What zips do to other garments in the wash

Short answer: An open zip is a row of small teeth that snag on knitwear. In a wash it can pull threads out of anything it touches. That is why closing it before washing is one of the simplest and most effective habits.

The teeth catch in stitches

A stitch is a small loop of thread, and a tooth of metal or plastic can easily grip it and pull it out of place. One loose stitch is enough to start a ladder. That is why zips are especially hard on thin knitwear such as socks and T-shirts, where the stitches sit close and fine.

The movement makes the damage big

The drum throws garments around for an hour, so the same zip hits again and again. In wear, clothes would meet it once, but in the wash it happens hundreds of times. Look at bamboo socks for men, which are easily pulled if washed with open zips.

Close the zip before washing

A closed zip has no free teeth to snag. It is the simplest and most effective habit, and it takes two seconds. Pull the zip all the way up so the teeth lie close together. Do the same on jackets, trousers and bags. See all bamboo socks for men and bamboo footies for men.

Hook-and-loop is even worse

Hook-and-loop straps grab whole surfaces, not just single stitch loops. In a wash they cling to other garments and pull fibres out in long strips. Close straps on shoes, jackets and bags before washing, or take them out of the machine. A closed strap does not hit other clothes, and it wears less.

Buttons and rivets

Buttons and rivets are less bad than zips, but they can still do damage. A loose rivet can pull at thin fabrics, and a button with a sharp edge can wear the neighbouring clothes. Check that buttons are secure and have no rough edges. Do them up, so they do not hang free and hit the drum.

A laundry bag protects

A laundry bag around the hard item protects the rest of the wash. If you have no bag, a pillowcase with a knot or zip can do the same job. Put jackets with zips and hard details in the bag, and wash them alone if you can. That way the damage does not gather on your soft clothes.

Sort by hardness

Wash hard things separately from soft things. Jeans, jackets and bags belong in one wash, T-shirts, socks and underwear in another. It is not only about colours. A simple sort by hardness removes many of the cases where thin fabrics are damaged by something on other clothes.

Signs of pulled threads

A pulled thread looks like a small loop sticking up, or like a row of fine lines in the fabric. Cut the loop off with small scissors and do not pull it. If you see pale streaks or small holes after a wash, the cause may lie in what was in the machine, not in the garment that took the damage.

When the damage is done

If a thread has been pulled out, do not pull on it. Gently push it back with a needle on the inside, or cut it off close to the fabric. If the hole is large, a patch can keep the garment in use a little longer. Next time, the zip should be closed.