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Could it be moths?

(48 Posts)
Anne58 Tue 01-Jul-14 16:50:00

Afternoon all.

Last summer I bought 2 tops made in a thin T shirt type material, nice 3/4 length sleeves, decent length in the body to cover the worst of the saddle bags, sort of pointy edge finish to the sides, 1 jade green, 1 black.

I have found that they both have developed a number of tiny weeny little holes sad

I've had a good feel around the inside of the washing machine for any rogue rough spots, but found nothing. What can be responsible for the holes?

We did have the same thing a few years back with some Primark T shirts that Mr P bought for work, but none of my other T shirts or cotton tops have been affected.

Any ideas?

rosesarered Tue 01-Jul-14 16:56:03

Yup! Definitely moths that make these tiny holes in tops. They will only go for cotton or other natural materials, so short of buying all your clothes in polyester not much you can do.

rosesarered Tue 01-Jul-14 16:56:52

It's not adult moths, it's the larvae.

shysal Tue 01-Jul-14 17:02:17

www.deliciousdays.com/archives/2011/07/11/tiny-holes-in-your-favorite-shirts-kitchen-mistery-solved/
Lots of theories on Google, it seems to be a common problem.

BeeWitch Tue 01-Jul-14 17:02:37

Little devils - I didn't realise it was the larvae though.

Anne58 Tue 01-Jul-14 17:08:33

Bastards!

rosesarered Tue 01-Jul-14 17:13:06

grin they have to lay them somewhere [so they can eat!]

rosesarered Tue 01-Jul-14 17:14:16

Buy beige crimplene phoenix Nothing goes for that!

Anne58 Tue 01-Jul-14 17:18:30

Including me, roses grin

rosesarered Tue 01-Jul-14 17:20:33

grin

sunseeker Tue 01-Jul-14 17:22:53

Can you still buy crimplene?

annodomini Tue 01-Jul-14 17:27:32

Strangely enough, sunseeker, I was astonished to see crimplene garments in a dress shop, but can't remember which one. I thought it had had its day by the '70s!

rosesarered Tue 01-Jul-14 17:48:16

I used to have a marvellous yellow crimplene min dress as a teenager [it was my 'pulling' dress] blush

rosesarered Tue 01-Jul-14 17:48:48

mini

Anne58 Tue 01-Jul-14 17:50:47

Could have been worse, roses you could have accidentally added a couple of letters rather than omitting one!

annodomini Tue 01-Jul-14 18:17:16

I've taken to keeping my 'best' woollies in ziplock plastic bags. I had found little holes in a not-too-precious cashmere jumper, so didn't want it to happen to really nice ones.

PRINTMISS Tue 01-Jul-14 18:30:51

I do find cedar balls etc., very good at keeping the moths at bay - I will probably go and find clothes full of holes now!

rosequartz Tue 01-Jul-14 23:34:13

There seem to be lots of very tiny moths around indoors at the moment, I had better check the wardrobes.

I had no idea they went for cotton as well as wool.

rosesarered Wed 02-Jul-14 09:55:52

They go for anything 'natural' roseq wool, cotton , silk etc.I keep my cotton t shirts folded in a drawer, rather than hanging in a wardrobe, but even so , now and then I do still find the holes.The cedar balls are very good though, as is highly scented soap just leave a bar in the drawer or wardrobe.

rosequartz Wed 02-Jul-14 10:02:10

I will buy some cedar balls, already use scented soap in my wardrobe, but DH just found a moth in his wardrobe on his cotton trousers!

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 02-Jul-14 10:20:37

It could be biological washing powder causing the holes. The enzymes can "digest" the fibres. But the care label should have said 'do not use bio detergent'.

rosequartz Wed 02-Jul-14 10:36:57

[surprise]

Nelliemoser Thu 03-Jul-14 07:48:36

If these T shirts are that "knitted" cotton fabric I wonder if it's faults in the cotton, weaknesses in the threads etc. that have broken causing the knitted fabric to come apart.

How long does it take for clothes moths to lay eggs and hatch out cloth eating grubs? Most T shirts get worn and washed very frequently which should kill and grubs. Has it has it happened with any other things you have?

I am with shysal's Posted link on this. Particular the thinner fabric.

Phoenix You do also have cats!

Anne58 Thu 03-Jul-14 07:56:00

The holes in mine are randomly spread, so the worktop theory doesn't seem to apply. It's definitely not the cats! grin

Lona Thu 03-Jul-14 07:57:27

I have them too exactly as in the link by shysal. It's very annoying.