Using cloth diapers doesn’t have to be stinky business. Whether you use cloth or disposables you have to do some stink management at some point.
Here are 5 tips to minimize diaper pail smell.
1. Wash regularly. This is a pretty basic one. You can do all the other things but if you leave a poopy diaper in your pail or wet bag for 2 weeks, it will probably smell. Not much we can do about that. You should try to empty your diaper pail every 2 to 3 days. This will help in two ways. The diapers will not be there long enough to get very smelly but also, you will have smaller loads. Smaller loads will ensure your diapers come out nice and clean. If your loads are too full there is not enough water or agitation to get them clean enough. Of course you need a laundry detergent that is safe for your cloth diapers to avoid build-up but that is a whole other topic.
2. Remove all solids from the diaper. This applies to disposable diapers as well. Make sure to dump out all fecal matter from your diapers into the toilet. Just shake the diaper over the toilet to remove any solid pieces. If you have sticky poop then you may have to be a little creative and use something to scrape it off. Toilet paper or I have heard of people using a spatula for this purpose. You can also invest in a diaper sprayer which attaches to your toilet and simply spray off the diaper with the sprayer.
3. Keep your diaper pail and pail liner clean. Using a durable pail liner makes this easy. It should be thick enough so that any wet diapers don’t seep through and durable enough to endure frequent laundering. I would suggest 2 per diaper pail so that you have one to use when one is in the wash. Wash the pail liner every time you empty it. Simply throw it in with your diapers. Then simply wipe it down your diaper pail with a wet cloth. You can use a vinegar and water mixture to deodorize it as well. You can then put a new pail liner and you’re ready to go. By doing this with each wash, your pail will never get dirty or stinky and it will only take a minute each time.
4. Add a deodorizer. This is optional as the first three points we mentioned are the most important. However, a little deodorizing can definitely make a difference. Here, you have many options and they are entirely about personal preference. There are many products available and also some do-it-yourself solutions as well.
Do-it-Yourself:
You can make your own powdered freshener by mixing a cup of baking soda with a drop or 2 of your favorite essential oil. Lavender and tea tree oil are popular options. Be very conservative with the essential oils, a drop goes a long way. Mix that together and you can sprinkle a little bit in your diaper pail as needed.
You can also simply take a piece of flannel and add a drop or 2 of essential oil and leave the that in your diaper pail or affix it to the lid.
Pre-made options:
There are powdered fresheners such as Fluff dust by knickernappies. It is a great shake container too so you can always re-use the container if you decide you make your own.
Another option is a deodorizer such as Pail pals which is nicely scented with essential oils and will last you a few weeks. This one is nice just to keep in your diaper bag. It will also fit in the slot of some of your diaper pails.
5. There are also diaper pails which have charcoal deodorizers that will absorb odors from the pail. These are normally the larger DSQ diaper pails but you could also simply attach (tape) the deodorizer to the lid or place it at the bottom of your diaper pail. There are environmentally friendly charcoal alternatives as well such as the bamboo charcoal.
Sounds simple enough, right? That’s because it is.
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