Before heading out on vacation, most people carefully prep their homes\u2014cleaning the fridge, locking doors, and adjusting<\/p>\n
the thermostat. But one easily overlooked spot could cause a smelly, even pest-filled mess when you return: the kitchen sink.<\/p>\n
Even if the dishes are done and the faucet is off, the sink can still harbor problems. Food scraps left in the garbage<\/p>\n
disposal or drain may rot and cause foul odors. Standing water in the P-trap can evaporate over time,<\/p>\n
allowing sewer gases\u2014or even bugs\u2014to creep into your home. A small leak or unnoticed drip might attract ants or roaches.<\/p>\n
To avoid unpleasant surprises, take a few simple steps before leaving:<\/p>\n
Run your garbage disposal with cold water and ice or citrus peels to clear debris.<\/p>\n
Pour \u00bd cup of baking soda and \u00bd cup of vinegar down the drain, let sit 10 minutes, then flush with hot water.<\/p>\n
For extended trips, add a small amount of mineral oil to slow trap evaporation.<\/p>\n
Wipe down the sink and check for leaks around the faucet or under the sink.<\/p>\n
It only takes a few minutes, but prepping your sink can help you return to a fresh, clean-smelling kitchen\u2014no unpleasant surprises.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Before heading out on vacation, most people carefully prep their homes\u2014cleaning the fridge, locking doors, and adjusting the thermostat. But one easily overlooked spot could cause a… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n