How to get rid of odors in your diaper pail

(Last Updated On: July 2, 2019)

Having a baby is a unique experience, one that you will remember for the rest of your life. Although parenthood is most often filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment, there are a few things which any new parent struggles with.

In this article we will talk about how you can get rid of odors in your diaper pail, giving you a comprehensive guide and tips that are guaranteed to make this chore a lot more bearable.

What Are Diaper Pails?

For those of you who haven’t heard of this product, diaper pails are designed with one purpose in mind: to help you have a place to put any used diapers, and to eliminate any potential odors. Considered one of the most convenient ways of disposing of diapers, the reality is that although diaper pails have a noble purpose, the smell is still pungent as ever.

And that’s because you have a combination of urine and feces. And they are stale and old. If you’re pulling a face right about now, I understand where you’re coming from. Nonetheless, with just a little bit of planning and use of tips, you can improve the overall smell of this product.

Also Read: Best Diaper Pail for Cloth Diapers

The Problem with Diaper Pails

Because diaper pails help trap smells in, when you need to empty them, all hell breaks loose. One way of reducing the smell is to have a smaller number of dirty diapers in the pail, because this way the smell won’t be as strong. Otherwise, you can always choose to empty the pail on a daily basis, and this will ultimately help with staleness. Moreover, when you throw out the pail bag, make sure to wrap it in another bag, and this way you will significantly reduce the overall odor.

Tips You Can Use Against Smelly Diaper Pails

Although what I’ve mentioned above can be considered a tip, they are more like common sense guidelines. Now I’m bringing out the big guns, the thing you can do in order to get rid of the nasty smell which could give some people nightmares:

1. Use Baking Soda

Only of the first things you can use is something most of us have in our kitchens. Baking soda is known for absorbing odors, and many companies use it in litter boxes. And that’s because this common product is able to soak in unpleasant smells, all while being highly affordable. I always suggest using this natural deodorizer at the bottom of the diaper pail, but remember to replace it every once in awhile.

Although I have heard of some parents using air fresheners around the diaper pail, I personally don’t believe this to be a solution. In some cases, the smell can intensify, and that’s because air fresheners are designed to mask smells, not to get rid of them. The combination of odors may also be over empowering, as you may have a sweet odor combined with the stench of diapers under it. Don’t know about you, but that’s not exactly the smell I’d root for.

2. Empty and Clean

Although you may be thinking that this is a “duh” moment, many parents are exhausted from work, parenthood, and/or other stressors. While I completely understand that this may be the situation you are in, in the long run, you will be doing yourself a favor by emptying the diaper pail as much as possible, all whilst giving it a wash every once in awhile. In order to do this, you can either use soap and water or water and bleach. Many parents also use ammonia, however, I would still suggest bleach since it kills germs and bacteria.

You can also try the chlorine bleach method! If this is the first time you’ve heard of this trick, it involves cleaning the pail with chlorine and then sealing it inside a bag. After that, you will need to leave it undisturbed for a couple of days, and this will help get rid of any bad smells.

3. Throw Away Poopy Diapers

As much as I understand that you just want to be done with it, the diaper pail is usually smellier when feces are left inside there. It’s always better to clean out the mess into the toilet before throwing the dirty over night diaper.

4. Use Plastic Liners

It’s a no-brainer to understand why this may work. Considering that a plastic bag can ensure that the diaper doesn’t come in contact with the pail is a great way to guarantee that there will be no “accidents” or spills.

What to Do if The Situation Is Already Smelly

If this is the situation that you’re in right now, it’s obviously time to take some drastic measures!
As I’ve mentioned before, the chlorine bleach method may be a great way to reduce or entirely getting rid of any unpleasant smells. If you’ve already tried this technique and have felt that you need extra reinforcements, then I have a new idea: you can use some mild chemical cleaners, but nothing too harsh.

And I say that because some chemicals may erode the plastic, and so a great piece of advice is to always test it out of a small section, allowing you to see if it will damage the diaper pail or not. Additionally, make sure that any bleach or chemicals you use don’t come in contact with grass or plants, as it’s more than likely that this will kill your garden.

Another simple way to get rid of smells is to wash the diaper pail as frequently as possible. In addition to the cleanliness feeling, this will get rid of bacteria, keeping your home sanitary. Bacteria or mold spores can easily be released into the atmosphere, and this can affect breathing and other bodily functions. That’s why we always go back to the same solution: bleach. This is guaranteed to kill off microbes, however, please remember to always use gloves when handling chlorine!

Conclusion
To conclude, although changing diapers is a normal part of parenthood, diaper pails can become a nightmare. However, there are many tricks and tips which can help you overcome this daunting task, and I hope this article has given you some ideas on how to tackle it!

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