The excitement of bringing home a new baby is one of the great thrills of every parent’s lifetime. You’ve added a tiny new member to your family and there are plenty of great expectations, but that new member also adds his or her own unique collection of odors to your house in the form of messy diapers. How do you deal with those new odors? The best answer is a diaper pail.
If you have ever browsed diaper pails on line or in the babies and infants section of your favorite discount store, you’ve probably noticed that there are more than enough diaper pails to produce an anxiety attack when you attempt to narrow it down to just one. We can help take away some of that anxiety with our buyer’s guide and review of some of the top diaper pails available.
From this article, you will get some basic advice concerning diapers pails in general and then some specific examples which you can compare in order to come up with the diaper pail that best suits you and your personal circumstances. By the time we are finished, you should have your choice narrowed down to your favorite. So, let’s get started.
Buyer’s Guide
Why do you need a diaper pail?
A place to put dirty diapers of course!
You will only be asking this question if you are expecting your first child. Those who have experienced the overwhelming odor of stale diapers will have already made a resounding decision to have one for their second child, especially if they didn’t have one with their first. To put things simply, diaper pails handle those diaper odors far better than your typical run of the mill trash can. It’s the best possible temporary storage place for dirty diapers. How high tech you need to go depends on a number of different factors that suit your personal preferences.
What are some features to look for in the best diaper pails?
Keeping odor under control, especially the stale odor of diapers that have been in there for a day or two, is a major reason for having a quality diaper pail. Here are some of the features of diaper pails that you should keep in mind.
Cloth diapers
Believe it or not, cloth diapers actually retain fewer odors because of the chemicals that are a part of the makeup of disposables. You can use the same pail regardless of whether you are using disposables or cloth, but you will be better served to use special waterproof liners, which are made of nylon or laminated polyester if you are dropping in cloth diapers.
Ease of Use
Foot pedals on your pail are certainly quite handy to have, but when it comes to ease of use, just be sure that your pail is something that you can handle with one hand when you are putting diapers in and is a snap to empty when it comes time to dispose of those nasty gifts permanently.
Diaper Pail Liners
Before making a choice concerning the best diaper pail, you want to take into consideration the potential added cost of diaper pail liners. There are basically three types of liners:
• Regular trash bags. These are the easiest to get your hands on and can usually be purchased in larger bulk at an economical price.
• Special pail liners (bags). Some brands of diaper pails have their own pail liners. Without these special pail liners, your diaper pail won’t work the way it was designed to work. Because these liners are specially designed for the pail, they aren’t as easy to get your hands on and they tend to cost a lot more.
• Pail liners for cloth diapers. Washable liners are a must if you are using cloth diapers, because plastic ones tend to create mildew issues. Nylon bags are durable, but can’t be machine dried, so you are better off with polyester based waterproof liners which can be washed along with the diapers. Look for polyurethane laminate (PUL) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fabric liners.
Odor Control
Higher end or more advanced diaper pails have mechanisms which help to seal in the odor of the diapers that are already in the pail whenever you add another one. This is certainly a major plus and something to consider when you line out your budget for this item.
Volume
When we’re talking about volume, we’re talking about how many diapers the pail will hold. A larger pail only becomes a necessity if you bring home twins. Otherwise a standard size pail is fine, because pails that hold less than 30 diapers tend to have better odor control because they get changed more often.
Metal vs. Plastic
There is really no comparison between the two. A stainless steel diaper pail is far superior in durability, tends to look better and does not absorb as much odor as a plastic pail. The stainless steel pail will cost you more, but in the long run, you get more long-term value out of it.
Budget
A plastic diaper pail will cost you less money than will a metal pail. The metal pail, as we already discussed will last longer and not absorb the odors as much. However, if you are on a budget, a plastic pail is still better than a regular trash can… by far.
How can you keep the pail smelling fresh?
