Marouane Majouri

Getting ready for a vacation usually means packing clothes, arranging transportation, setting up pet care, and making sure the house is ready to sit empty for a few days. But there’s one small household task you may not have considered: covering your sink before you leave.

The advice sometimes appears in home-care tips and social media posts, often accompanied by claims that covering a sink can prevent unpleasant odors, keep pests away, or protect your plumbing while you’re gone.

So, is it actually worth doing?

Covering a sink can be useful in certain circumstances, but it’s not a universal requirement for every vacation. The more important steps are cleaning the sink, keeping the drain in good condition, checking for leaks, and taking precautions against water damage.

Here’s what covering your sink can—and cannot—do, along with the simple steps that can help you return to a fresher, safer home.

Why Do People Recommend Covering the Sink Before Leaving? A sink is connected to the home’s drainage system, and its drain can sometimes become a source of unpleasant smells. Covering the opening may seem like an easy way to keep unwanted odors or insects from coming through while the house is empty.

There are a few reasons people try this trick.

1. To Help Keep Unpleasant Odors Under Control One common reason for covering a sink is to prevent drain odors from drifting into the kitchen or bathroom.

Your sink’s plumbing usually includes a P-trap, the curved section of pipe beneath the drain that holds a small amount of water. This water creates a barrier that helps prevent sewer gases from entering your home.

When a house sits empty, the water in a trap can gradually evaporate, particularly in hot, dry conditions or during a longer absence. If the water seal disappears, unpleasant smells may enter the room.

Covering the drain opening might help limit odors coming directly from the drain, but it isn’t a reliable fix for a dry trap or a plumbing problem. If sewer smells are persistent, the underlying cause needs attention.

For a short vacation, a properly functioning, water-filled trap will usually provide the protection it’s designed to offer.

2. To Discourage Insects From Coming Through the Drain