Ubbi Steel | Playtex Diaper Genie | Munchkin Step |
Winner | Runner-Up | Third Place |
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Sometimes the things we buy for our babies are cute, and other times they’re just plain necessary. When it comes to choosing the best diaper pails for our babies, there is no need to get overly fancy or to have it do anything more than it needs to do.
- Hide odor
- Open easily
- Easily remove and replace bags
That’s it! The best diaper pails don’t have a lot of moving parts, or sounds that lull baby to sleep. They don’t project stars on the nursery ceiling, or mimic the sound of Mommy’s heartbeat.
The less you notice your diaper pail, the better job it’s doing. Below, we rank the most popular diaper pails on the market, and give you our pick for the best of the bunch.
Winner: Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail Review
The biggest difference between the Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail and others in this test is the material. Not only does Ubbi claim that their steel design will not absorb odors over time like plastic will, but the diaper pail itself is easy to clean. We also love the fact that you don’t have to use dedicated bags, which can add costs over time. The rubber seal around the sliding lid keeps odors out, and the construction feels very good.
- Stainless steel material won’t stink over time
- Rubber seal to keep smells out
- Doesn’t require dedicated, costly bags
- Price:
Runner-Up: Playtex Diaper Genie Review
Perhaps the gold standard for diaper pails gets the silver medal in our testing. The Playtex Diaper Genie has a foot-controlled lid that doesn’t require a third arm when you are getting rid of baby’s diaper. This unit is also among the tallest in the market, making it easy for you to throw away diapers without having to constantly bend over to do so. From our testing, smells we very minimal, and changing the bags was very simple.
- Great odor protection
- Air-tite clamp
- Relatively inexpensive compared to competitors
- Price:
Enjoying this review? Check out our baby bottle comparison.
Third Place: Munchkin Step Diaper Pail Review
The Munchkin Step Diaper Pail looks a lot like the Diaper Genie, but it’s biggest claim that sets it apart is the baking soda cartridge that provides added freshness. The Munchkin makes changing the bags a breeze, and it uses a foot pedal for opening and closing the lids. In the world of diaper pails, hands-free is the way to be! The biggest drawback we noticed was that you had to put your hand deep into the unit to dispose of the diapers, so many sure everything is neat and tidy each use so you don’t surprise yourself the next time!
- Baking soda cartridge provides excellent odor protection
- Easy to change bags and odor control cartridges
- Have to put really force those diapers down
- Price:
Honorable Mention: Dekor Classic Hands-Free Diaper Pail Review
Despite coming in fourth place in our testing, a lot of moms and dads really swear by this product, and for good reason. The Dekor is the most inexpensive of the bunch, and provides similar odor control to the other products in this category. As the product name suggests, this is a hands free unit that uses a simple spring loaded trap door to allow diapers in, and quickly sealing them in from the rest of the room. You can fit a good amount of diapers in this unit, but changing the bags is a bit of a chore. Still, the Dekor comes in three sizes, making it easy to choose which is right for you.
- Inexpensive and effective
- Multiple sizes to choose from
- Difficult to change bags
- Price:
So no matter which diaper pail you choose, the Dekor, Munchkin, Playtex and Ubbi each provides a solid amount of odor control and each will beat anything your mom used when you were a baby! Either way, the best diaper pail ultimately comes down to what works best for you.
I wish I found this article before I made my first purchase! I was so impressed with the buzz around Dekor, but after a few months I realized I had made a huge mistake. Smelly as all get out and the bags were impossible! I’ve been cautious to buy another one fearing the same outcome, but learning about the Stainless Steel Ubbi has me convinced to go for it.