Regardless of whether you purchased a diaper pail with or without odor control, you’re going to need to do a little maintenance to keep that pail smelling fresh. The quality of your diaper pail will certainly dictate how much maintenance and how often, but here are a few tips for keeping your pail smelling fresh:
• Scoop poop into the toilet. Dumping the poop from the diaper into the toilet and sending it away is perhaps the simplest and yet least used methods for preventing odor buildup in the pail.
• Empty regularly. This seems like pure common sense, but common sense isn’t as common as you might think. Emptying the pail daily or even every couple of days can do wonders.
• Baking soda. You’ve already got this in your kitchen, maybe even an open box in your refrigerator to absorb odors. Guess what, it works the same way in the diaper pail.
• Clean regularly. Even a regular trash can has to be cleaned out with soap and water once in a while. Apply that same principle to your diaper pail, but a little more often.
• Anti-bacterial spray. Most of the odors in a diaper pail are a result of bacterial growth. An antibacterial spray can go a long way toward fighting odor in your pail.
• Essential oils. Fighting bacteria and freshening the odor of your pail can be accomplished by adding several drops of essential oil to a damp cloth and using it to wipe down your pail after washing it. Favorites include tea tree oil, lavender, frankincense or even mint.
With the above features and tips in mind, you can keep down the odor of messy diapers and not have to feel overwhelmed by it. In addition, you are well equipped to make a qualified decision when it comes to selecting a pail which will best suit your preferences and lifestyle. With these things in mind, let’s take a look at some top diaper pails in more detail.
Best Diaper Pails Reviews
Diaper Dekor Classic Diaper Pail
A hands-free solution to disposing of diapers comes with the Diaper Dekor Classic. This pail is operated by a quick touch of the toe, and dropping the diaper through the spring loaded trap door. The pail is constructed out of ABS closed-cell plastic, which does not absorb odors the same way as typical plastic. Additional features include a child lock, diaper pail refill system, and triple odor control.
Specs:
Dimensions: 21 x 12.25 x 8.75 inches
Ease of Use: Excellent
Liners: Special
Odor control: 9/10
Volume: 45
Material: Plastic
Cost: $$/$$$$$
The Good
The ease of use of this pail is excellent from setup, diaper disposal, pail emptying and refilling. The odor control system is certainly effective and it can double as a trashcan after your baby is out of diapers.
The Not So Good
One drawback to this pail is that you have to use the manufacturer’s special liners to make use of all of its benefits. Keep in mind that you’re still dealing with plastic.
A Great Choice If…
You want a hands-free, convenient unit which blocks out odor and fits most budgets. You might not be happy about having to purchase the special bags.
Munchkin Step Diaper Pail Powered by Arm & Hammer
The Munchkin Step Diaper Pail is another hands-free unit which does a great job of keeping odor contained. This unit opens with the touch of your toe, makes use of a self sealing system that closes the bag as the lid closes, and the odors are absorbed by an Arm & Hammer air freshener in the lid. This pail is also constructed of ABS closed-cell plastic, utilizes two different styles of refills and the disposal of the full bags is pretty simple as well.
Specs:
Dimensions: 27in H x 12in D
Ease of Use: Excellent
Liners: Special
Odor control: 9/10
Volume: 50
Material: Plastic
Cost: $$$$/$$$$$
The Good
The ease of use and odor control built into this pail are at the top among diaper pails. Being tall and slender, this pail doesn’t take up a lot of space, but it has pretty good volume.
The Not So Good
The size of the opening makes you stuff larger diapers into it. The air fresheners and refills of this pail become pretty costly and you pay a little bit more upfront to boot.
A Great Choice If…
You are not on a budget, want something that handles odor well, and love the convenience of quick setup and disposal. If you are on a budget, you will be frustrated with the additional maintenance costs of this pail.
Don’t miss our other Baby Product buying guides
Ubbi Money Saving, No Special Bag Required, Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail
When it comes to true odor control, the Ubbi Steel Odor Locking diaper pail beats the competition. Besides being made of stainless steel, which does not absorb odors like plastic does, this pail utilizes a damper mechanism that creates a hermetic seal and keeps odor contained inside the pail. It has a childproof lock to keep toddlers from digging around inside and you can use whatever liners you want to use.
