It’s easy to assume that an empty home remains clean and fresh while you’re away. After all, no one is there to create messes or leave dishes unwashed, right? Well, think again. My recent experience proved otherwise. I returned to a sparkling-clean apartment, only to be greeted by an overwhelming sewage smell so strong it felt like my suitcases had been tossed down the drain. What happened? And more importantly, how can you avoid this unpleasant situation when you travel? Let me explain.
Why Can an Empty House Smell Bad?
You might imagine that your home “freezes” in its cleanliness during your absence. However, there’s one invisible culprit that can quickly turn your cozy retreat into an odor trap: dry siphons (also known as P-traps).
A siphon is the curved pipe under your sink or shower that holds a small amount of water. This trapped water acts as a natural barrier, preventing foul odors from rising up through the plumbing system. But here’s the catch: if no water flows through the pipes for several days—especially in hot weather—the water in the siphon can evaporate entirely. Once the seal is broken, unpleasant sewer gases escape freely into your living space.
That’s precisely what happened to me in that pristine studio apartment. The kitchen was immaculate, but the source of the stench became clear as soon as I turned on the faucet. Without water in the siphon, the sink had transformed into a gateway for sewage odors.
The Quick Fix: A Simple Jet of Water
Thankfully, solving this issue is incredibly straightforward. All it takes is running the faucet for a few seconds to refill the siphon. As the water fills the trap, the foul smells vanish almost instantly.
But prevention is always better than cure. To ensure your home stays fresh while you’re away, here are two simple tricks I now use every time I travel—even for just a weekend.
