Best Diaper Pails in 2020: Ubbi vs Dekor vs Munchkin vs Playtex

Playtex Diaper Genie	Munchkin Diaper Pail	Dekor Classic
#1	#2	#3
Buy Playtex Diaper Genie Complete on Amazon	Buy Munchkin Step Diaper Pail on Amazon	Buy Dekor Classic on Amazon

Few things in your nursery are going to get as much use as a diaper pail in those first 3 years. You might think this is a straightforward purchase only to realize that there are a lot of options out there – and the stakes are higher than you can imagine (a smelly nursery can knock you out). What seemed like an open and closed decision can swiftly become overwhelming as you weigh all the pros and cons of the multitude of pails on the market. With diaper pails, the most important thing is odor control, because if that were not a factor we would all just by trash cans. Secondly, with any product it has to stand up to its own claims. With those standards in mind, I have researched and found the good and the bad from the contenders. I will be ranking four of the most widely recognizable brands and discussing their pros and cons.

Winner: Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Review

Coming in first is a diaper pail you are probably familiar with and have seen at countless baby showers. It has virtually become synonymous with the words diaper pail and with good reason.

Price:
Weight: 6.8 pounds
Footprint: 21.2 x 12.3 x 11.1 inches.

Pros

• Odor lock system.
• Air-tite clamp.
• Hands-free disposal.
• Carbon filter to stop odors that do try to get out.
• Front tilt bin (no need to move the pail, just pull out the bag and pop in the new one).

Cons

• It holds relatively few diapers in comparison to some of the other pails.
• It has a high lifetime cost because of the proprietary refills and such, or you could just rig it up to use regular bags. I am not saying you should. I am just saying you could.
• You must squeeze the diapers through the clamp which can be a bit of a hassle.

Buy Playtex Diaper Genie Complete on Amazon

Runner-Up: Munchkin Diaper Pail by Arm and Hammer Review

Coming in second, the Munchkin Diaper Pail actually is a great pail, but in fairness I am breaking down what is and is not so good about it. Putting your hands inside a diaper pail is always icky business and why the lid stays open is a mystery for the ages.

Price:
Weight: 3.9 pounds.
Footprint: 11 x 11.4 x 21.1 inches

Pros

• Replaceable baking soda cartridge for odor protection.
• Self-sealing system locks in odors.
• Lavender scent baking soda puck absorbs odors.
• Foot pedal for easy access.
• Child-proof Locks.
• Easy change bags, no tying or cutting needed.

Cons

• You can get your hands caught while putting diapers into it.
• Does not do as well as the top contender for odor control.
• You must manually close the lid.
• The pail slides around a bit when you push the foot pedal.
• You must squish the diapers through a hole which can be messy.
• Pricey.

Buy Munchkin Step Diaper Pail on Amazon

Bronze Medal: Dekor Classic Review

Coming in third is a diaper pail that many parents love and just as many loathe. One thing that kept coming up over and over was its construction which is something Dekor is proud of, but also something that a lot parents just cannot get behind. With latches that break or refuse to close there are some design flaws that need to be covered and kept it from coming in any higher in the rankings. It also did a poor job on odor control when compared to the top two contenders.

Price:
Weight: 6.8 pounds.
Footprint: 22.2 x 13.5 x 9.5 inches.

Pros

• Made out of ABS plastic which does not absorb odors. Yes, that’s what legos are made of as well.
• Child proof.
• Easy access side door.
• Odor control rubber seals.
• Reusable cartridge.
• Lifetime warranty.

Cons

• It does a poor job of keeping odors in, especially when compared with the two higher ranked pails in this review.
• The doors do not always latch leading to, you guessed it, odors leaking out.
• The construction feels flimsy and breakable, but it does have a great warranty.
• The door can bend easily.

Buy Dekor Classic on Amazon

Honorable Mention: Ubbi Review

Earning a spot for honorable mention is the Ubbi. It is the only one that is made of stainless steel, which I thought was a great selling point and seemed like it would make a big difference in odor protection. However, it did not seem to help keep the odors in even if it did seem to cut down on the odors absorbed by the pail itself. Customers often complain that the smell leaks out even when the lead is closed and it hits you in the face full-force when you open the lid unlike some of the other contenders. I loved that it is so sturdy, but even a great design has some flaws.

Price:
Weight: 7 pounds.
Footprint: 33.5 x 18.2 inches

Pros

• Uses standard kitchen bags.
• Made of stainless steel.
• Good lock to keep kids out.
• Good storage capacity.
• Can be used as a regular trash can after baby, albeit an expensive one.

Cons

• It does not have a foot pedal.
• The rubber gasket falls out.
• Plastic hinges break and cannot be replaced.
• Does not keep odors any better than a well-made trash can.
• While it does have a child-proof lock, the lid can be literally popped off by small children.
• The inside latch sticks out far enough that it snags the bags causing them to sometimes rip.
• Pricey.

Buy Ubbi on Amazon

In conclusion, the diaper pail that is best for you is the one you choose, but for our purposes the winner is the Playtex Diaper Genie. It is relatively inexpensive and does what it says it does. I did not go into the cost of refills much because my main focus was to see if the diaper pails did what they said they did. Of the four I looked at Diaper Genie consistently held up its promises and has a loyal consumer base to prove it. Is it the right one for you? You and your family can decide that, but for this review it will give you the most bang for your buck and it did what diaper pails are supposed to do, which is keep odors in.

Check out the Diaper Genie in action:

While we are on the topic of baby’s bottoms, check out our reviews of the top diaper rash cream options and wipeable foam changing pads.