The reason why some parents avoid buying diaper pails is due to the cost that they have to incur when buying refills. The majority of diaper pails are designed to use only the special refill bags that are made by their respective manufacturers. Luckily, it is possible to get a diaper pail that uses regular trash bags in the market today.
Best Diaper Pail That Uses Regular Trash Bags
In this article, we shall look at some of the diaper pails that use regular garbage or kitchen bags. If you get one of the pails we recommend here, you will not have to worry about the expensive refills anymore.
Our Pick
- SAVE MONEY – NO NEED TO BUY SPECIAL BAGS: No special bags, refills or inserts are required with the Ubbi diaper pail saving time and money unlike other pail on the market
- MOST AWARD WINNING DIAPER PAIL: The Ubbi diaper pail won NINE awards proving parents and experts approval
- STEEL LOCKS IN ODOR: Unlike plastic, steel is not porous and keeps the smell shielded inside
- NO SPECIAL MECHANISM – SIMPLICITY WORKS BEST: Ready right out of the box, simple to use and not prone to breakage
- CHILDPROOF LOCK: Keeps little hands from finding their way inside the Ubbi diaper pail
Runner-up
- Diaper duty just got easier! Sleek and streamlined, our space-saving diaper pail features an odor-resistant steel bin and a dual air-lock disposal system that traps in smells so your nursery stays fresh
- The tall and slim design stands flat against the wall or next to your changing station and fits standard kitchen trash bags—no special bags needed
- The built-in storage compartment keeps changing essentials within easy reach and also fits our Nursery Style Wipes Holder (sold separately)
- Steel disposal bin resists odors and dual air-lock system to trap in smells
- Size (inches): 14w x 8.7d x 28h; (cm): 35.5w x 22d x 71h
Ubbi Odor-Locking Diaper Pail
Ubbi diaper pail is one of the few steel pails I have come across since most diaper pails are made of plastic. Steel gives it a sleek and modern look and also plays a significant role in locking in odor. Over time, plastics tend to allow the smell to pass through since they are porous while stainless steel does not. So this gives Ubbi an absolute advantage over plastic diaper pails. Having a steel diaper pail also means that there are flimsy parts that break; thus, it lasts longer than plastic pails.
Probably the main reason why most people choose the Ubbi diaper pail is the fact that you do not need to purchase proprietary refills. This gives it an advantage over all the other diaper pails. However, although it is more expensive than the majority of other diaper genies, it saves you much more in the long run.
The amount it takes to purchase the other cheap genies along with some refills could be equal to the initial purchase amount of the Ubbi pail. But once you purchase the Ubbi pail, that’s it. All you need to buy are regular trash can bags, which are very affordable. You can also use cloth liners, which can be reused over and over again.
For other diaper pails, you have to keep buying the refills, so it costs you much more over a few years of ownership.
This diaper pail is rated high in its ability to control odor. As we mentioned earlier, steel keeps the odor contained inside the pail since it is not porous. Ubbi pail also has rubber seals on the rim of the lid and around the opening where diapers are put through. The seals are specially designed to ensure that the odor is locked in tightly when the lid is closed.
In addition, this product has a sliding door on the lid that allows you to open the lid slightly enough for a diaper to pass through. This helps to minimize air disruption when the lid is opened; thereby, keeping the odor inside. This is not to say that you will not be hit by some odor when you open the lid. Some odor escapes when the lid is opened but the sliding mechanism prevents it from spreading quickly since you do not have to open the entire lid.
Are you looking for a diaper pail that has a color that will blend well with the rest of the décor in your baby’s nursery? The Ubbi diaper pail offers you a variety of 14 colors to choose from. You can choose to have bold colors like orange, baby blue, and hot pink or neutral ones like white and gray depending on the theme of your house. If you get a color that blends well with your décor, the diaper pail will look super sleek and people will hardly notice that it is a diaper pail.
Furthermore, some parents are reluctant to buy a diaper pail because they worry about the potential health risks to their children. A baby’s future is completely open once they begin crawling and walking. Because of this, the Ubbi diaper pail incorporates a lock that prevents it from being opened by a child. This safeguard prevents curious toddler fingers from reaching into the trash can. And neither your dog nor your cat will be able to mess with the diapers.
