What Woman Finds Under Rug While on Cleaning Job Sparks Debate

A post about money found under a rug in a home being cleaned has gone viral on Reddit, with many users debating whether the cash was deliberately placed there as a test.

The image of the scene was shared by Molly, 20, in a post on Reddit, which has amassed almost 100,000 upvotes since it was shared on March 4.

Molly, an aspiring nurse who also works at a knife shop while doing cleaning jobs on the side, shared an image of a rug lifted up with what appeared to be two $5 bills underneath it.

Molly captioned the post: “I clean a few houses on the side. Found this under a rug, pls [please] don’t tell me they’re not pulling the ‘if they don’t bring the money to you, they didn’t clean under the rug. if the money is gone, they stole from you’ test.”

Molly told Newsweek about the circumstances of the discovery. “I took the photo when I was almost done and scrubbing the floors. The amount was $10. I believe it was a test. I finished cleaning and left the money at the counter with a note and dropped them as clients,” she said.

Molly’s experience reflects a broader economic reality in the United States, where many young adults juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says over 8.5 million people aged 20 and older were reported to have more than one job in January 2025, including over 4.4 million women in this age group.

Reddit Users React

While it remains unclear whether the money was intentionally placed as a test, the incident has struck a chord with many online, highlighting the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by workers in service industries.

The post quickly sparked discussion among Reddit users, with many agreeing with Molly’s suspicion.

U/LuckyNole commented: “I can’t imagine it being anything other than a test.”

Another user, u/runningoutofnames57, added: “Yes it’s probably a test, I would give it to them, or if they’re not at home write a note that you found under the rug and leave in a visible place … Then decide if you want to keep working for them!”

Others offered alternative explanations. U/arrre_yooouu_meeeeee wrote: “Could be a little kid stashing money. I did it quite a bit as a kid.”

Meanwhile, u/RedButtonSmasher advised a different approach, writing: “Send them a pic and say you don’t touch or move money due to liability. Unfortunately, that means you can’t clean under the rug.”

U/tightlikeatiger69 offered a simple solution: “Just write a note and say, ‘money found under the rug. Didn’t touch it but it’s there in case you misplaced it.’ Then carry on with your day.”

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