Diaper Pails: Our Top 5 Best Choices for Sanitary Diaper Disposal

Perhaps the number one issue to consider when choosing between are five options is how each of the pails has been constructed, and this has to do in large part due to the natural difference between plastic and steel.

Plastic of any sort is often porous on a microscopic level, which means it can absorb many of the unpleasant odors from dirty diapers over time. Many pails try to counteract this with baking soda or activated carbon packs, but there will often still be a need to sanitize or clean the inside of the pail over time. This is why many prefer steel pails over plastic ones.

Steel pails are easier to clean and don’t retain nearly as much of the smell. There are also, though, often more expensive and harder to find. Some pails, like the Dekor Plus, utilize special plastics like ABS Plastic that can greatly reduce the amount of smell plastic holds. Likewise, the proprietary liners in most pails are designed to hold in smells much better than standard bags. The difference for some may be negligible, but it is worth noting that a difference between plastic and steel pails exists.

One of the most important advantages of a diaper pail is the sealing method it offers. Most diaper pails work with a two-seal system, the idea being that if the odor escapes the first compartment it will be trapped in the second. Other pails offer simple open-and-close doors which offer airtight seals when shut or twisting methods to cut off the liner from the rest of the room’s air supply.

These sealing methods are often designed with proprietary bags in mind, which is why many of our picks either work best or work only with their respective proprietary bag liners. These lengthy liners are designed to be used as needed: all you need to do is cut off enough to hold the diapers and re-tie the bottom for the next use.

However, propriety bags mean that there’s the issue of recurring costs when it comes to diaper pails. Some families prefer to use their own liners so they don’t have to worry about another purchase. For a more detailed comparison between the benefits and issues with proprietary bags versus standard offerings, we recommend you consider the following pros and cons table:

The issue of capacity and safety is another important aspects of a diaper pail. Capacity can be a little difficult to find for some of our pails because some manufacturers often prefer to tout the number of diapers their liners can hold rather than the pails themselves. While some bins can only hold a few diapers at a time, their liners may offer much more for the money than you may have expected. Since most proprietary liners save on plastic, there’s no more or less waste created when emptying out a smaller bin versus a larger bin.

That’s precisely why we chose to list the capacity of the bin and the capacity of the proprietary liners as two separate listings in our overview. That being said, no parent wants to empty out bins every day, and a larger diaper pail does mean fewer trips to the garbage can. We recommend finding a solid balance between the two to ensure you get the best of both worlds.

On the issue of child safety, many of our options come with child safety locks. Most diaper pail manufacturers know that curious children can learn how to open pails, bins, and other containers but that they probably shouldn’t. A child-proof lock can help you ensure babies or toddlers don’t end up where they don’t belong.

• Can I use cloth diapers/cloth bags with these diaper pails?

• Many of these diaper pails are either cloth compatible or otherwise can be retrofitted to use cloth diaper bags. You may, for example, be able to either purchase a cloth bag specifically for your diaper pail, as offered by the Dekor Plus pail on our list, or pick a pail such as the Ubbi which can be fitted with non-proprietary liners and bags. Should your pail not be compatible, you can always remember to empty out the pail and place the diapers in the laundry room, not the trash can.

• How do I clean my diaper pail?

• Much like with your trash can, your diaper pail may need to be cleaned up due to unintentional messes or due to odors. For different diaper pails, you may want to try different methods of cleaning. First, disassemble your pail as best as you can and try to separate the bin itself from any sealing elements that are on the top of the pail. Next, rinse out the bin if necessary and use wet wipes to sanitize the inside of the bin. Finally, take wet wipes to the pail components and ensure that everything is clean and safe for use around infants. Make sure to use proper cleaning products so that younger noses and bodies aren’t affected. You may also want to consult your owner’s manual for more specific cleaning instructions concerning your diaper pail pick.

• How often will I have to replace proprietary liners?

• Most proprietary liners are designed with a continuous ring design, meaning that you’ll be pulling the bags down, cutting off however much you need for disposal, and tying off the bottom instead of replacing the liner entirely. How long it will be before you replace your proprietary liner depends on the type of liner as well as the size of the diapers that fill your pail. For example, it’s often stated that a newborn will go through about ten diapers a day, but newborn diapers will also be smaller than the bigger sizes as your baby grows. Most liners promise upwards of several hundred diapers tossed away with just one liner, but we recommend you check the table for specifics.