“I found an earthworm in my washing machine”, states this reader in her submission, which does not include a picture of the worm. “It was not in the clothes before I put them in the machine. How could it get in there? And what should I do to get rid of more? Thank you!” To answer our reader’s question in short, earthworms can come up through drains, and that is likely how it ended up in the washing machine. The reason earthworms come up through people’s drains is usually because there is a leak in the pipes somewhere underground. To see if she might be experiencing a leak, our reader can be on the lookout for the following signs: smelly water, foul-tasting water, changes in water pressure, and inconsistencies in water temperature.

Earthworms are not directly harmful to humans or pets, as they do not bite or sting, possess venom, or parasitize animals. That said, they can be indirectly harmful, since they can carry pathogens, disease and parasites, making them unsafe to eat. Regardless, they should be protected and not killed, so we suggest that our reader just move the earthworm she found outside. Earthworms are benefactors of the environment: they eat decomposing organic material (such as faeces, dead animals, moss and algae) and convert it to nutrient-rich waste which enriches the soil, acting as a fertilizer. Many people who make composting bins will purposefully introduce earthworms into the bin in order to decompose their organic waste faster and to make rich soil.

In order to prevent more worms from finding their way into her washing machine, and other areas of her home, our reader will want to make sure she cleans her drains regularly. The best way to clean one’s drains is to pour boiling water down them, follow that with a treatment (be it bleach, vinegar and baking soda, or something else), and finish with more boiling water, with 10 minutes in between each step. If she does not do this, there is a greater likelihood of various organisms finding their way up her drains, including earthworms, bloodworms and drain fly larvae.

To conclude, we hope we have answered our reader’s questions to a satisfactory degree, and that this has not caused her too much distress. We hope that she is able to prevent more worms from entering her washing machine, and we wish her the very best!

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