Diaper Pail Cleaning Guide: How to Eliminate Odors

A diaper pail can be a godsend to contain that nasty smell, but even if you do line the pail, you have to maintain it.

You must clean your diaper pail from time to time to make sure that there is no health hazard for you and your baby. With time, diaper pails can get stinky quickly if left unattended, which is ironic considering the entire point of a diaper pail is to keep the stench away. Read on as we list ways in which you can clean your diaper pail in the most efficient way possible.

How to Clean a Diaper Pail

You have been delaying cleaning the diaper pail long enough. It’s time to get into action!

Step 1: Invest in a pair of rubber gloves because things are going to get dirty.

Step 2: Open your diaper pail to remove any dirty diapers. Make sure to properly dispose of the dirty diapers outside of your house.

Step 3: if your diaper pail has the bag cartridge on the top, remove it.

Step 4: Before you clean the diaper pail, we will suggest taking the pail either outside your home or to your bathtub.

Step 5: Take a powerful garden hose or showerhead to rinse your diaper pail completely. Make sure that the exterior of the pail, as well as your interior, is thoroughly cleaned to remove any stuck in debris or dirt.

Step 6: Squirt any liquid dish soap or similar detergent soap on your hand. Rub the product over the exterior and interior of your diaper pail.

Step 7: It is quite common for most of the diaper pails to get incredibly stinky due to bacteria or mold. You will have to neutralize the bad odor which can be done with the help of baking soda.

Sprinkle some baking soda all over the interior of your diaper pail. Be generous with it to make sure that it is effective enough to get the job done.

Step 8: Let the diaper pail sit for about 5 to 10 minutes. The idea here is to make sure that the soap and baking soda start working their magic.

Step 9: Take an old, clean washcloth or sponge to scrub the diaper pail completely. remember to pay special attention to make sure that the inside of the diaper pail is effectively cleaned.

Step 10: After giving the diaper pail a thorough scrub, rinse the pail with water to make sure that the inside and outside doesn’t have any soap or soda on it.

Step 11: To prevent any mold and mildew from forming in your diaper pail, you have to spray the inside with a special concoction.

To make this concoction, create a mixture using 2 tablespoons of borax and 2 cups of warm water. Stir the mixture for about a minute or so until the borax is completely dissolved in water. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 20 to 40 drops of tea tree oil to this mixture. Transfer this mixture to a spray bottle.

After you have sprayed this mixture inside your diaper pail, take a cleaning rag to rub the concoction in using a circular motion.

Step 12: Respray the inside of the diaper pail with the borax, vinegar, and tea tree oil mixture.

Step 13: Let the inside of the pail air dry for as long as possible. If you need to use the diaper pail, you can ride by using a towel as well. But, we will suggest to let the borax, vinegar, and tea tree oil completely soak to eliminate all bad odors.

Cleaning a Cloth Diaper Pail

There are a lot of people who prefer to use cloth diapers because it’s better for the environment and an oh-so-gentle and soft when it comes in contact with your baby’s skin.

The cleaning process is more or less similar to cleaning the typical diaper pail but, there are a few key differences. Here’s how you clean a cloth diaper pail.

Step 1: Take the cloth diaper pail’s liner and wash it with your cloth diapers like you usually would.

Step 2: Use a garden hose or a showerhead to spray water on the interior and exterior of the diaper pail.

Step 3: Make sure that there’s some water left at the bottom of the pail while you clean it.

Step 4: Rub some liquid detergent on the interior and exterior of the pail and follow with the spraying of borax, vinegar, and tea tree oil concoction just like you did above.

Resources— Mom Loves BestMaternity Glow

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