You expect to find a few nasty surprises in the dirty laundry what with all the smelly socks and jocks that go in there, but one Queensland woman got the fright of her life after discovering a huge carpet snake lurking inside her washing machine.
Professional snake handler Stuart McKenzie from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 shared a photo of the long python curled up amongst the clothes for a nap.
Stuart posted a photo to Facebook saying: “Snake in the washing machine! Check this out!”
He said the Buderim woman “got the fright of her life” when she went to put some extra clothes in the washing machine before starting the load and found the large snake in there instead.
“He would have been in there trying to escape the heat,” Stuart explained. “It’s so lucky she didn’t turn it on.”
People rushed to share their thoughts on the image, with one commenting: “I would move out.”
Another added: “OMG no way.” And a third wrote: “I am never washing again.”
While finding a snake in your home is never pleasant, carpet pythons thankfully aren’t venomous and survive mainly on mammals such as rodents and possums, although they’re not averse to a dog, cat or guinea pig if the opportunity arises, and can grow to more than three metres in length.
Wildlife Queensland says that the pythons are commonly found in roof and wall cavities, exposed beams on verandas, in shed and garages, and like to live in trees, shrubs, discarded building materials and garden debris.
It’s one of the many snake sightings across Australia since snake mating season started in September.
Read more: Tips for keeping snakes away from your home
Earlier this month, footage of a giant python scaling the side of a suburban house on the Gold Coast went viral. In footage uploaded online, the snake could be seen making its way high above the ground and to the roof of the two-storey house.
The man who filmed that footage said the snake had been living in the rafters of his shed for six months, before venturing out in search of food.
If a snake is spotted, it’s important not to approach it and keep dogs, cats and small children away. Instead, keep an eye on the snake from a distance and call a professional catcher. In the event that a snake does bite, always contact 000 immediately.