Specs:
Dimensions: 15 x 10.8 x 22.5 inches
Ease of Use: Excellent
Liners: Any
Odor control: 10/10
Volume: 50
Material: Metal
Cost: $$$$$/$$$$$
The Good
Besides the better durability of stainless steel, it also does not absorb odor. This pail will hold a pretty decent volume of diapers before it needs to be emptied. Better yet, you can use whatever liners you want to use instead of having to purchase more costly refills from the manufacturer.
The Not So Good
You are going to have to pay quite a lot more for this pail than for more economically priced plastic models. The sliding door is not nearly as convenient as a step model for hands-free operation.
A Great Choice If…
You prefer a steel pail that won’t absorb odors, and if you don’t mind paying a little more upfront to save on long-term maintenance expenses. You won’t be happy when it comes to hands-free usage.
Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Diaper Pail with Odor Lock Technology
The Diaper Genie is one of the most highly touted and most popular diaper disposal systems available. Backed by Playtex, there is some additional confidence implied. This diaper pail is made of ABS closed-cell plastic and utilizes an odor lock system which was the first of its kind. A carbon filter system also helps to control odor. This is a hands-free pail which makes use of special refill system.
Specs:
Dimensions: 13.5 x 10.25 x 21.75 inches
Ease of Use: Excellent
Liners: Special
Odor control: 9/10
Volume: 34
Material: Plastic
Cost: $$$/$$$$$
The Good
You don’t have to pay a lot up front to get a well designed, hands-free pail with the Diaper Genie. The odor lock system really does its job. Setup, diaper disposal, disposal of the full bags and refilling is a snap with this unit and it is also pretty decent on the volume it will handle.
The Not So Good
This is a plastic unit and it will absorb odors. The cost of maintenance with the carbon filters and the refill packs are going to make this a more expensive unit to use over the long-term.
A Great Choice If…
You want a hands-free disposal system backed by a well-known name and your budget can handle the long-term costs of this pail. If you are on a budget and prefer to save a little cash over the long-term, you will want to look elsewhere.
Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail
Simplicity can be a refreshing change and the Safety 1st Easy Saver diaper pail fits that bill. Though this is more than a bucket with a lid, it isn’t a lot more than that. A push of a button opens the lid so that you can drop the diaper in the pail. There are not special refills and no additional air freshener systems to buy.
Specs:
Dimensions: 10.88 x 15 x 18.38 in
Ease of Use: Okay
Liners: Any
Odor control: 7/10
Volume: 100
Material: Plastic
Cost: $/$$$$$
The Good
The simplicity of this pail is certainly something to catch your attention. Your attention is held by the fact that it will fit any budget up front and you can keep your long-term costs down by purchasing more economically priced liners. Besides those characteristics, the volume of this pail is among the best on the market.
The Not So Good
Though the sealing system works pretty well, you will be responsible for most of the odor control on your own. You’re dealing with plastic, so it will absorb odors. This pail isn’t as easy to use as many of the others on this list.
A Great Choice If…
You are on a serious budget, want to spend less on both a low initial purchase as well as over the long-term, and recognize that regardless of the added extras, you will still have to engage in some odor control on your own. You won’t be as happy with this if you are basing your choice on ease of use.
Tommee Tippee Simplee Diaper Pail Starter Set with 4 Refills
Antibacterial components are made use of in the Tommee Tippee Simplee diaper pail for odor control. This pail includes a multilayer film that kills 99% of all bacteria as well as a smart seal system to help control odor. Its refill cartridges will dispose of up to 180 diapers each before they need to be replaced. Use and disposal of full bags is pretty simple with the Simplee as well.
Specs:
Dimensions: 16.4 x 11.6 x 10.1 inches
Ease of Use: Okay
Liners: Special
Odor control: 8/10
Volume: 18
Material: Plastic
Cost: $$/$$$$$
The Good
This pail is pretty simple, but it has the added convenience of an easy refill system for those who don’t want to wrestle with various plastic bags. These refill cartridges are really pretty inexpensive. The antibacterial film also helps with the odor absorption issues associated with plastic pails. This unit can fit inside a cabinet and out of the way and its lower volume might actually provide better odor control than larger pails because you empty it more often.
