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14 Diaper Pail Deodorizer Ideas That Are Totally Fresh

A diaper genie sounds like a great idea. They are short, compact, and can easily fit plenty of diapers in them. The deodorized liners should help when your diaper genie smells.

That’s what I thought when the littlest was welcomed into the household. Then, we noticed that it still smelled. When your diaper genie smells, it doesn’t take long to stink up the entire room, or house if you live in an apartment like we used to.

These diaper pail deodorizer ideas will make sure that your home smells fresh all the time. 

1. Add A Deodorizing Agent To The Bottom Of The Pail

If you already know that your diaper genie smells, it is only going to smell worse in the coming days. You’ll need to add a deodorizing agent to the bottom of the pail every time you change the bag.

You can also put some in the bottom of the bag instead. The following will all work wonderfully!

  • Coffee grounds
  • Water and vinegar spray
  • Lysol (especially floral or lemon-scented Lysol)
  • Baking soda
  • Drier Sheets
  • Lemon peels
  • Kitty litter (the kind that is sold for multiple cats and designed to lock in odors. I prefer the Fresh Step with Glade crystals. It worked wonders when we had four kittens using one litterbox!)

2. Place It In The Sunlight For A Natural Diaper Pail Deodorizer

High temperatures are wonderful for killing bacteria and mold. Bacteria and mold are also known for causing horrible odors. If you place your diaper pail under direct sunlight, it will slowly help when your diaper genie smells.

Keep in mind that this is not going to be an instant solution. Instead, it’s a longer-term diaper pail deodorizer solution. 

3. Throw Out Poopy Diapers Immediately

diaper genie smells

Instead of tossing poopy diapers in the diaper pail, put them in a grocery bag, and toss them outside in the trashcan. This will instantly eliminate the diaper genie smells from your house.

Poopy diapers are the main reason why you wind up with that smell in your house. Once those are gone, you should be good to go!

4. Wash It With Disinfectant

Bleach and vinegar (not mixed together) are known to both kill odors and harmful bacteria.

In between bag changes, take a moment to wash out your diaper pail with one or the other. This will help prevent lingering odors from slowly making their way through the entire house. 

5. Change The Bag Frequently

If you’ve noticed that you’re only changing the bag once a week or so, this could be the reason behind the odor. The longer the diapers sit in the diaper pail, the more you’ll notice that your diaper genie smells.

If you are throwing poopy diapers in the outside trashcan already, it’s true that your bag won’t need to be changed as frequently. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t.

Try to change it every other day, even if it’s not full, to prevent diaper genie smells from taking over the house. 

6. Baking Soda Shaker: The Ultimate Diaper Pail Deodorizer

While diaper pail deodorizer ideas will work great, sometimes you need some extra help. If they aren’t making enough of a difference, then you need the power of a diaper pail deodorizer with every diaper.

If not with every diaper, at least with the extra smelly ones. Put some baking soda in a shaker, such as a salt shaker. Leave it in a convenient spot beside the diaper pail.

When you toss a diaper in, give it a few sprinkles of baking soda while you’re at it. This will give you the power of the ultimate diaper pail deodorizer with every diaper. 

7. Salt Absorbs Diaper Genie Smells

Salt is wonderful for taking care of the diaper genie smells. You can use this in multiple different ways. Most moms put it at the bottom of the diaper pail. Then, they dump it out and replace it when there is an odor again.

salt

Another great option is to put salt in the bottom of the bag itself. Most moms believe that this works better than a diaper pail deodorizer because it is in the bag right by the diapers instead of at the bottom of the pail.

Last, there is a salt shaker option. This works just like the baking soda shaker mentioned above. This is one of the most cost-effective methods for eliminating diaper genie smells, and most people already have salt in their homes. 

8. Arm And Hammer Carpet Deodorizer

Arm and Hammer carpet deodorizer is known to work wonders against any bad smell. It’s a step above baking soda.

Most of the carpet deodorizer has the same power behind it as baking soda, but it also has a beautiful scent added to it. This helps it both neutralize odors and make the entire room smell better. 

9. The Munchkin Puck

These are little disks that are packed with baking soda. They are a bit more expensive than picking up some baking soda at the grocery store, but they make cleaning up a breeze.

When you change the bag, simply throw a puck into the bottom of your diaper pail and enjoy an instant diaper pail deodorizer. When it’s time to change it, just pick up the old puck and toss it in the trash.

The convenience that this offers is worth the extra price for most people. 

10. Glade Plug-Ins

These are always my go-to odor eliminator. They worked wonders when both my children were younger. I still use them to make my house smell as fresh as possible now.

I prefer the Hawaiian Breeze scent, but the Fresh linen works wonders to mask the smell that both babies and teenage boys are known for. They sell them at most dollar stores, grocery stores, and just about any department store.

Automatic Glade sprays are also wonderful and need to be changed less often. 

11. Odor Eliminator Liners

Some diaper pail liners are designed to help mask odors. Most of these have mixed reviews, but they can be an awesome odor eliminator for mild odors.

Couple these liners with some of the odor-reducing tips above for a room that smells fresh all day, every day. 

For a more cost-effective option that will work the same way, invest in odor-eliminating trash bags. These work the same way that diaper pail liners do, but they cost a fraction of the price.

You might have to work with them to get them to fit with your diaper genie, but they will help dramatically with the diaper genie smells. 

12. Essential Oils

Essential oils are wonderful for masking odors, and you can use them in a variety of ways with your diaper pail. Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil in a baking soda mix to both neutralize odors and to enjoy a fresh scent.

Making a spray with essential oils and water to use in the bottom of the diaper pail works as a wonderful diaper pail deodorizer, too. You can also use this spray as you put diapers inside your diaper genie for ongoing help with bad smells.

essential oil

If you’re not a fan of having to use anything in your diaper genie, enjoy using essential oils in room sprays. Plugin styled warmers that utilize essential oils are also an effortless way to keep the room smelling beautiful.

Essential warmers that fill the entire room will also go a long way in helping with diaper genie smells. 

13. Open A Window

Once the room has an odor, it seems to get absorbed into everything from the curtains to the bed linens. Long after the diaper pail is cleaned, the odor remains. To combat this, make sure that there is plenty of fresh air circulating throughout the house.

Open a window or the front door on nice days to let fresh air into the house. If the diaper pail is not near a window or door, make sure to utilize a fan to increase air circulation. 

14. Use More Than One Diaper Pail Deodorizer

If the diaper genie smells are simply too bad for one diaper pail deodorizer idea to work, try multiple methods. For example: 

  • Change the bag regularly
  • Use baking soda or a Munchkin puck in the bottom, with a fresh one each change
  • Increase fresh air circulation
  • Put a Glade Plug-In in each room of the house

This should be enough to help curb most odors, along with regular cleaning of the diaper pail. It also requires very little effort on your part.

Conclusion

Diaper pails are known for helping odors, but sometimes simply owning a diaper pail isn’t enough to eliminate the odor that diapers can leave behind.

If you’re tired of being stuck with diaper genie smells, try some of these methods. Your house will smell amazing in less than a day!