Before going on a trip, I have a must-do habit: placing a glass and a sheet of paper in the sink. Thanks to this trick, I can leave my home with peace of mind.

A simple yet highly effective method that allows me to return home without any unpleasant surprises!     Read the article below to find out all the details!   

I discovered this trick after an unpleasant experience. During a business trip, I rented a studio apartment that had been unoccupied for several weeks. When I arrived, despite the place being spotless, a foul odor filled the kitchen. The issue came from the pipes: since they hadn’t been used, the water in the siphon had evaporated, allowing sewer smells to rise.

To fix the problem, all I had to do was run some water to restore the natural siphon barrier. But to prevent this from happening again, I adopted a few precautionary measures.

 A sheet of paper to slow down evaporation
Instead of pouring oil down the sink—a method that can cause clogs as it dries—I use a simpler solution: I cover the sink drain with a sheet of paper. This slows down water evaporation and keeps the siphon functional. For extra effectiveness, I sometimes place a glass or a saucer on top to completely block airflow.

 Never completely drain the toilet tank
Another issue I encountered involved the toilet. The studio’s owner, thinking he was preventing leaks, had completely emptied the tank before leaving. Unfortunately, this dried out the rubber seals, causing a leak as soon as the water was turned back on.

Since then, I’ve made it a habit to simply turn off the water supply while leaving a small amount of water in the tank. This helps preserve the seals and avoids unnecessary repairs.

If you’re planning a trip, try these tips! There’s nothing better than coming home to a fresh-smelling house with no plumbing issues.