When you have a slow leak under the sink [View all]

[IrishAyes]

And there's no plumber in sight and you're out of plumbers putty, AND even worse you have to keep a heater going so a frozen pipe won't burst:

Slide a metal pie pan filled with kitty litter under the drip. This will buy you extra time. If you're using heat you can't line the pan with newspapers - and I don't think they're as absorbent anyway.

While I doubt the idea's unique, it only occurred to me just this evening. Old and slow, y'know.