Why Smart Homeowners Put a Glass in the Sink Before Going on Vacation
It sounds strange. But once you understand why, you’ll never leave home without doing it.
What Is This Trick?
Before leaving for vacation, some homeowners place an upside-down glass on a piece of paper in their kitchen sink. No explanation. No label. Just a glass and a piece of paper.
It looks odd. But it’s actually one of the smartest home-protection habits you can adopt — and it serves more than one purpose.
Reason #1: The Sewer Gas Problem
When you leave home for an extended period, the water in your drain trap slowly evaporates. That P-shaped pipe under your sink exists for one reason: to hold a small amount of water that blocks sewer gases from rising back up into your home.
No water in the trap = sewer gases, bacteria, and insects can enter freely through the drain.
The glass placed over the drain slows evaporation and acts as a physical barrier — keeping those gases where they belong.
Reason #2: The Insect Entry Point
Drains are a highway for insects — especially in summer. Cockroaches, drain flies, and other pests use empty, dry drains as entry points into homes while you’re away.
A glass over the drain makes that entry significantly harder.
Reason #3: The Paper Trick (The Clever Part)
The piece of paper under the glass serves as a note to yourself — or anyone checking on your home. You can write:
- The date you left
- Your emergency contact
- A reminder to run the water for 30 seconds to refill the drain trap
- Any instructions for a house sitter
When the house sitter picks up the glass to use the sink, they see the note. Simple, impossible to miss.
What Else Should You Do Before Leaving?
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