You’ve done everything:
✅ Unplugged non-essentials
✅ Set the thermostat
✅ Watered the plants
✅ Locked every window
But there’s one silent saboteur hiding in plain sight: your kitchen or bathroom sink.
Left unattended, it can turn your peaceful return into a smelly, buggy nightmare—all because of a dried-out pipe you never even see.
The good news?
A 10-second, zero-cost trick used by plumbers and cleaning pros can stop it cold:
Place a paper towel over the drain… then cover it with an upside-down glass.
It sounds too simple to work—but it’s pure genius. Here’s why.
🔍 The Hidden Danger: The Drying P-Trap
Under every sink lies a P-trap—that U-shaped pipe designed to hold water like a seal. This water barrier blocks:
- Sewer gases (methane, hydrogen sulfide—yes, the “rotten egg” smell)
- Insects (drain flies, cockroaches, silverfish)
- Mold spores and bacteria from rising into your home
But when you’re away for 5+ days, that water evaporates—especially in dry climates or heated homes.
Once the seal breaks, your sink becomes a direct highway from the sewer to your living space.
🚨 Real consequence: Coming home to a foul odor, swarms of tiny flies, or even health-irritating gases.
🥤 How the Glass + Paper Towel Trick Works (Science-Backed!)
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