As the day wore on, the mother decided to take matters into her own hands. She rolled up her sleeves, armed herself with gloves, and carefully inspected the strange threads up close. To her immense relief—and slight embarrassment—she realized the “worms” weren’t alive at all. Instead, they were remnants of the rug itself.
What she had mistaken for living organisms was actually the result of wear and tear exacerbated by the humid, warm environment of her bathroom. Over time, the rubber backing of the rug had begun to deteriorate. The heat and moisture caused the material to soften, melt, and peel away in thin, stringy strands that adhered stubbornly to the floor. These detached threads bore an uncanny resemblance to worms, which explained her initial panic.
