We all know how messy diapers can be. Most of the time, used diapers stink. But we can't avoid them. Babies need to use them so their deposits will not come in contact with their clothes, your furniture, or yourself. After blowouts, you need to dispose of the diapers.
The best container for these dirty ones is a diaper pail. It can contain the odor better than a regular trash can or trash bin.
Here's the thing. These diaper pails are not bottomless. You will need to empty them. Also, to keep them effective and not stinky, you will need to clean them. You will learn to do that here.
Here's how to clean a diaper pail.
Preparation: Before You Start Cleaning Your Diaper Pail
Gathering your cleaning materials before you start will help a lot.
Imagine if you did not. You may need something, but it's inaccessible from where you are cleaning the diaper pail. So, you'd need to wipe yourself dry because you need to enter your house or a different room to fetch it. That wastes your time, and when you have a baby to take care of, you know how extremely valuable time is.
That’s why we recommend gathering everything you need before starting. And what do you need to clean a diaper pail? Here's our list:
- Your cleaning solution
- A spray bottle
- Microfiber cloth/Rags/Paper Towels/Wipes
- Cleaning sponge
- Scented trash bags or diaper bag liners
- Disposable or rubber gloves
What Cleaning Solution to Use?
You have different options for cleaning solutions. You can choose from the commercial ones or create your own using items like:
Baking soda
You can combine baking soda with dishwashing liquid. This creates a cleaning solution that can keep up with commercial ones. It is excellent at removing odors. How can a common item achieve that? By acting as a base, baking soda neutralizes the odor-causing, acidic compounds.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are another one of those things that people use to freshen up their homes. Just like baking soda, you can also use these to clean your diaper pail. You just need to mix them with a soap base.
Please do not skip this step. Using essential oils as is or mixed with water will not work.
The Steps to Take When Cleaning a Diaper Pail
Now here's what you need to do to deep clean your diaper pail. We recommend doing this monthly. It helps prevent an odor buildup and also makes the diaper pail easier to clean.
Step 1. Empty the Diaper Pail
You can't clean the pail while it still has some soiled diapers in it. But before you start, put on your rubber or disposable gloves. You don’t want to touch things that may already be housing lots of bacteria.
Next, empty the diaper pail. Pull out the liner containing the bag, tie it, and throw it away.
Step 2. Move the Diaper Pail
Moving to a location convenient for cleaning is important. You should have an easy way to access running water. That said, your garden or yard where your hose is or your bathroom are prime locations.
Step 3. Initial Rinse
Using the hose or a showerhead, rinse the diaper pail. Ensure to wash every part of it. That includes the inside, outside, underside, the lid, under the lid, and the rim or opening. This step prepares your diaper pail for deep cleaning.
Step 4. Deep Cleaning
Here's a quick reminder before starting the deep-cleaning process. You need sponges, rags, or a microfiber cloth dedicated to diaper cleaning. Avoid using them for anything else afterward. It's a lot better to dispose of them after use.
Follow these steps for deep cleaning:
- Spray your diaper pail with your chosen cleaning solution.
- Let it sit for a few minutes to let the solution penetrate the surface.
- Scrub it and cover everything to destroy the odor-causing bacteria hiding in the nooks and crannies.
Step 5. Rinse and Dry
Rinse the diaper pail after deep cleaning. Make sure to wash off the solution along with the dirt and nasty stuff that was in your diaper pail. After that, leave the diaper pail upside down to let the interior air dry. Leave it like that for as long as possible.
Removing Lingering Odor from a Clean Diaper Pail
Sometimes, you may notice that your diaper pail still smells even when it's empty, and you have just cleaned it. If it's like that, then the odor has probably already stuck.
Fortunately, it's not a hopeless cause. There are some things you can do to get rid of that foul smell. Pair it with practices that prevent odor buildup, and you're set to control your diaper pail's odor.
Find what you can do below:
Odor Elimination
Here are the most effective methods for removing stubborn smells:
Use the Power of Sunlight
Let direct sunlight hit your diaper pail. It can help get rid of any odor. The UV rays can penetrate into the surface and destroy odor-causing bacteria.
Additionally, the sun's heat causes evaporation, which will prevent your diaper pail from being moist. That is important because dampness helps bacteria and mold thrive.
Use a Vinegar Soak
If your cleaning solution worked but did not fully remove the odor, you can turn to a vinegar soak. Vinegar has acetic acid, which targets and breaks odor-causing molecules. People love this solution since it is cheap and chemical-free.
Smell Prevention
You can keep your diaper pail from smelling funky by adding any of the following to the bottom of the pail:
Salt
Salt can absorb moisture and inhibit bacterial growth, which helps prevent odor buildup. That said, consider putting 1/2 cup of salt at the bottom of your empty diaper pail.
Eucalyptus Balls
Eucalyptus has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which help prevent odor. Create some eucalyptus balls by soaking cotton balls in eucalyptus oil.
Diaper Pail Odor Absorbers
These are ready-made odor absorbers made specifically for diaper pails. They typically come in the form of odor-absorbing granules, baking soda discs, or activated charcoal/carbon filters.
Before Throwing Diapers
Do not immediately throw used diapers inside diaper pails. That increases the chances of it developing a funky odor. It is a smart move to dump solid waste in the toilet first. Rinse the diaper after that, and roll it into a ball. Only then should you throw the used diaper in the diaper pail.
Why the Momcozy Diaper Pail with Triple-Seal System Is a Smart Choice
The Momcozy Diaper Pail with Patented Triple-Seal Odor Control is a diaper pail that prevents bad odors from leaking out. Its patented triple-seal design ensures that funky smell stays locked in.
Triple-Seal System
This diaper pail features a patented triple-seal system with a rotating lid design. These help lock odors in when the pail is closed, when it is briefly opened when you're disposing of a used diaper, and when you're taking the bag.
- The rotating lid prevents air and bad smells from escaping when you're adding another used diaper to the pile.
- This diaper pail has a childproof lock that prevents kids from opening it.
- The patented clamp design allows you to automatically seal bags with a single pull. This messless method is so quick that bad smells don't get a chance to escape.
Odor Control
For your convenience, each Momcozy Diaper pail comes with 1 roll of trash bags. It will be a while before you need to buy a new batch. On top of that, it comes with a free odor absorber. It ensures the diaper pail will not stink after your first batch of used diapers. It lasts for a month, giving you time to research and find a good odor absorber to use.
Conclusion
That is how you clean a diaper pail. You have to use a cleaning solution to remove the smell. The ones that remove bacteria instead of masking the odors are the best ones to use. You can make these using essential oils or baking soda, and some soap.
Put odor absorbers in the pail after cleaning it. This will give you an extra layer of defense against funky odors. An odor-sealing diaper pail will make this twice as effective. The Momcozy Diaper Pail with Patented Triple-Seal design will keep the smell inside when it's closed, opened, and when you're taking the bag out.
