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A post about a man uncovering a bizarre growth beneath the hardwood floors of a home while doing a routine deep clean has stunned viewers on Threads.
The post, shared on November 26 by user Dave Mathers (@mayazdad2012), has amassed 3.3 million views and sparked alarm and fascination across the platform.
In the caption of the post, Mathers explained: “I was doing some deep cleaning today, and when I moved my sofa to mop underneath, I discovered a strange formation growing out of the hardwood floors!”
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Mathers told Newsweek: "It was about the size of a golf ball and resembled a tiny tree stump, and its dark brown color matched the floor perfectly. I went to pick it up, but I couldn't pry it from the floor. I had to literally break it off of my floor with a solid kick."
The shock was compounded by the fact that the poster describes himself as meticulous about cleanliness. In a later comment, he wrote: “I am actually a compulsive cleaner, who not only keeps all of the surfaces in my place spotless, but I filter the air as well–above and beyond what anyone would think necessary. I literally have 5 HEPA air purifiers (3 plug-in, 2 stand alone) working around the clock, in a tiny studio apartment!...” Despite his rigorous cleaning regimen, the growth still managed to emerge rapidly.
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Further inspection revealed that the mysterious object was a bracket fungus, a type of fungal fruiting body that typically grows on trees. Mathers later discovered the reason it appeared was "exactly what I suspected–water trapped beneath the floor created a mold-friendly environment down below, which was spreading."
He told Newsweek: "I had already reached this conclusion months ago, as numerous indicators of mold toxicity began piling up, and my health began to degrade. In addition to acquiring more and more physical symptoms, I also became the target of mold-related parasites and insects, which feed on and inhabit mold/fungi, as a part of their symbiotic relationship. That weird, tiny fungus was literally the tip of a huge, moldy iceberg, lurking down below."
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the United Kingdom, bracket fungi are the fruiting structures of various fungi responsible for heartwood decay in trees. They appear in spring, summer, and autumn and can significantly weaken their hosts. “Bracket fungi cause decay and rot in the heartwood of trees and produce bracket-shaped fruiting bodies on the trunk or main branches,” the RHS notes, adding that the fungi can ultimately lead to the breakage or collapse of affected trees.
Moisture buildup is a common cause of indoor fungal growth, according to Uri Pearl, owner of Nealon Insulation in Connecticut, a company specializing in home performance and solutions.
“To avoid any of these moisture-related issues, the priority should always be to identify and repair any unnatural bulk moisture leaks,” Pearl told Newsweek. “Next, make sure there’s an effective vapor barrier installed as close to the floor line, from below, as possible, followed by proper ventilation to keep humidity under control.”
Pearl added that a basement or crawl-space dehumidifier can often help, though “the most reliable long-term solution, though note it can be an expensive project, is a full crawl space encapsulation.”
Viewers on Threads weighed in under the original post, expressing everything from concern to disbelief.
User @jaimeethesafehaven said: “That is a mushroom/fungus and you def want to get your house inspected because if it’s coming up on top of the floor boards it is most likely growing everywhere underneath.”
Another user, @_yo_andrea, offered a different theory: “That is not growing out of your floor, something fell on your floor and has fused itself to it…”
User @carriecaroline68 simply wrote: “And this is why I don't move my couch to clean under it.”
Meanwhile, @harleeredd86 added: “Your floor grew a brain bro.”
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