When you’re getting ready for vacation, your mind is probably focused on packing clothes, charging your phone, checking your passport, locking the doors, and making sure you haven’t forgotten anything important.

But there is one small thing in your home that most people never think about before leaving: the kitchen sink.

It may seem strange to cover a sink before going away. After all, it’s just an empty basin. What could possibly happen to it while you’re gone?

Quite a lot, actually.

Your sink and its drain are connected to the plumbing system in your home, and when a house sits unused for several days or weeks, small problems that normally go unnoticed can become unpleasant surprises. Covering the sink isn’t a magical solution to every plumbing problem, but it can be a simple extra precaution that helps keep the area cleaner and reduces the chance of unwanted odors and pests making their way into your kitchen.

Here’s what you should know before your next trip.

Why does a sink need attention before vacation?

When you use your sink every day, water regularly flows through the drain. That regular use helps keep the plumbing system functioning normally and also means that you’re constantly cleaning away small amounts of food residue, grease, soap, and other debris.

When you leave for vacation, everything stops.

No dishes are washed. No water runs. No one rinses the sink. The kitchen can sit completely untouched for days.

That change may seem insignificant, but a stagnant environment can allow odors to become noticeable and can give small household pests an opportunity to explore.

That’s why spending a few minutes preparing your sink before leaving can be worthwhile.

The drain can be a source of unpleasant odors

One of the biggest reasons people notice a strange smell when they return from vacation is the plumbing.

The curved section of plumbing underneath many sinks, known as the P-trap, normally contains water. This water acts as a barrier that helps prevent sewer gases from entering the home through the drain.

If a drain isn’t used for a long period, however, the water in the trap can gradually evaporate, particularly in warm or dry conditions.

Once that water barrier becomes depleted, unpleasant smells can potentially travel up through the plumbing.

This is one reason you may occasionally notice a musty or sewer-like smell coming from a drain after a home has been vacant.

Covering the sink does not prevent evaporation inside the trap, so it shouldn’t be considered a substitute for proper plumbing preparation. But it can still provide a useful physical barrier over the opening and help keep dust, debris, and insects out.

It can help keep insects away

A kitchen sink is an attractive place for certain insects because it provides access to moisture and can contain traces of food.

Even when a sink looks clean, tiny amounts of organic material can remain around the drain, garbage disposal, drain strainer, or pipes.

If you’re away for a week or two, there won’t be anyone around to notice an insect problem developing.

A simple cover over the drain can make access more difficult for insects that might otherwise use the plumbing as a route into the kitchen.

This is especially worth considering if you’ve previously had problems with cockroaches, drain flies, ants, or other household pests.

But don’t just cover a dirty sink

This is where the trick can easily go wrong.

If you’re going to cover your sink before vacation, clean it first.

You don’t want to trap food particles, grease, crumbs, or moisture underneath a cover for several days.

Instead, give the sink a thorough cleaning before you leave.

Remove any dishes.

Empty the sink completely.

Clean the basin.

Rinse away food particles.

Clean around the drain.

If you have a removable drain strainer, wash it as well.

Then dry the sink as thoroughly as possible.

The goal is to leave the area clean and dry rather than trapping a dirty, damp environment underneath the cover.

What should you use to cover the sink?

You don’t necessarily need to buy a special product.

For a short vacation, you can use something as simple as a clean sink stopper or drain cover.

If you’re trying to cover the entire sink basin rather than just the drain, a clean, dry piece of plastic or another suitable waterproof covering can work as a temporary barrier.

The important thing is that whatever you use is clean and dry.

You also don’t want to create a completely sealed, damp environment around materials that shouldn’t remain wet for long periods.

For most homes, simply closing the drain with an appropriate stopper after cleaning the sink is enough to provide an extra barrier.

Don’t forget the garbage disposal

If your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal, it deserves extra attention before you leave.

Food residue can remain inside the disposal even when the sink looks spotless.

Before going away, clean the disposal according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Run water through it and make sure there is no food debris remaining.

If your disposal has a removable splash guard, cleaning underneath it can also make a noticeable difference.

A clean disposal is much less likely to greet you with a nasty smell when you return home.

What about the other drains in your house?

The kitchen sink isn’t the only drain worth thinking about.

Before a longer vacation, take a quick look at your:

• Bathroom sinks
• Shower drains
• Bathtub drains
• Laundry-room drains
• Floor drains
• Utility sinks

Any drain that isn’t going to be used for an extended period can potentially develop odor issues if its water trap dries out.

For a normal short vacation, you don’t necessarily need to do anything complicated.

But if you’re leaving your home vacant for several weeks or longer, it’s worth giving your plumbing some additional attention.

Run water before you leave

One of the easiest things you can do is simply run water through the drains shortly before leaving.

Turn on the kitchen faucet and allow water to flow through the drain.

Do the same with bathroom sinks and showers that haven’t been used recently.

This helps ensure that the plumbing traps contain water when you leave.

For drains that are rarely used, this simple step can be particularly useful.

Don’t pour random chemicals down the drain

You may see advice online recommending that you pour bleach, drain cleaner, or other chemicals down every drain before vacation.

Be careful with this.

Using harsh chemicals unnecessarily can damage plumbing components, create dangerous fumes, and cause problems if different cleaning products are mixed.

You generally don’t need aggressive chemicals simply because you’re going on vacation.

A clean drain, fresh water in the trap, and a suitable drain cover are much more sensible precautions for most households.

If you have an actual plumbing problem, use a product according to its instructions or contact a qualified plumber.

What if you’re going away for a month?

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