“Can you help me identify what is growing underneath my bathroom cabinet?” is all Jennifer writes in her submission regarding the strange, hair-like growth pictured below. As much as hair is worm-like in shape, this growth is too, but we highly doubt that these are worms. We would be more inclined to suggest that this is some type of fungus (mold) or alga. Now, we are no experts on either of these organisms, as our thing is worms and worm-like critters, but we will do our best to provide any and all information that might be relevant to Jennifer’s situation.

Now, we do not mean any disrespect when we say what we are about to say, but we assume that this bathroom has not been used or cleaned in a very long time. Or, at least, that the underside of this bathroom cabinet has not been kept clean. We would also venture to guess that this bathroom does not have a window or a means of fast ventilation, and that the bathroom is usually quite damp. Only under these conditions could we believe that something like this could grow in a bathroom. One organism it resembles is an Alectoria sarmentosa (commonly referred to as ‘witch’s hair’), which is actually a type of lichen. Lichens are actually a combination of fungi and algae working together in symbiosis. Of course, witch’s hair grows on trees, so this is not witch’s hair, but that is not to say that this could not be some type of lichen. Under the right conditions, maybe lichen could grow on a bathroom cabinet. They can grow on tombstones and fences after all.

Regardless of what it is, it cannot be healthy to keep around in one’s bathroom, but since we do not know exactly what it is, we cannot suggest in good faith that Jennifer should remove it herself. We recommend that she contacts a professional to remove it. They might also have a better idea of what this really is. Many molds, if not removed properly, can just grow back and continue to pollute the air, so it is probably for the best that Jennifer gets this professionally done. If this is not the ideal solution for Jennifer, she might also want to try the botany department at a university nearby. If she brought them a sample of the growth, as well as the photos she sent us, they might be able to help identify it, as well as give some advice as to how to safely remove it.

In conclusion, we are not quite sure what Jennifer found growing underneath her bathroom cabinet. It looks like it could be some type of fungus, alga, or lichen, but since we are not experts in any of these areas, we cannot provide a confident identification. We hope nonetheless that something here proves useful to Jennifer, and we wish her the very best.