“Have I caught clothes moths?” When you discover small holes in your clothes, this is often your first fear. In fact, the causes of the small “vampire bites” in T-shirts, undershirts and the like are often quite different. Here you can find out which culprits are usually behind them and what you need to do if moths really are the reason for the holes.
Holes in clothing due to friction
Resourceful household detectives have discovered that the main culprits for small holes in clothing have to do with our trousers: Belt buckles, buttons, rivets and zippers create constant abrasion, which over time wears out the fabric. The thin T-shirt fabric takes it particularly badly if the hip regularly rubs against the edge of the sink when washing dishes. A protruding zipper also wears down the material with every movement until it eventually tears.
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Forgotten laundry net
It gets nasty when loose bra fasteners, defective underwires or open zippers eat holes in the delicate cotton fabric during washing. Bras should therefore always be washed in a laundry net and zippers should be closed. Pants and jackets should be washed inside out if possible. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also sort your laundry into garments with and without buttons, buckles and hooks.
Poor quality textiles
In an estimated 80 percent of cases, the susceptibility to small holes in clothing is related to the quality of the fabric. Thin fibers, cheap processing and aggressive dyeing or bleaching processes do not promise a long shelf life. The friction of the material in the washing machine or frequent putting on and taking off is enough to overstretch the thread of the shirt. The problem is that second-class fabrics are also difficult to darn.
TipWhen buying, you can determine the quality of the fabric by pulling it apart a little. The thread should run evenly. If lint balls form when you rub the fabric briefly between your fingers, this is a sign of inferior quality.
Holes caused by washing machine
As the small holes in clothing are usually discovered after washing, the washing machine is often suspected. This suspicion is not unfounded. Buttons, rivets and fasteners can leave fine edges in the sieve of the washing drum. The drum can be inspected for such microscopic barbs using a pair of nylon tights that are no longer needed. You should also check whether the drum ribs are really tight.
However, the fact that the holes appear after washing is usually simply due to the fibers swelling and contracting due to the warm water.
Holes caused by clothes moths: What you can do
Everyone fears them: clothes moths. Moth holes are difficult to distinguish from the holes mentioned above with the naked eye. As a rule, they are more irregular and occur in small nests. If you are unsure, you should use a clothes moth trap. 🛒 hang up in the cupboard. This is the best way to detect an infestation.
Once the moth has been identified as the culprit, all items of clothing must be washed and the inside walls of the closet must also be cleaned. An alternative to washing is the freezer: the harmful moth larvae cannot tolerate icy temperatures. Lavender or a bar of soap in the wardrobe will prevent the pests.
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