Best Diaper Trash Cans

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There are a lot of things you need to figure out as a new parent. Changing a soiled diaper is one of them. But throwing it out? Maybe it’s not something you’ve put any thought in yet. Until you think about diaper disposal and odor containment. You’re likely going to be changing diapers several times a day and the average trash can isn’t all that great in preventing odors from getting out. Running out of the house to put it in the bin outside isn’t going to make life any easier either. The only thing for you to do is to find a dedicated diaper trash can or diaper pail. One that was specifically designed for superior odor control, allowing you to keep it right inside your baby’s room, beside the changing table. However, since there are a lot of options in the market, finding the right one for you isn’t going to be easy. Fortunately, we went in and sniffed out which ones are the best for you to choose from.

Ubbi Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail

The Ubbi Diaper Pail has been a favorite among parents all over the world for several years. And for good reason. This powder-coated steel trash can is excellent at containing odors with strategically placed rubber seals to and a sliding lid to ensure that the smell stays right where it needs to be. You can fit any standard trash bag or a reusable cloth liner. There’s a childproof lock to keep little ones from playing with it. And you can easily operate this with one hand while keeping the other on your baby. However, some parents prefer a hands-free model. And you’re going to need to hold your breath when opening the lid because all that odor it traps does escape. And it is very expensive compared to other models.

PROS
  • keeps the odor locked in
  • childproof lock
  • uses any trash bag or liner
CONS
  • expensive
  • odor escapes when lid is opened
  • not hands-free

Dekor Plus Diaper Pail

If it’s hands-free you’re looking for, the Dekor Plus Diaper Pail might be right up your alley. Its foot pedal is quite easy to use and there’s no need to bend down to throw the diaper because the pail is quite tall. This pail also comes with a childproof safety lock. But it also has a childproof safety cutter that allows you to cut the continuous refill liner at the top of the refuse when you’re emptying out a full bag. Rubber gaskets help keep the odor contained. As an added bonus, the self-closing whisper lid isn’t going to startle you or your little one once your foot is off the pedal. However, the smell does waft through when you open the pail, especially when you’re changing bags. We noticed that the childproof lock is easy to figure out for the average toddler. Also, a lot of parents wish it can contain more than 2 days’ worth of diapers.

PROS
  • one-handed operation
  • childproof safety cutter
  • seals the odor in
CONS
  • odor is strong when opening the pail or changing bags
  • childproof lock is easy to open for a toddler
  • could be bigger

Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail

The Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail is simple and small. It uses standard 13 gallon kitchen bags. It comes with a deodorizer compartment which you can fill with baking soda or activated carbon pellets which will help with the absorption of odor. Changing bags is very straightforward and doesn’t require more than a minute. However, the spring that pops open the lid does break after a year or so of use. The deodorizer compartment makes it hard to fit cloth diapers through the small hole on top. And the color of the pail – beige – won’t appeal to some parents who want to set up a designer nursery. That being said, the price and practicality offered by this pail really can’t be beat for those who are on a budget.

PROS
  • very affordable
  • deodorizer compartment
  • uses standard 13 gallon kitchen bags
CONS
  • spring on lid breaks after a year
  • only comes in one color – beige
  • hard to fit cloth diapers in the hole

Munchkin Step Diaper Pail

Here’s another hands-free option – the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail. But unlike anything you’ve seen on our list before, this diaper trash can employs a mechanism to keep odor in the bag – a patented self-sealing system that twists the bag each time you close the lid. It has a childproof lock to keep curious kids and pets out. And it also comes with a odor-masking feature that can be attached inside the lid – a baking soda sachet that will require installation before use. While the Munchkin Step does use proprietary bags, one of the benefits of such is that the bag remains sealed while changing it out with a new one. Yes, the process of changing bags isn’t as easy as using regular kitchen bags and proprietary bags do cost more. However, not having to hold your breath the entire time can mean the world to some parents. The additional cost of Munchkin Snap, Seal and Toss Refills will be quite expensive – an estimated $80 per year. Aside from the drawback of cost, we did notice that you’d have to push the diaper through the valve-style seal of the pail. You may find that, sometimes, some of the mess from the diaper will escape and smear on the liner when pushing the diaper through the hole. Also, the lid is not self-closing. Not a big deal but you need to remember to close the lid after your push the diaper in.

PROS
  • Self-sealing system
  • Childproof lock
  • Comes with an odor-masking feature
CONS
  • Requires the use of proprietary bags
  • Lid is not self-closing
  • You need to push the diaper into the pail; can’t just drop it in

Playtex Diaper Genie Expressions Diaper Pail

The Diaper Genie Essentials Diaper Pail features a patented AIR-TITE system and a Push-N-Lock clamp for maximum odor control. You can easily drop a dirty diaper inside this pail and not gag because no stinky smell will be escaping. Like the Munchkin Step, this diaper pail also employs a self-sealing mechanism that twists the inner liner after you deposit to keep odors locked in. What makes this particular diaper trash can stand out is that you can customize the design to match your nursery decor. You can get cute fabric sleeves (sold separately, of course) from Diaper Genie to keep the pail from sticking out like a sore thumb in your baby’s room. However, like Munchkin Step, this also uses proprietary bags which adds to the lifetime cost of the pail (around $80 a year). And this one does not have a foot pedal. You need to push a button to open the lid but that isn’t really a hardship. You also have to push the diaper down the hole. Plus, this is a bit on the small side so you’ll need to replace the bag more often than other models.

