I was visiting my daughter’s house recently and noticed something odd in their bathroom. My son-in-law was carefully stretching a balloon over the shower drain, and there were several more balloons neatly stored on a nearby shelf. We don’t have the warmest relationship—he’s always been a bit standoffish, and I’ve never felt fully welcome—so when I casually asked what he was doing, my daughter quickly shut it down. “It’s none of your business, Mom. Just leave it,” she said, sounding irritated.
I left it alone at the time, but curiosity got the better of me. Later, I searched online and discovered it’s a popular, low-cost home hack to keep pests out. People cut or stretch a regular party balloon (often the neck or body) over the drain opening. When you shower, water flows through easily, but once the water stops, the balloon collapses and seals shut due to its elasticity. This creates a temporary barrier that blocks cockroaches, mosquitoes, slugs, or other bugs from crawling up from the pipes—plus it helps trap bad sewer odors.
It’s especially useful in humid areas or older homes with plumbing issues. The extras on the shelf make sense for quick replacements when one gets worn or dirty. No wonder they were defensive; admitting to a bug problem can feel embarrassing, especially with family tensions.
I haven’t brought it up again, but knowing it’s harmless (and actually smart) has eased my mind. Sometimes the strangest things have the simplest explanations. Next visit, I’ll just smile and say nothing—unless the roaches show up!
