Why Does the Washing Machine Get Blamed?
Because that’s often when you notice the hole.
A shirt may already have weakened fibers from weeks of friction. Then it goes through a wash and tumble cycle, and the weakened area finally tears open.
So the washing machine may be the final straw rather than the original culprit.
That said, washing machines absolutely can damage clothing if there’s a rough or broken component, and open zippers or other hardware can snag fabric. A damaged drum or agitator can also create holes.
So if holes appear randomly all over your clothes, rather than repeatedly in one location, the washing machine deserves a closer inspection.
