The Top 10 Weirdest Things We've Found in Basements (and the Problems They Caused)

  You wouldn't believe some of the things we've seen. While most basements contain the usual holiday decorations and dusty old furniture, every now and then, our inspectors uncover something that makes you do a double-take. We've compiled a list of the top 10 weirdest things we've found during our basement check-ups, and more importantly, what those weird things were trying to tell the homeowner.

1. The Decaying "Milk-on-a-Rope" We once found a single, decade-old carton of milk, suspended from a ceiling pipe with a piece of twine. It had long since exploded, leaving a foul-smelling stain on the floor directly beneath it. The Problem: The persistent, sour smell wasn't just the milk; it was a clear sign of poor air quality and high humidity. The homeowner also had a small, persistent leak from that pipe that was causing a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

2. The Porcelain Doll Army In one basement, we found a collection of over 50 porcelain dolls, each one meticulously arranged in a semi-circle, facing the sump pump. The dolls had been there so long that their delicate clothes were covered in a fine layer of white powder. The Problem: That "white powder" was actually efflorescence, a mineral deposit left behind when water seeps through concrete and evaporates. The dolls were silent witnesses to the fact that the homeowner had a major moisture problem that needed to be addressed.

3. The World's Saddest Aquarium An inspector once found a small, glass aquarium with a single plastic fish inside, floating in about two inches of murky water. The homeowner swore it was just a decoration. The Problem: The water wasn't coming from a tap—it was from a hairline crack in the foundation that was letting groundwater seep in. The aquarium was a sad, unintentional testament to a growing waterproofing problem.

4. The "Water Feature" That Nobody Asked For We got a call about a basement with a "water feature." Turns out, it was just a slow, steady stream of water dripping from the ceiling directly into a bucket. The homeowner had put a tiny, decorative sign next to the bucket that read, "Wishing Well." The Problem: While the sign was funny, the problem wasn't. The water was coming from a crack in the foundation wall, and the "wishing well" was actually a serious sign of a structural issue and a growing risk of a major flood.

5. The Mystery of the Moldy VHS Tapes We found a box filled with old VHS tapes, with a strange, fuzzy-looking growth on them. The homeowner was baffled, saying the box hadn't been touched in years. The Problem: The "fuzzy growth" was mold, and it was a direct result of the high humidity in the basement. The closed, damp environment of the basement was perfect for mold growth, which not only ruined the tapes but was also a health hazard for the entire home.

While these stories are exaggerated for fun, the problems they highlight are very real. Our team hasn't actually encountered a porcelain doll army (yet), but we've seen plenty of efflorescence. And though a milk carton on a string is an interesting find, a musty smell and a persistent leak are all too common. The message is the same: weird or not, the signs of a basement problem are always worth investigating. If you've found something weird in your basement, or if you're just tired of dealing with its issues, it might be time for a professional to take a look.