It’s a strange paradox that laundry, although essential, can pose risks to your clothing. Has your favorite garment fallen victim to damage in the washing machine? We’ve all experienced mysterious holes and tears in freshly washed clothing, and it’s never fun.
But in order to solve the problem, you have to figure out why your clothes are tearing in the washing machine. There’s more than one potential cause, so keep reading to identify the culprit!
Clothes Tearing in Washing Machine? 5 Potential Explanations for Washing Machine Holes and Tears
Harsh Cleaning Products
Pre-treating stains is an important laundry step, but think back – have you ever noticed holes in the same area where you applied stain removal? If so, you might be leaving the cleaning product on for too long, which can cause the fibers to weaken.
Similarly, contact with bleach can also thin out fabric to the point of breaking. To avoid these holes, make sure the bleach has dissolved completely before adding it to your wash.
Another factor for both of these cleaning solutions is water temperature. When stain removal and bleach mix with overly hot water, some fabrics can’t hold up, creating holes in your clothes.
Overloading the Drum
Although stuffing your washing machine to the brim might feel more productive, it actually risks damaging your clothing—holes included. When the drum is too full, your garments don’t have enough space to move around without latching against each other to the point of tearing.
If you’ve also noticed that your clothes are dripping wet, covered in residue, and even dirty after the wash, odds are you’re overloading. To stay on the safe side, only load your washing machine to about 3/4 full.
Sharp Objects or Loose Debris
Rogue items left in pockets could also explain mysterious holes. Metal pens, bobby pins, and keys are a few obvious examples, but innocent-seeming objects like sand can also cause tears. When sand grains combine with detergent, they can burst mid-wash and leave behind tiny holes.
The Clothes Themselves
If you don’t already, always close zippers, hooks, and buttons completely on each garment as you put them in the washing machine. When left open, these tiny pieces of metal can get caught on other clothes quite easily.
For pieces that snag even when zippered shut, turn them inside out to lower their exposure to other clothes.
Pro-Tip: Use a delicates bag as an extra layer of protection for bras, underwear, tights, and other delicates.
Broken Drum
Finally, there’s a chance the tears could be caused by the machine itself. Drum paddles—the large plastic pieces protruding throughout your machine—can break off and expose sharp edges and metal hinges.
To test this possibility, run a single pair of bundled-up nylon stockings around the inside of your drum. If it gets caught or torn, it’s probably time to call in a repair.
If you can’t wait for service or afford a costly repair, a local laundromat might be the best option. It’s often cheaper, faster, and cleaner to wash your clothes at the laundromat!
As you narrow down the culprit, WaveMAX is here to help with clean, well-maintained, and top-of-line washing machines throughout the Denver metro area. Visit our website to find your closest location, or search WaveMAX laundromat near me.
