by Hannah Walton aka The Cheapskate Mom

Do I Really Need To Buy A Diaper Genie ?:
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Buy Simple Diaper Pails

Skip Those New-Fangled Odor Control Gadgets
I remember , not too long ago at all – browsing the diaper pail options at the big box baby store and thinking – I didn't know a garbage pail for diapers could be so complicated… Although I hear they really work, was I really going to have to buy a diaper genie that required me to buy special bags and a weekly or monthly disk to change? Is that just how things are? I remembered a male co-worker of mine giving me some sage advice when I first found out I was expecting: he said, "all these diaper pails are a myth… what you really need to do is change the trash". Since he was a very logical guy, and an excellent restaurant manger, I listened up…I took to the web – and found some old fashioned advice for controlling diaper pail odors – and it's been working great. I asked for help on buying a simple garbage pail that lets me use regular old trash bags and it's been working great – and I'm excited to share with you what I've learned.

Control Diaper Pail Odor The Old Fashioned Way
Apparently, you don't need to buy the most expensive diaper pail in the store to live odor-free. There are some old-fashioned diaper pail smell remedies that really work – and for a fraction of the price. Taking out the trash on the regular, baking soda, washing the pail often, essential oils, and finding a new use for your plastic grocery bags all work together to control the diaper pail odor and the damage to your wallet.

Old-Fashioned Tips to Control The Diaper Pail Stank:
Taking Out The Trash:
Change your trash as often as possible. By not having stinky diapers sitting around in a pail, you don't really have to worry about controlling the way they smell. This is probably the best tip I've found – and we live by it.
Wash That Pail:
Wash that pail often for hygiene's sake and for controlling odors. Wear gloves when washing a diaper pail – and wash using soap and baking soda (a cheap but deodorizing, cleaning abrasive). Afterwords, spray down with a disinfectant like Lysol (I actually use cheap rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle… works like a charm).
Baking Soda:
Use natural deodorizer baking soda to control diaper pail odors. Cover the bottom layer of your pail with baking soda. Works great and you can use it later as a scrub when you're washing your pail. If your diaper pail has a place for an odor-controlling disk- you can make your own with old pantyhose or cheesecloth and baking soda…. simply fill the foot of your pantyhose with baking soda and tie it off. Easy, peasy, & ultra cheap: Yay!
Essential Oils:
Soak a cotton ball with a few drops of essential oil and tape it to the inside top of your diaper pail's lid. When I worked on a busy labor and delivery unit, I learned that lavender oil works best for controlling the smells of um… bodily odors.
Great smelling and strong – essential oils replace the smell of baby poop with the smell of a spa. Ommm……
Use up Old Plastic Grocery Bags:
Save your plastic bags from the grocery store – you could even ask friends and family to save some for you too. Every time you change a diaper – especially the poopy ones – put that old diaper in a grocery bag and tie it. It will really help to control those yucky dirty diaper smells.

Buy Simple Diaper Pails:

Since I talk a lot about how simple diaper pails are just as good – if not better – than the fancy shmancy diaper pails, here are some of my favorite and simple diaper pails for you to check out. They're available on Buy.com – and I love buy.com because of their lowest prices promise and free shipping offers. They also have a neat cash back points system!

Baby Trend Deluxe Diaper Champ – Blue
This is the diaper pail we use in The Cheapskate Mom house and we love it. It comes in blue or pink – it takes regular trash bags – and it works like a charm. No touching the yucky lid area because the arm swings the pail open and closed. HIGHLY recommended.

Mother Ease Diaper Pail
As much as I love our Diaper Champ, this pail looks better and is designed to keep odors out – I would have bought this one too. I lov the super natural look and it's great for both cloth diapers and disposable! Odours are eliminated by absorption through the carbon filter and are not artificially masked. This odour control system helps ensure diapers do not mold or create unwanted moisture within the pail. This diaper pail is both .ergonomically designed and is easy to seal, carry and empty.

Safety 1st Simple Step Diaper Pail

I like this diaper pail because it takes regular trash bags, has a simple foot pedal system so you don't have to touch the lid, it's simple and it's cheap.