Before leaving for vacation, most people follow the same routine.
Lock the doors.
Close the windows.
Take out the trash.
Unplug unnecessary electronics.
But there’s one area that’s surprisingly easy to forget:
The drains in your sinks, showers, and other plumbing fixtures.
That’s where an unusual vacation trick comes in.
Some people place a piece of paper and an upside-down glass over the sink or drain before leaving home.
It sounds strange.
But there’s a practical idea behind it—although the glass itself isn’t a magical solution.
Why Can an Unused Sink Start Smelling?
Underneath many household sinks is a curved section of plumbing called a trap.
The trap normally contains a small amount of water.
That water creates a barrier between your home and the drainage system, helping prevent unpleasant sewer gases and odors from traveling back through the drain.
Regular sink use naturally replenishes this water.
But when nobody uses a fixture for an extended period, some of the water can gradually evaporate.
If enough disappears, the water seal may no longer work effectively.
The result?
You could return from vacation and immediately notice an unpleasant smell.
Warm Weather Can Make Things Worse
Evaporation can become more noticeable during hot or dry conditions.
This can be particularly relevant for rarely used fixtures or homes left vacant for longer periods.
Bathrooms, laundry areas, floor drains, showers, and other plumbing fixtures can deserve attention too.
That doesn’t mean every home will develop drain odors during a vacation.
Most short trips won’t automatically create a problem.
But if you’ll be away for an extended period, checking rarely used drains before leaving is a sensible precaution.
What Does the Upside-Down Glass Actually Do?
The idea is to position an upside-down glass over the drain area, sometimes with a piece of paper underneath it.
Depending on the sink’s design, the glass can provide a basic physical cover.
The paper may also make moisture or movement around the area easier to notice.
But there’s an important limitation.
Covering a drain with a glass doesn’t stop the water inside the plumbing trap from evaporating.
It won’t repair faulty plumbing either.
And it certainly can’t guarantee that insects or odors will stay out.
Think of it as an optional temporary cover or reminder—not a replacement for proper plumbing preparation.
THE STORY CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE… 👇👇👇