Additionally, this diaper pail can hold up to 55 newborn diapers before you need to empty them. However, as the baby gets older and the diaper size also increases, the number of diapers that can fit into this pail is about 20. Still, that is quite an amount of diapers since you will not need to empty the diapers every day. How many refills would you need to buy to accommodate all these diapers?
Also, this diaper pail does not have complicated parts, so it is really easy to use. When it comes to cleaning, the Ubbi manufacturers discourage the use of any form of liquid to clean the pail due to the growth of mold and rust. Simply wipe using a dry cloth and let it air out. If you use any form of liquid to clean the pail, it may trap moisture over time and start to really stink.
Pros
- It is made of high-quality steel
- Gets rid of stinky diaper smell around the house
- It has a safety lock feature to keep your baby’s tiny hands away
- This pail has a large capacity
- Uses any standard-sized garbage bag rather than refills
Cons
- The cost of this diaper pail may be higher than the rest but the fact that it does not require special refills makes it worthwhile.
Skip Hop Diaper Pail
This is a new yet very unique diaper pail in the market.
The pail is designed to completely trap in odors through a two-chamber system. When you open the lid, you place the diaper in the first chamber, which drops into the second chamber after you close the lid.
In addition, it has a dual airlock system, which ensures the smell from soiled diapers is completely locked in leaving your bedroom or nursery smelling fresh.
Moreover, this pail is made of odor-resistant stainless steel that makes it durable and long-lasting.
If you live in a small apartment or house, this pail’s tall and slim design makes it ideal for small spaces.
Most importantly, it is designed to fit the standard kitchen bags so you do not need to purchase any special refill bags.
Another bonus feature that should drive you to purchase this product is the built-in storage compartment. This provides a place for you to keep all the diaper changing essentials such as wipes, diapers, and diaper rash cream.
Pros
- Made of stainless steel; hence durable and long-lasting
- It has two chambers and a dual-odor locking mechanism
- The built-in storage compartments offer convenience when changing the baby
- Uses standard kitchen bags
- It has a child-lock
Cons
- The price is a bit on the higher side
Bubula Steel Diaper Pail
This is also another diaper pail that is made of steel. Thus, like the Ubbi diaper pail, Bubula is good at locking in bad odor.
The steel makes it very strong so its parts do not break easily. Moreover, unless it is cleaned using a liquid and not dried thoroughly, it does not rust.
This pail has a large capacity in that it can hold 50% more diapers than most brands.
Moreover, it has a safety lock to prevent children from opening the pail. It is not only a health risk but also children can hurt their fingers when opening and closing the pail.
Most importantly, this is also one of the good diaper pails that use regular trash bags. It can fit a 13-gallon trash bag or reusable liners for cloth diapers. Also, it is multipurpose in that it can be converted into a trash can when your baby is no longer in diapers.
The lid of the Bubula diaper pail is air-tight, so it locks in odor very well. It has strong and flexible rubber seals around the lid, which helps in making it air-tight. Thus, preventing odor from leaking out. In addition, it has an advanced design that prevents odor from escaping during diaper disposal.
Bubula diaper pail comes in a variety of colors. This helps you to choose a color that matches the décor of the nursery.
Pros
- Made of high-quality steel that makes it long-lasting
- Wide variety of colors
- Fits a 13-gallon trash bag
- Great at odor control
- It has a large capacity to hold more diapers
Cons
- It is a bit pricey
Creative Baby Tidy diaper pail
Unlike the first two diaper pails, this pail is made of plastic. This is probably one of the reasons why it is cheaper compared to the Ubbi and Bubula diaper pails.
However, plastic is porous and tends to absorb odor from the diapers and allow some to leak out. If you clean the pail on a regular basis using baking soda or Lysol and ensure that it is completely dry, you will not suffer from a stink pail. Deodorizers for diaper pails also work great at preventing bad odor.
The odor lock mechanism on this pail is very unique. When you flip the handle, the lid opens and there is a small hole where you put the dirty diaper. The lid closes when you flip the handle back and the diaper drops into the pail.
This diaper pail can accommodate up to 30 soiled newborn diapers. This is quite a large number given that it is small and meant for small spaces like apartments. Thus, you can empty it after 2 to 3 days rather than on a daily basis.
Most importantly, you can use trash bags with this diaper pail rather than the special refills. The 13-gallon garbage bags do fit perfectly.
