There’s a weird travel hack floating around that involves placing a sheet of paper and upside-down glass over your sink drain before leaving town. It supposedly helps prevent sewer smells and creepy crawlers from getting into your home through your drains while you’re gone. I’m always up for a good vacation prep hack, but this time I decided to dig a little deeper into why this idea exists and whether or not it works.
The idea behind this hack is legitimate. The P-trap, which is the curved, U-shaped pipe located beneath your sink, tub and floor drain, does hold water as a protective barrier against sewer gases and insects entering your home. However, the method shown in the viral photo is not a reliable way to protect your home.
