# A new low in housekeeping; sometimes you just have to laugh **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821 "2006-08-01T01:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/21 "2006-08-02T14:43:55Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Speaking of mushrooms, Giant Bizarre Mushrooms Grew On My Tree > > [http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karlen1956/album?.dir=/ad5bscd](http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karlen1956/album?.dir=/ad5bscd) > > Kinda look like pancakes, don’t they? I got some of them too. Added these pics to my [blog.](http://bryon-miscellaneous.blogspot.com/) They look like you should be able to just rip 'em off the tree and eat 'em. Then I did some research and it seems you have to do some culinary gymnastics to make those things tasty. They eventually turn to dust. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/22 "2006-08-02T14:55:15Z")
[Fixed link.](http://www.bryon-miscellaneous.blogspot.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/23 "2006-08-02T17:23:52Z")
I knew when I bought my home that there had been a dripping leak in the wall from a bad pipe. I left the kitchen sink countertop for when other important repairs were done. One morning there were mushrooms sprouting out of the counter top by the kitchen faucet. The counter came off and the sink sat on 2x4’s a couple months. You need to remove the base board and replace it once the mushrooms take hold. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/24 "2006-08-02T17:28:24Z")
> [@Harmonious Discord](#): > > You need to remove the base board and replace it once the mushrooms take hold. Uh-oh. I hate to tell that to my landlords. I guess I will mention the possibility of leakiness there. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/25 "2006-08-02T21:28:15Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Man, sorry. I hope things are looking up all around. Oh, yes! Thank you for asking, though. > [@gig](#): > > (my lover’s job was going crazy at the time). ☹ He works in a field related to finance, and most of the other companies in the field had been located in the WTC - so his company was desparately trying to take up the slack. There had been very few deaths at those companies, but they still felt terrible profiting off of other people’s tragedy. But they serve a real function and needed to keep fulfilling it. That time period was weird for him, too, with a mix of depression, elation (at his company doing so well), guilt (ditto), and overwork. But we’re both fine now, and better off than most. I blame the damn mushrooms. mischievous ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/26 "2006-08-02T23:31:59Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > I got some of them too. Added these pics to my [blog.](http://bryon-miscellaneous.blogspot.com/) > They look like you should be able to just rip 'em off the tree and eat 'em. Then I did some research and it seems you have to do some culinary gymnastics to make those things tasty. They eventually turn to dust. I caught some old women trying to steal them off my tree ('til I gave 'em the stink-eye). And yes, they do dry up. Mine are still on the tree, but they look less like pancakes and more like eagle poo. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/27 "2006-08-03T00:10:44Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Uh-oh. I hate to tell that to my landlords. I guess I will mention the possibility of leakiness there. The fungus will spread into more of the baseboard, if not removed. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/28 "2006-08-03T14:59:09Z")
> [@Harmonious Discord](#): > > The fungus will spread into more of the baseboard, if not removed. Can the baseboard come off and be treated/bleached/something and reused? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/29 "2006-08-03T17:06:02Z")
In college, I had mushrooms growing out of the carpet under the toilet tank. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/30 "2006-08-03T17:31:31Z")
I have never heard of mushrooms growing in houses (well, unintentionally, I mean). The number of people who have experienced this amazes me. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/31 "2006-08-03T17:53:30Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > I have never heard of mushrooms growing in houses (well, unintentionally, I mean). The number of people who have experienced this amazes me. Me, it comforts. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/32 "2006-08-03T18:00:59Z")
😃 I would imagine so. The mushrooms hanging off the ceiling thing sounds terrifying, though. Horror-movie-like. I felt truly awful reading that post. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/33 "2006-08-03T18:04:17Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > The mushrooms hanging off the ceiling thing sounds terrifying, though. Horror-movie-like. I felt truly awful reading that post. Yeah, it reminded me a lot of that movie **Dark Water**. :eek: And frankly, as you say, of every other horror movie featuring growing stains on the ceiling. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/34 "2006-08-03T19:16:55Z")
I’m reminded of this current thread: > **[Matango: Fungus of Terror (1963)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=382459)** > > Thanks to the magic of Netflix, last night I watched a pretty darned cool movie: Matango. Seven people from various walks of life are stranded on a deserted island. Their food gives out quickly, and civilized restraint breaks down. There’re odd... 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/35 "2006-08-03T20:06:48Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > I’m reminded of this current thread: > [Matango: Fungus of Terror (1963) - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=382459) > > 🙂 OH SHIT I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/36 "2006-08-04T15:56:48Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > In college, I had mushrooms growing out of the carpet under the toilet tank. Evidently [carpet is not required](http://www.collegehumor.com/pictures/1698301/) (from [this chat](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/07/18/DI2006071800724.html#friday), possible registration required) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821/37 "2006-08-04T18:23:48Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > Evidently [carpet is not required](http://www.collegehumor.com/pictures/1698301/) (from [this chat](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/07/18/DI2006071800724.html#friday), possible registration required) Yep, that’s about what they looked like. Deep clean scheduled for this weekend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-low-in-housekeeping-sometimes-you-just-have-to-laugh/366821.md?page=1)