That’s another viral “life hack” headline—but this one is mostly internet folklore mixed with a tiny bit of practical reasoning.
Leaving an upturned glass and paper in the sink before vacation is not a standard plumbing or home-safety method. There’s no proven benefit that makes it something you “should always” do. But the idea usually comes from trying to prevent two minor issues:
🪰 1) Blocking drain odors or insects (limited effectiveness)
Some people believe covering the drain helps:
- reduce sewer gas smells
- keep small insects (like drain flies) from coming up
In reality:
- A glass or paper won’t seal a drain properly
- Sink traps (the U-bend) already block most gases and pests
A better solution is simply:
- pour water into unused drains before leaving
- or add a little mineral oil to slow evaporation
💧 2) Preventing dry traps (the real issue)
If a sink isn’t used for a long time, water in the trap can evaporate, allowing odors to come through.
Better approach:
- run water in all drains before leaving
- for long trips, ask someone to run water occasionally
- or pour a bit of oil to reduce evaporation
⚠️ Why the glass + paper idea doesn’t make much sense
- It doesn’t create an airtight seal
- It can fall, slip, or create clutter
- It doesn’t address the actual plumbing mechanism (the P-trap)
So it’s more symbolic than functional.
🏠 What actually works before vacation
If you want to protect your home properly:
- empty trash bins
- clean kitchen sink and counters
- run water in all drains
- unplug unnecessary appliances
- check for leaks
Bottom line
The “upturned glass and paper in the sink” trick is mostly a viral home hack with little real plumbing value. It’s not harmful, just unnecessary.
If you want, I can give you a proper vacation home checklist that actually prevents odors, pests, and plumbing issues.
