While we should give credit to those who came up with this hack, there’s a logical premise behind it. If you cover a drain, it may slow down the rate of evaporation, and potentially block odors or insects from entering your home if the P-trap dries out. Therefore, the theory behind this hack is valid.
However, the implementation is where things fall apart.
Unless the upside-down glass creates a tight seal over the drain opening, it’s unlikely to do much of anything. Simply resting the upside-down glass in the sink basin is merely decorative. Additionally, the paper will likely become soggy and unsightly from moisture in the air, and will not form a true seal.
In fact, any slight jolt to the sink could dislodge the entire setup.
In conclusion, while the premise behind this hack is based on a real plumbing principle, the method depicted in the photo is not a reliable means of sealing your drains.
Prepping Your Drains Before Leaving Town: The Right Way
If you want to avoid bad odors, dried-up traps, and unwanted insects when returning from your trip, follow these steps to prepare your drains:
Step 1: Fill Up Your Traps
Before you leave for a trip, run water through each sink, shower and tub for approximately 10-20 seconds. Remember to include laundry drains or floor drains if you have them, and also flush all toilets once.
Refilling your traps with water will ensure that your water seal remains intact in all of your P-traps.
Step 2: Properly Seal Your Drains
If you’re planning to be away for an extended period of time, you’ll want to seal the drain openings. Here are a few options:
Use the existing stoppers (simply close them) and use a sink plug or rubber stopper that fits tightly;
Use silicone drain covers (these are super convenient and reusable);
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My 9-year-old daughter baked 300 Easter cookies for the homeless — the next morning, a stranger showed up at our door with a briefcase full of cash. My daughter, Ashley, has always had a heart too big for her chest. Since my wife died, we’ve barely been making ends meet. We spent everything we had trying to save her from cancer. But when Easter came this year, Ashley told me she’d been saving up her own money to buy ingredients. “For the homeless,” she said. Her mom used to be one of them. She was thrown out by her parents when they found out she was pregnant with Ashley. When I met her, she had nothing — but she had the brightest smile and the sharpest mind I had ever seen. I fell in love with her. I took her and Ashley in. And from that moment on, Ashley became my daughter in every way that matters. So when Ashley said she wanted to help people like her mom once was… I didn’t stop her. For three nights straight, after school and homework, she baked. Her little hands worked nonstop. She found her mom’s old cookie recipe. She rolled every piece of dough herself. She decorated every cookie. She made three hundred cookies. On Easter, she handed them out one by one. She looked people in the eyes. She wished them a Happy Easter. Some of them smiled. Some of them cried. I stood there thinking it was the proudest moment of my life. I thought that was the end of it. The next morning, I was washing a mountain of dishes when the doorbell rang. I opened the door. An older man stood there in a worn-out suit, holding a scratched aluminum briefcase. His eyes were locked on Ashley. Before I could ask anything, he set the case down and opened it. I froze. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills — more money than I had ever seen in my life. “I saw what your daughter did yesterday,” he said, his voice shaking. “I want to give all of this to her.” My heart skipped. Then he added: “But you have to agree to ONE CONDITION.” My chest tightened. “What condition?” I asked. He stepped closer. He lowered his voice. And what he asked for in return made my blood run cold.
