anything else, just the new items. Am having the same problem now with new t's.
I had the same problem. I thought it was silverfish and ordered pest control. He said it was moth and he put on some carton trap and the next day it was full of moths! I have never seen even one moth before.
You can buy the tape from here:
www.amazon.com/
I seem to have this same problem and it's not just my clothes, it's everyone's clothes (4 of us). It's not just one area, it is all over the shirts. Sounds to me like maybe it could be these new HE detergents and too many clothes in the wash and maybe they are not getting rinsed very well. That is the only thing no one has addressed so far. We have well water and I have driven my husband crazy adjusting the system thinking that was it, maybe the chlorine, or the metals in the water. It is certainly a conundrum.
I have tiny holes on my shirts too. My husbands don't seem to be affected in our walk-in closet. I thought it was from "silverfish" and have tried mothballs, cedar blocks , having our pest control company spray, getting out all paper or cardboard away fro closet, and still continues to be a problem. But I get new shirts every 6-12 months ! If anyone has successfully cured the problem, I'd be happy to hear HOW.
I highly doubt it's because of wearing them or the material being too thin. Because I just bought a shirt and it was hanging in my closet and I just went to put it on and now it has a bunch of tiny little holes in it and it's right at the breast area. This is never been worn before so it's some kind of bugs that I can't figure out. I don't ever see any moths and I have othy balls and cedar closet. I'm not exactly sure what to do
Its from your jean button or belt and leaning against a kitchen countertop or something that is waist height. The friction and your shirt falling inbetween leads to little pin prick holes and they are made bigger by your washer or dryer and thats when you notice them. Ive found a silicone cover - holebuttoncover and they work www.holebuttoncover.com
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