What Causes Holes in Clothes After Washing

Why do you keep finding small holes in your clothes? Pests like moths are a common culprit, but it's also a possibility that your washing machine or laundry practices are causing damage. The items you put in your machine can easily create snags, tears, and small holes when washed together. Learn the reasons this problem appears after you do your laundry and how to stop holes in clothes from happening.

Main Causes of Holes in Clothes

To get to the bottom of why you keep finding holes in your clothes, take a few minutes to survey your closet. If your clothes are stuffed too tightly in your closet, they could be causing snags and holes by being too close together and those problems can get worse after laundering. Two other main culprits cause holes in clothing, too.

Moths and Other Pests

In addition to moths, insects like silverfish, crickets, roaches, and carpet beetles can all cause holes in different types of fabrics. These clothes-eating pests are attracted to the traces of body oils and other scents in your clothing, making your closet a prime target. Moth larvae eat the fibers of clothing after the mature insects lay eggs in your closet. 

Check your clothing and promptly remove the insects from your closet if you see any signs of an infestation. Moth holes in clothes look like small snags and holes that gradually grow over time, so it's best to catch these infestations early.

Improper Sorting

Prevent holes by sorting clothes before you wash and dry them. Never wash a delicate garment with heavy jeans, clothes with zippers, studs, or other embellishments. Put delicates in mesh laundry bags before washing.

7 More Reasons Holes Appear in Clothes After Washing

1. Using Chlorine Bleach Incorrectly

   Holes can result if you use too much chlorine bleach in your wash. The bleach can be too strong on fabrics if it is not properly mixed with water before washing.

2. Catching on Abrasive Edges and Surfaces

   Abrasive edges and surfaces can snag fabrics and cause small holes that worsen after washing. See if you have a countertop that's newly installed with a ragged edge or a table or desk with a scratched surface that may have caught on your clothes.

3. Wearing Belts and Embellishments

   Notice if your garments are catching on accessories such as belts or purses with protruding closures, such as zippers, grommets, or snaps. Smooth the rough edges with sandpaper and you will see a difference.

4. Overdoing the Spin Cycle Speed

   The final spin speed in your washer may be too high for the type of fabric washed. Rapid spinning aggressively pulls the garments into the washer's drum and damages your clothing's fibers. Here are some spin cycle guidelines for revolutions per minute (RPM):

   • Cotton clothes: Maximum spin of 600 RPM
   • Sheets and towels: Maximum spin of 1,400 RPM
   • Jeans: Maximum spin of 900 RPM
   • Delicates and silks: Maximum spin of 400 RPM

   Consult your owner's manual or call the appliance manufacturer to get this information. Find the manual online if necessary. Spinning too rapidly can pull clothing into the tiny holes and crevices of the washer drum and cause fibers to wear and tear.

5. Jamming the Washing Machine

   Overloading the washing machine affects the cleaning level of each cycle. It can cause clothing to become tangled with other garments' embellishments, zippers, and buttons. When sorting clothes, always fasten items and turn them inside out before tossing them in the washer.

6. Missing Bra Wires

   Underwiring can poke through bras and snag clothing. The wiring can also become loose and end up hiding inside the side of the washer drum and then begin to agitate fabrics. If you have found a bra with a missing wire, that may be the culprit. Check for the missing wire by removing the outer housing of the washer.

7. Misaligned Dryer Drum

   Your dryer's drum could also be damaging clothing. You'll know that's the problem if garments have dark burn mark-like streaks, small holes, or broken threads. You'll specifically see these issues on collar tips and hems of items that catch in the dryer's drum and housing.

   To troubleshoot this dryer issue, remove the outer housing of the dryer. Shine a flashlight so you can see the back of the dryer drum. Have someone let you know if they can see the light shining through the drum. If so, the drum may be misaligned or unbalanced, which allows the material to slip between the drum and housing resulting in marks, tears, and other damage.

How to Get Rid of Moths & Other Insects

Here are a few ways to eliminate destructive moths and other pests that cause holes in clothes.

• Wash in hot water: Remove larvae by washing clothing in hot water that is at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This should be enough heat to get rid of the bugs and you don't need to disinfect your laundry unless you prefer to take the extra step.
• Dry clean: Bring delicate items or organic fabrics to the dry cleaner to eliminate the pests.
• Freeze them out: Place the item in a zip-type storage bag, seal the bag with tape, and put it in the freezer for one week before removing and airing out the garment.
  
• Vacuum: Thoroughly clean and vacuum an area that appears infested. Moths feed on bits of pet hair and other natural fibers.
• Clean and sanitize: Keep out insects by removing sources of food and moisture, washing dirty clothes immediately, and caulking and sealing openings that may attract bugs indoors.
• Trap them: Use moth and insect repellents, such as glue traps and sticky paper, to grab pests responsible for holes in clothes.