Pros
- Less expensive compared to Ubbi and Bubula diaper pails
- Locks in diaper odors
- It has a large capacity
- Perfectly fits the 13-gallon garbage bags
- Can be operated with one hand
- It can be used with any bag including a cloth diaper liner bag
Cons
- Diapers may get stuck in the flip-flop mechanism if the pail is too full
AKORD Slim diaper disposal system
Although this diaper pail is designed for adult diapers, it works great for baby diapers as well.
It comes with a continuous refill bag but once used up, you do not have to purchase another one. The 13-gallon trash bags work great with this pail.
It has a slim fit, which makes it perfect for small rooms or bathrooms.
Its odor locking mechanism is also quite unique in that it has a two-door system. So once you drop in a diaper through the lid, they drop into the pail and the two doors shut tightly thereby locking in the bad smell immediately.
This diaper pail is multi-purpose as well. Some users found it useful for the disposal of pet-related refuse such as cat litter, dog poop, and uneaten cat food among other uses.
Pros
- Locks odor perfectly
- Multipurpose
- It can use either refills or trash can bags
- Easy to use
- Simple design
Cons
- Not very large
Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail
Safety 1st diaper pail is perfect for small spaces thanks to its compact design. Despite being compact, you will be amazed by the many unique features it has.
To start with, this diaper pail is made of high-quality closed-cell plastic known as polypropylene. As we mentioned earlier, plastic tends to absorb odor over time, but closed-cell plastic does not absorb any odor. For this reason, it is more suitable than a regular trash can.
In addition, this pail is also excellent at locking in odor from soiled diapers since it comes with a deodorizer disc. You can also fill a deodorizer cup with baking soda once the disc is exhausted.
Most importantly, this diaper pail is one of the few that do not require customized liners. Any regular garbage bags work perfectly.
Pros
- Work great with cloth diapers with diaper liners
- It is large enough to hold 8 to 13-gallon kitchen trash bags
- Made of high-quality long-lasting plastic
- It is easy to operate
- Affordable price
- Great for odor control
Cons
- Lacks a foot pedal
Factors to consider when choosing a diaper pail that uses regular trash bags
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Foot pedal
Most diaper pails have a foot pedal. It is one of the most important features that shoppers consider when choosing a diaper pail.
This is because a foot pedal makes the pail hands-free. This means that you can be holding a baby on one hand and a diaper on the other and simply step on the foot pedal to open the lid and drop the diaper into the pail; completely hands-free.
In case there is no foot pedal, the pail should be easy to operate even with one hand.
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Pinching mechanism
There are some pails that have a pinching mechanism to prevent odor from leaking out.
The Munchkin Step by Arm and Hammer, for instance, twists the top of the refill bag once you squish the diaper through, which locks the smell completely in.
Some diaper pails like the Ubbi, Bubula, and Creative baby tidy pails lack the pinching mechanism but they have a unique odor control mechanism. The Ubbi diaper pail, for instance, has a sliding door that minimizes the smell from leaking out. The Bubula pail has strong and flexible rubber seals around the lid that ensure the lid is airtight so no smell escapes from inside.
Conclusion
The majority of parents feel that a diaper pail is not necessary because of the expenses associated with the refills. How many refills do you think you will have to buy from the day you come home from the hospital with your baby until he or she is old enough not to be in diapers anymore? And how much of your hard-earned money will you spend on just refills only?
If you are looking for a diaper pail that uses regular trash bags, you can choose from the three reviewed above; Ubbi, Bubula, or Creative Baby Tidy. Many people prefer the Ubbi diaper pail probably due to the fact that it is made of steel and they do not need to buy any special bags to use. Although it is a bit pricey, it is very durable so it can be used for subsequent babies.
Resources:
- https://www.expresskeeper.com/2021/02/19/comprehensive-study-of-diaper-pails-market-size-growth-drivers-distributor-analysis-industry-trends-and-forecast-to-2026/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337211181_Environmental_Pollution-Perceptions_and_Views_on_usage_and_Disposal_of_Diapers_A_Case_Study_of_Gwanda_Urban
Last update on 2023-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Thank you very much! You have been a great help by posting this list. You have saved me hours of research. I have already picked my favorite one on the list – the Skip Hop diaper pail. The slim design is excellent, and I also love the built-in storage compartment.
Thank you very much! You have been a great help by posting this list. You have saved me hours of research. I have already picked my favorite one on the list – the Skip Hop diaper pail. The slim design is excellent, and I also love the built-in storage compartment.