If you’re heading off for a week or two, there’s a small, strange ritual that saves you from the post‑holiday funk. It involves a single glass, a paper towel and your kitchen sink. Oddly simple. Weirdly effective.
I saw the trick in a neighbour’s flat on a June morning, suitcase by the door, sun already pressing at the blinds. She ran the tap for a few seconds, then folded a paper towel, laid it flat over the drain and inverted a tumbler on top. Tap off. Keys in hand. Job done. We’ve all had that moment when you open the door after a trip and the place smells… stale, a bit sour, a bit “what died in the pipes?”. Her kitchen didn’t. And there were no fruit flies orbiting the bowl of plums. The glass stood in the sink like a quiet little guard. She winked. “Holiday insurance.” I asked why. She said, “Because summer is sneaky.” It is.
The summer-sink trick that stops smells and bugs
In hot weather, the water sitting in your P‑trap can evaporate, especially if you’re away for days. That U‑shaped bend under the sink is your home’s nose plug. When it dries out, faint sewer gases and drain flies get a free ticket up to your kitchen. The paper towel acts like a temporary gasket. The glass presses it tight against the drain, limiting airflow and keeping the trap wetter for longer. You come back to a kitchen that smells like your kitchen. Not like under the road.
Think of the sink as a breathing space. It inhales and exhales tiny drafts as temperatures shift. Without water in the bend, those mini‑breaths can pull odours out of the pipes. One London lettings manager told me they get a spike in “musty kitchen” calls every August. Tenants return after a heatwave and assume something’s rotten in the fridge. Often it’s just a thirsty P‑trap and a few bold drain flies exploring. The glass‑and‑towel combo slows evaporation by reducing air exchange, and it blocks pests that hitch a ride through microscopic gaps.
There’s a simple bit of physics beneath the folklore. Odour molecules move with air; limit the air and you limit the smell. A damp paper towel seals better than dry because its fibres swell and close up the weave, then the glass adds weight and a clean edge to seat the “seal”. It’s not airtight, and it doesn’t need to be. It just needs to cut drafts enough to help the trap hold on to its water. Any minor drips from a fussy tap land in the sink, not on your worktop. **It’s humble, low‑tech, and it buys you days of fresh‑home peace.**
How to do the glass-and-towel setup in 60 seconds
Run the tap for five seconds to top up the P‑trap. Fold a paper towel into a thick square and get it slightly damp. Lay it flat over the drain like a coaster. Place a clean glass upside down on the centre of the towel so it presses around the drain ring. That’s it. If you’ve got a spare towel, repeat for the bathroom basin. For showers and bath drains, a flat rubber stopper does the same job; if you don’t have one, a folded microfibre cloth under a shampoo bottle works as a weight.
Use a plain, sturdy tumbler that won’t tip if the cat investigates. Avoid scented or dyed towels; you don’t want perfume notes cooking in summer heat. If you’re going for longer than two weeks, add a teaspoon of mineral oil to the drain before you set the towel. The oil floats on the water, slowing evaporation further. Let’s be honest: nobody cleans every trap and hunts for perfect stoppers before every trip. This is the fast version that you’ll actually do, even when the taxi’s on its way.
Most people skip this because it sounds too basic to work. The people who try it tend not to go back.
“Hot flats dry traps. Dry traps invite smells and drain flies. Give the drain a light seal and your nose a holiday too,” says Mark S., a North London plumber who sees this every summer.
Here’s what the glass and towel quietly handle while you’re on a beach:
- They slow trap evaporation, keeping the U‑bend wet and effective.
- They reduce airflow, so odours stay in the pipe where they belong.
- They block the quick route for drain flies and sewer gnats.
- They catch minor drips and act as a visual “tap is off” reminder.
- They’re renter‑friendly, tool‑free and reversible in seconds.
A small habit with big holiday peace of mind
There’s something quietly satisfying about leaving a home that’s set up to look after itself. The same way you empty the bin and crack the fridge door, this little ritual spares you that first thirty seconds of “ugh” when you come back with sandy shoes and a melted train snack. *You can’t control the weather while you’re away, but you can outsmart what it does to your pipes.*
It’s also a tidy reminder to run through the rest of your pre‑trip list. Water your plants, shut the window in the spare room that never quite locks, lift the fruit into the fridge so it doesn’t feed a tiny summer circus. If you like belt‑and‑braces, pour a spoon of mineral oil into the drain before the towel. And if you’re the DIY type, consider adding proper stoppers to your sinks ahead of the next heatwave. **Your future self, suitcase in hand, will breathe in and quietly thank you.**
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| Seal the drain | Paper towel + inverted glass reduce airflow at the sink opening | Fewer odours and pests after a summer trip |
| Keep the trap wet | Top up with water; optional teaspoon of mineral oil slows evaporation | Maintains the P‑trap barrier for days, even in heat |
| Simple, renter‑safe hack | No tools, no alterations, removable in seconds | Practical for flats, easy to remember on departure day |
FAQ :
- Does the glass-and-towel trick replace a proper drain stopper?Not exactly. A stopper gives a tighter seal. The glass method is a quick fix that reduces drafts and pests while you’re away, without hunting for hardware.
- How long does water stay in a P‑trap during hot weather?It varies by temperature and airflow. In a heatwave and a dry flat, a trap can partly evaporate in a week. Slowing air movement at the drain helps it last longer.
- Is this safe if I have pets or curious kids?Use a heavy, stable glass or a small ceramic bowl as the weight, and keep fruit off the counter so there’s less reason to climb. If in doubt, use a rubber stopper instead.
- Can I use a microfibre cloth instead of a paper towel?Yes. A folded, slightly damp microfibre cloth seals well and won’t shred. Rinse it when you return and let it dry to avoid any musty smell.
- What about bath and shower drains?Cover them too if you’re away during a hot spell. A flat plug works best. If you don’t have one, lay a damp cloth over the drain and weigh it with a shampoo bottle.
