We're all fairly familiar with that pesky little wardrobe malfunction that maliciously ruins our favourite tees. So, how do we spare our clothes from those little holes appearing and making our money go to waste? First, we must identify the culprit, of course.
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The cause
So what really causes them? If you look and find those holes on your cotton T-shirts and tops, you'll notice that they're most likely located near the bottom of it—what's the deal with that? The reason for this, is actually caused by the other clothes or accessories that you might wear, precisely jeans, belts, buckles or any fancy buttons.
As a result, the area around your waist and downwards is the main point offriction. As fabrics rub against each other, the more delicate material that is cotton tends to deteriorate overtime as it eventually breaks down and creates a little hole.
Another thing to keep in mind is where you're buying your tops, shirts and tees. Aside from how cute they might be, how sturdy is their quality? Many manufacturers might use a poorer quality of fabrics in order to effectuate maximum, efficient production. This makes your clothes more vulnerable to friction, and thus those pesky little holes are born again.
The solution
Don't worry, you can still wear and jeans you could ever want and accessorise to your heart's content with belts, buckles and the lot. Instead, opt for higher quality fabrics. Keep an eye on brands and ranges that are keen on labelling the type of cottons and other fabrics that they use. Ideally, you want to invest in fabrics with a longer fibre length which can sometimes be a little pricier, but can save you money—as well as that fave tank of yours—in the long run.
It's really about prioritising your spends and figuring out where you need to splurge and where you can get away with saving a pound or two. Sometimes that means ditching your favourite retailer for a more sustainable option.
As for your current garments that already took a beating, you'll be glad to know there's still hope for them. Of course, you can mend the holes yourself—but not all of us have the skills that can make them look new once again. Instead, you can get crafty and recycle those pieces of clothes that had their time.
Either you can crop or change up the design of the top, add something to embellish it (and cover the hole of course!) or even completely reinvent the purpose of it for something more practical, be it for furniture, cleaning or even hair and beauty tools.
Could it be a moth hole?
Whilst it's a little less likely, moths could also have taken a liking to your wardrobe—to munch what's in it, that is. But do not fret, as there's an easy way to distinguish the cause. Keep inmind where on the garment you find the whole, as well as the size and number holes that may have appeared.
If the damage on the fabric seems to be anywhere that isn't close to your waistline when you wear it, it's quite likely a moth is to blame. Moth holes also tend to be a little bigger than friction holes caused by jeans and belt buckles and also tend to come in several clusters.
But, hey, you don't have to surrender your tees to the moths, because there's a way of keeping them away from your clothes. There are plenty of natural products you can get that help to repel moths. Try dried lavender, which can come loose or in organza bags, and just leave a couple of little bags in areas where you think your clothes are most affected.
Plus, the lavender will also add a lovely, musky scent to your clothes. Alternatively, you can opt for lemongrass fragrance bags or cedar pieces to keep those pesky pests from munching down your laundry. And, voilà! Problem solved indeed.