PROS
  • excellent odor control
  • cute fabric sleeves
  • easy-to-use design
CONS
  • uses proprietary bags
  • you need to push the diaper down into the trap
  • small capacity

Baby Trend Diaper Champ Deluxe

If you only have a small space to spare for your baby’s diaper trash can, then the Baby Trend Champ Deluxe may just be what you’re looking for. Like most other models on our list, this one also uses regular kitchen bags which means buying refills are a breeze. But unlike all the other ones we’ve reviewed, the Baby Trend Champ Deluxe utilizes a unique mechanism. When you open the lid using the handle, there’s a cup in the center that catches the dirty diaper. When you flip the handle back, the lid closes and the cup drops the dirty diaper into the bag. This limits your exposure to the stinky smell of older diapers in the pail. The only time you’ll smell a stink is when you change the bag. However, it does have a small capacity. Also, that “cup” does get dirty from time to time, especially when the bag gets full so you’ll need to clean them more often. And the pail is on the short side so it may not be ideal for those who can’t bend over far.

PROS
  • good odor control
  • unique mechanism
  • uses regular garbage bags
CONS
  • small capacity
  • “cup” becomes dirty
  • short

The Diaper One N Done

If you’d rather not have any stinking diapers piling up inside a diaper trash can, then you might be interested in the Diaper One N Done. Looking at it, you’ll see that it’s a pail sitting on top of a roll of garbage bags. A hole at the bottom of the bucket lets you pull through the bags as you need them. As the name implies, you place one dirty diaper in the bag, tie it off, and then drop it in your regular garbage can or into the bin outside the house. For people who like taking their trash out daily, this is the perfect diaper pail for you. To make things even better, you can actually attach the pail to your dresser or changing table so you can throw the dirty diaper and all the wipes directly into the bag instead of having to set them aside to throw once you’re done changing the baby. However, the refills are quite expensive, especially if you’re only going to put one diaper into each bag. And this is not ideal for people who don’t throw their trash out every day.

PROS
  • affordable
  • can be attached to the changing table
  • easy to use
CONS
  • requires throwing out the trash daily
  • refills are expensive

Diaper Trash Can Buying Guide

When you become a new parent, there are a lot of things you’ll need to learn. One of the most important skills is the ability to change a dirty diaper. Definitely not something to take lightly. However, it’s quite easy to overlook one essential aspect of changing a diaper – where to throw the dirty one. Since you’ll be averaging about 10 diaper changes a day for newborns, you’re going to have to look for a disposal system that won’t be stinking up your new nursery or cause you to throw the trash outside every time you change your baby. Naturally, a regular trash can isn’t going to cut it. At the same time, finding the right one isn’t going to be easy. You’re going to need help sniffing out the best from all the rest and our guide should do the trick.

How well does it contain odors?

The main purpose of getting a diaper trash can is odor containment. You don’t want the smell of stinky diapers flowing through the house and making you gag. Any diaper pail that is ineffective in controlling odor is just as good as a regular garbage can. Now, diaper trash cans can use several techniques or mechanisms to prevent odor from leaking out. Some like the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail feature a self-sealing system that twists the bag closed to keep the smell trapped inside the bag. Others such as the Baby Trend Diaper Champ Deluxe will use a separate compartment for catching newly soiled diapers before dropping it inside the bag, preventing you from getting a whiff of the stench of piled poop and pee. You’ll also find that some diaper pails like the Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail have built-in deodorizers that will help absorb some of the smell.

What kind of bags does it use?

A lot of diaper pails allow you to use regular kitchen bags. The Ubbi Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail, for example, allows you to use 13 gallon kitchen bags or reusable cloth liners. This helps make things more convenient for parents since they don’t need to keep track of how many bags are left in the diaper pail all the time. However, some models like the Playtex Diaper Genie Expressions Diaper Pail only use proprietary bags which add to the lifetime cost of the diaper pail. Take note that proprietary bags are easier to use and, in some cases, better at holding the stink in compared to regular kitchen bags. You’ll just have to weigh which is more important – the budget or the ease of use/lack of smell.

How easy is it to use?

Juggling your baby and trying to dispose of a dirty diaper isn’t easy. It’s also something that you’ll need to do every single day until your kid becomes potty trained. So, you need to find a diaper trash can that requires minimal effort from you. Look for one that has a foot pedal for hands-free operation like the Playtex Diaper Genie Expressions Diaper Pail or a model that’s easy to operate one-handed. You can even get a model that can be directly attached to your dresser/changing table such as the The Diaper One N Done, enabling you to throw soiled diapers and wipes as soon as you’re done.

Another consideration for ease of use is changing bags. You’ll want to be able to change the liner or bag without much fuss. Some models like the Dekor Plus Diaper Pail use a continuous liner and feature a built-in childproof cutter so you can snip the bag off easily.

Is there a childproof lock?

We all know how curious little ones can be. Pets too. Some parents have horror stories of children dropping toys and clothes into the diaper pail and then having mom and dad dig around the soiled diapers just to get them back. If you want to prevent a mess on your hands, you’ll need to look for a pail that has an effect childproof lock like the Ubbi Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail.

How many diapers can the diaper trash can hold?

Capacity is an important consideration unless you don’t mind throwing bags out everyday. You already have enough on your plate, right? Of course, a diaper pail that’s too large isn’t ideal either. You can only go 2 to 3 days before changing a bag. The longer you let the dirty diapers stay there, the smellier they become. So, what you need is to find a diaper trash can that’s not too small and not too large that will fit in the space provided. Take note that the bigger your child gets, the bigger his diapers get. This means you’ll have less space to accommodate more diapers in the pail as your child grows. Make sure you take this into account when looking at size.

How much will this cost?

Diaper trash cans range from $15 to over $60. In general, the higher the cost, the more features the diaper pail will have that will deal with odor control as well as ease of use. However, budget-friendly options aren’t anything to sniff at either. You can generally find a good quality diaper pail for $30 or so. But that’s not the only cost you have to take into account. As we’ve already mentioned, you need to check what kind of bag or liner the model uses because the cost of refills do add up.