Case solved: Where the tiny holes in your shirts really come from – and no, it’s not moths!
- Replies 11
Have you ever reached out for a nice top and discovered tiny, mysterious holes in it? It’s such a bummer, eh? But really, where do these holes even come from?! Well, several online sleuths came together to get to the bottom of this and spoiler alert: it’s NOT because of moths.
People have previously pointed their fingers at closet critters such as moths, silverfish, ants, and cockroaches as the suspects for the t-shirt holes. Others argued that the holes are most likely the result of shirts getting caught in washing machines and dryers. But these guesses don’t clarify why the holes are usually scattered in the same area…
While consumers have been scouring the internet for an answer, one woman caught the attention of millions with her TikTok video on the subject. In her footage, she captioned “It’s not moths” and asks why all of her T-shirts have tiny holes in the same spot.
Image Credit: Reddit
“There are these little holes in the same spot on almost every shirt I own,” reads the second caption in the video before cutting to several different shirts with identical holes.
It quickly garnered over 13.4 million views and thousands of comments from users who correctly theorised the reason behind the peculiar holes. Can you guess what it is?
Video Credit: @starrynoisy
Surprisingly, the answer is a lot more simple than we think – it’s due to friction.
Apparently, the most common cause of pinholes in tops is friction against the metal hardware of our jeans such as buttons, zippers, rivets, and even the tough knots of thread around the fly.
Add the number of times we wear seatbelts, a heavy crossbody bag, or rub against a table to the scenario and the holes are more likely to appear.
The rise of fast fashion or how hundreds of retailers are turning to lower-quality fabric to keep their prices competitive is a major factor as to why these tiny holes in our shirts are more common nowadays.
One textile researcher Elizabeth Easter has spent over 30 years observing clothing quality. She works as a researcher and a teacher at the University of Kentucky, where she set up a textile testing lab in 1988.
Based on the studies she’s conducted, Elizabeth discovered that fabrics have indeed become thinner. “For instance, T-shirts are much thinner or lighter than they were in the past,” she said, referring to two recent studies done by her department.
Are there ways to prevent these holes from appearing? Definitely!
Wearing an apron while working at a countertop will prevent friction between your shirt and the bench. Tucking in your top also helps prevent pesky holes as it stops the fabric from rubbing on your jeans’ button or zipper.
Image Credit: Pinterest
So, if you’re a fan of the “French tuck” (tucking the bottom of your shirt into the front of your jeans), you’ll be delighted to know that doing so will drastically help reduce the friction that causes these holes.
If you don’t mind shelling out a couple more bucks for your fashion pieces, then getting your hands on high-quality cotton tops will also extend their lifespan.
And if the worst has already happened, you can always stitch them back to life! Don’t throw your tops away just yet!
Did you know that friction causes these tiny holes beforehand? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Want to know how you can repair the tiny holes in your t-shirt? Watch the video below:
Video Credit: Encircled
.png){kind=icon}
