Why I Always Place a Cup and a Piece of Paper in the Sink Before Leaving Home

I’ll never forget the time I had to find an apartment for a business trip.
Whenever I leave my house, I always place a cup and a piece of paper in the sink. This simple habit helps me leave my apartment with peace of mind.
Earlier, I had found a studio apartment in the same building, but the landlord hadn’t maintained it for a long time. As a result, the place became “stale”—it had been unoccupied for an entire month.

You might think that this wouldn’t be a big deal. After all, the less a place is used, the better its condition should be, right? Not exactly. When I first stepped in, I didn’t feel a sense of freshness but instead noticed a strong sewage odor.

Later, it was discovered that the water traps had dried out—this was the root of the problem.

An Unpleasant Surprise from the Drain​

Imagine my surprise when, despite having a spotless kitchen with an empty trash bin, a foul, sewage-like smell was coming from the kitchen drain.

It’s worth mentioning that the weather had been extremely hot for the past few weeks, and the kitchen window faced the sun. Apparently, the water in the drain traps had evaporated while the apartment was vacant, allowing sewer odors to seep into the space.

Luckily, the issue was quickly resolved: I simply turned on the faucet to restore the water seal in the drain.
Two minutes—and fresh air filled the kitchen again! But to prevent such surprises from happening again, I came up with a few preventive measures. Now, I have a set of rules I always follow before leaving home, even if I’m only gone for a short period.

Rule #1: A Piece of Paper Helps Prevent Odors​

You’ve probably heard the common advice to pour oil down the drain to prevent water evaporation. But keep this in mind: oil is greasy and leaves a sticky residue when it dries. Trust me, this can cause much bigger issues than a dry odor trap. The moment you turn on the water, a clog will form almost instantly.

A simpler alternative? Take a plain piece of paper and place it over the sink’s drain. This easy trick slows down water evaporation and helps maintain the water seal in the trap. I take it a step further and sometimes use a cup or a plate to completely cover the drain—this way, I ensure that no air flow escapes.

Rule #2: An Empty Toilet Tank Is a Bad Idea​

The landlord of the apartment had decided to play it safe and emptied the toilet tank before leaving. On the surface, this makes sense—if no one is in the apartment for a long time, what if there’s a leak? However, this decision had unexpected consequences.

When I turned the water back on, it immediately started leaking from the tank—the rubber gasket had dried out and was no longer sealing properly. I had to fix the leak before I could even use the toilet.

Since then, I’ve changed my approach. Now, I simply shut off the water supply before leaving but leave some water in the toilet tank. This way, the rubber seal stays intact, and I don’t have to deal with plumbing repairs. This small trick helps prevent unnecessary headaches, especially when being away from home for extended periods.

Final Thoughts​

Try these tips the next time you’re planning a vacation or business trip, and ensure that your home welcomes you back with a fresh and cozy scent—not an unpleasant sewer odor!