The Not So Good
The ease of use of this pail leaves a little something to be desired apart from inserting refills. There isn’t a great deal of odor control built into this pail and diaper disposal can be tricky when the pail is nearly full.
A Great Choice If…
You prefer a more budget friendly pail which makes use of a more economically priced refill cartridge. You won’t be happy with the more complicated opening issues for diaper disposal.
Creative Baby Tidy Diaper Pail, Marble, Marble/Blue/Gray, One Size
The way the Creative Baby Tidy diaper pail works is both simple and ingenious. Rather than opening a top on your diaper pail, you place a soiled diaper in the depression in the top and then pull the handle, which rotates the top until the diaper drops into the pail. It is easy to setup, a snap to use and full bags can be easily disposed of without much fuss.
Specs:
Dimensions: 15 x 10 x 22 inches
Ease of Use: Excellent
Liners: Any
Odor control: 9/10
Volume: 50
Material: Plastic
Cost: $$$$/$$$$$
The Good
There probably isn’t a better odor reduction system than the Creative Baby Tidy Diaper Pail, because you don’t open the lid when you dispose of a diaper. The volume of this unit is decent and it’s pretty simple to use. On top of that, you can use any bag or liner you want.
The Not So Good
You’re dealing with a plastic pail, so there will be some odor absorption. You will have to shell out a little more money up front for this pail.
A Great Choice If…
You want true simplicity in odor control and don’t mind paying a little more upfront to save more over the long-term. You won’t be quite as happy if you would prefer a metal pail.
Baby Trend Diaper Champ Deluxe
Ease of use with odor control are characteristics of the Baby Trend Diaper Champ. You don’t have to open anything on this pail; you simply drop the diaper on the spring-loaded trap door and walk away. The pail remains sealed by a childproof lock until you’re ready to dispose of a full bag and then it snaps right back into place after you put in a new liner.
Specs:
Dimensions: 14.4 x 21.6 x 10.9 inches
Ease of Use: Excellent
Liners: Any
Odor control: 9/10
Volume: 30
Material: Plastic
Cost: $$/$$$$$
The Good
The trapdoor idea on this pail makes it one of the most effective hands-free pails of all that we have reviewed. The fact that you can use any bag that you want as a liner is an added, budget friendly touch and this pail doesn’t cost a lot up front.
The Not So Good
It is plastic and will absorb odors. When it starts to get too full, the spring loaded trapdoor is not going to work well. There are bound to be some problems with the seal on that trapdoor over the long-term.
A Great Choice If…
You are looking for a more budget friendly, hands-free diaper pail. You might not be pleased with the longevity of this pail.
Odorless Cloth Diaper Pail (7 gallon: 1-2 days) by Busch Systems
Busch Systems has designed the Odorless Cloth Diaper pail for express purpose of disposing of soiled cloth diapers until you’re ready to launder them. This is a simple unit without any frills and thrills except the carbon filter odor control cartridge that screws into the lid.
Specs:
Dimensions: 11.38″L x 11.38″W x 14.25″H
Ease of Use: Fair
Liners: Any
Odor control: 7/10
Capacity: 20-25
Material: Plastic
Cost: $$$/$$$$$
The Good
Simplicity is the key to this pail and it is certainly that. It has the added benefits of a carbon filter cartridge to help with odor control and being able to use whatever bag you prefer to use. The volume of this pail is about right to encourage regular emptying.
The Not So Good
Ease of use is entirely forgotten with this pail. It costs a little bit more than a plastic bucket with a snapping lid ought to cost. It is plastic, so it will absorb odors.
A Great Choice If…
You are using cloth diapers, want something simple and have no concerns about budget. You won’t be happy with the fact that this unit is not easy to use in any way.