Coming home to your house after a relaxing vacation is supposed to feel like stepping into paradise. But imagine opening the door and being greeted by a foul smell wafting from your sink drain. It’s an all-too-common problem that can instantly spoil the warm welcome back. What if there was a simple trick to stop those nasty smells before you even leave?
Understand how drain odors develop during vacation
The culprit behind those unwelcome odors is usually the siphon, also known as the trap, a curved pipe located beneath every drain. It holds a small amount of water that acts like a barrier, preventing sewer gases from sneaking up into your home. This is a clever and essential part of plumbing that has kept our homes smelling fresh for decades.
But here’s where things get tricky. When your house is empty for several days or weeks, especially in hot summer weather, the water in the siphon can slowly evaporate. Once dry, that protective barrier disappears, and unpleasant sewer gases spring free from your plumbing. When you return, the smell can be unsettling and strong enough to make you want a breath of fresh air outside immediately.
A simple glass and paper trick to keep your home smelling fresh
Here’s where the genius hack comes in. Before you leave for vacation, place a sheet of paper over each sink drain and set a glass filled with water upside down on top of it. This simple barrier slows down evaporation by sealing the drain in an airtight way, helping that water in the trap stay put longer.
The glass serves a dual purpose—helping weigh down the paper and sealing off any gaps to block gases from escaping.
It’s quick, easy, and you probably already have these kitchen items at home. No fancy gadgets or expensive solutions required! I tried this method myself before a weeklong getaway to the beach, and when I returned, my kitchen smelled exactly as I’d left it—clean and fresh. It was such a relief not to walk into any unpleasant odors.
Additional tips to prevent drain smells while away
While the glass-and-paper method works wonders, there are a few extra steps to consider for peace of mind. Before you head out the door, run water through all your drains so the traps are fully topped off. Check for leaks or slow drains too, since clogged plumbing can sometimes cause odor issues.
If you are regularly away for long periods or live in a particularly hot climate, consider flushing your drains occasionally with hot water. Using eco-friendly cleaning solutions can also help break down any organic buildup that might cause odors.
Remember, a little preventive maintenance can save you from a stinky surprise when you come home from your trip. It’s all about letting yourself truly relax on vacation, knowing your house will welcome you back with fresh air instead of foul scents.
Have you ever returned from a trip to find an unexpected odor in your home? What tricks have you used to keep your space smelling clean? Share your experiences and tips below. Your advice might help someone else step off their plane, walk through their door, and breathe in only the sweet scent of home.
you put a glass of water UPSIDE DOWN on the paper??,
Probably to weigh down the paper n keep the smell from leaking out underneath 😉
I was thinking that very same thing!
Right side up. If left upside down with water, will leak all over
Wouldnt a piece of plastic wrap work better?
My thots exactly
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=65T4ReLkjCg&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
The picture shows the glass upright, filled with water.
It days that..but their photo shows it right side up.. pretty confusing.
Yah how?
Yeah, proof reading was not the author’s strength 🤣🤣
The water stops the smelly sewer gasses from rising up the drain. If the glass were right side up, it could not trap the gas. The water in the upside down glass forces the stinky stuff to stay down and not build up, that way you don’t have a stink bomb when you move the glass.
When I leave my house for the summer in Yuma, Arizona. Which is by the way, the sunniest city in the world. We summarize the house. We leave buckets of water in every room because it’s so dry there and for each of the drains instead of your method, I have started using different types of oil like mineral oil or sun sunflower oil in each drain about four or 5 ounces and the oil will float to the surface of the trap water, therefore not evaporating.
I agree, mineral oil is great to prevent evaporation and it’s non-toxic to environment.
Yep. I use a little bit of peppermint oil. Try it! I can breathe better during the hot and humid Louisiana Summer heat
We do the same in Havasu
Yours oil method is the best and most effective.
I’ve heard of using oil and use it.
The AI photo doesn’t show a glass which is upside down. Great article though. Clear, useful and easy to read. Thanks!
I have never had an issue with my drains and have been gone for months at a time! Calling bs on this one!
The photo shows the glass right side up.
It doesn’t make sense.leaving a full glass of water upside down???? How does this work?
I’m thinking of the grade school science experiment, where the teacher has a glass full of water, places a cardboard on top of the glass, and holding the cardboard in place turns the glass over. The air pressure keeps the cardboard in place and the water did not fall out of the glass.
How does one put a glass of water upside down on a sheet of paper without the water dumping out?
You don’t. The glass of water goes on top of the paper right side up as shown in the photo. Because as you point out, the water will just leak out. Once again, this is a case of sloppy journalism… for some reason I can’t understand, articles don’t seem to be reviewed anymore before they’re published. Missing words, incorrect or incomplete information, bad grammar and spelling mistakes are way too common. This is happening with mainstream media and well regarded publications too. Drives me totally bonkers.
I totally agree with you. They rely on AI to supposedly correct misspellings. When I write anything on the computer, I always proof read before sending because I always find incorrect or misspelled words the computer replaces it “thinks” it should be.
Glass is right side up; paper is upside down.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=65T4ReLkjCg&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
Something’s fishy about this hack. Upside down and filled with water???
That’s bull what does that have to do with the flies That has gotten into the house
😁what 🪰flies?
How do you leave a glass of water upside down, won’t the water drain out… 🤷🏻♀️
One thing I do is saran wrap my toilet bowls ensuring a good seal.
I have been away for up to 8 months and this really works; water was still in the bowl!
Hopefully you will remember to remove it before your first return crap
Someone got paid to write this? Really? How about you just install the drain stoppers? If leaving for several months pour pink RV antifreeze into the drain and install the stopper. RV antifreeze does not evaporate like water does.
The sink drain in my kitchen is big and there is no chance I can put a glass of water to stand on it.
Or…. use the plug?
Assuming this is not bollocks
OR… you can go to Home Depot, Harbor Frieght, order on Amazon etc… those cheap black stoppers. The same one’s used for holding dishwater. $5 and no water source for mosquito larvae! 🤷🏾♂️
The drain should be open! The faucet could start to leak and the sink has no overflow. It happened to me caused by the apartment above me. Also had to repaint.
If your home is built right there will be a vent pipe located between the sink and stool and whatever else you have and therefore the smell is disposed before it has a chance to get in your house. Problem solved in construction.
Glass of water upside down? Maybe if you live in the southern hemisphere. Ha ha.
Hmmmm, yeaaaah, and how is the Hole in the bath sink ( over flow outlet ) treated for this problem….as well as the overflow opening in the Tub ???????? Lemme see your response for dis one ????
Couldn’t you just leave a sink full of clean water so it will not evaporate?
I’ve heard of using oil and deploy that method.
I believe upside down wouldn’t work.
Further, I believe the attept is for a simple solution using products close at hand; thus the paper towel, glass, and water.
The glass filled with water is to weight down the paper towel being used as a gasket. A crude seal is formed and reduces the risk, and quantity, of sewer gas exposure.
Consider any existing sink features. Such as drain stoppers used while hand-washing dishes.