What’s Making Holes in Your Clothes? Causes and Easy Ways to Prevent Them

Fortunately, most common issues related to fabric damage are easily avoided without spending money on specialized products or purchasing a new appliance. Simple changes to routine have greatly improved the longevity of my clothes.

Let me break down what’s really causing those holes—and how you can stop them before they start.

The Surprising Culprits (What’s Actually Causing the Damage)
Let me walk you through the most common causes of mysterious holes.

1. Your Washing Machine’s Agitator (The #1 Culprit)

This is what was destroying my T-shirts.

What it is: The center post in a top-loading washing machine that twists back and forth to move clothes through the water.

How it causes holes: Agitators have rough edges, small screws, or metal seams where the agitator connects to the base of the washer. Over time, these edges can catch on delicate fabrics (especially thin cotton T-shirts) and tear small holes.

The pattern: Holes typically appear near the bottom hem of shirts or near seams. They’re often small, round, or slightly oblong. They happen consistently to the same types of fabric.

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