Curiosity overcame disgust, and I searched
the internet to find out what it could be. When I found the answer, my heart sank. These strange « balls » turned out to be mouse droppings—colored red because of a poison I myself put in a cupboard a few years ago and completely forgot about!
I almost threw up thinking about how these things had been sitting there the whole time in the middle of a mouse infestation. I immediately threw out not only the sweaters, but also the old scarves that were lying next to them.
I had to clean the entire closet with soap and disinfectant, then wash it several times until the smell disappeared.
I also noticed that one of the sweaters had a bite in the sleeve—a small hole I hadn’t noticed at first.
Apparently, mice were trying to make a nest there. I even found bits of cotton and wire at the bottom of the cupboard—they’d brought in some rubbish to warm their shelter!
Now I understand that you really need to check and air out your closets at least once a season and not leave things there for years. Since then, I set traps and keep everything in airtight containers.
