Diaper Pail Test Drive Munchkin Arm & Hammer – Week 2

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Product Description From Munchkin

The design team at Munchkin has partnered with Arm & Hammer to create the new Arm & Hammer  Diaper Pail, designed specifically with mom in mind. Bags are easy to load, and tossing dirty diapers is quick and easy. The patented self-sealing system tightly seals the bag and locks odors away, while the Arm & Hammer® baking soda cartridge safely absorbs odors and dispenses natural baking soda each time the lid is closed. A full cartridge lasts over 90 days, and refilling is simple (no need for a separate deodorizer). Each bag holds up to 25 diapers and is easy to snap, seal and toss when full.

The pail comes fully assembled and includes 3 Arm & Hammer® Diaper Pail Refill Bags. The odor-eliminating power of Arm & Hammer® baking soda combined with this clever and easy-to-use design make The Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin® the perfect diaper pail system for today’s busy parents and caregivers.

Watch the video to see the Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail in action!

Last week was my time to switch from using the Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite to the Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail.  How did it hold up to my son’s stinky diapers?  Here is what I found out!

Functionality and Ease Of Use

The diaper pail came fully assembled!  Big PLUS for me.  All I had to do was pull it out of the box,  load the Arm & Hammer baking soda cartridge, and it was ready for its first smelly diaper.  Like me,  you probably don’t have the time to mess around with pieces, parts, and complicated instructions.   There is no worries of this with the Munchkin diaper pail, because even the first bag is loaded and set to go.  It also comes with three extra refill bags.

The manufacturer claims the diaper pail can be operated with just one hand.  I had some difficulty pressing the button and lifting the lid with the same hand that is holding the soiled diaper.  Additionally, the Munchkin is short and measures only 21″ high.   If your carrying your baby and trying to dispose of a diaper at the same time, you might find yourself doing a balancing act.  Your going to  have to bend over and try to open the lid with the same hand that is holding the dirty diaper.   Ultimately,  this could lead to a big mess if you have trouble with the hatch.

Another not so pleasant feature is actually trying to push the diaper through the seal and into the bag.  The opening is small and tight.   If the diaper is rather loaded with  excrement your hand might get the full squishy contents on it.  YUCK!

On a positive note, the Munchkin refill bags are EASY to use and change.  There is no cutting or having to tie the ends of the bag like other disposable diaper systems.  The bags have a plastic ring that simply snap into place.  When you need to change the bag you snap the ring closed to seal the bag, push the ring down through the flaps and then pull through the open door to dispose.  VERY nice feature.   PLUS, the bag holds about 18 size 4 diapers before having to be changed and you can see how full the bag is getting by opening the door at the bottom.

Odor Control

The diaper pail has a patented system that automatically seals the bag when the door is closed and keeps it sealed even when the lid is reopened.  I found this to be more odor containing and even though there was 4 days of disgusting diapers in the pail, I was not blown away with the smell when trying to dispose the last diaper.

The Munchkin diaper pail has a dispenser at the top that sprinkles Arm & Hammer Baking Soda each time the lid is closed.  The baking soda helps absorb the odor and in my opinion, keeps the nursery smelling more fresh for a longer period of time.  The manufacturer claims the dispenser lasts for 90 days before having to be refilled.  Here is what I like…YOU DON’T HAVE TO BY REFILLS!  Yup, its true!  You just open the cartridge,  pour the baking soda up to the fill line, and re-insert into place.

Why I Liked It

The Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail was a breeze to empty and load a new bag.  I found it to eliminate the odor for a longer period of time than the Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite.   Additionally, the bags are easier to use, tightly snap shut to contain the odor, and don’t need to be cut and tied.

The door at the bottom is good for peeking to see how full the bag is getting and great for storing extra bags.  It also makes for easier emptying.

What I Would Change

The design of the diaper pail is not as sturdy as I would like it and WAY TO SHORT.  You have to bend over too far to dispose the diaper and the hatch can be a pain to open with one hand. I would love to see a taller pail with an easier bush button method.

The seal is a little too tight to push the diaper through,  which could cause a mess and result in being less hygienic.

The bags are $6.99 for 10 refills and can become costly.

The bottom door can be opened too easily and might attract curious babies.  Maybe a safety issue?

4.5 Stars For Odor Control and 3 Stars For Design (5 stars being top rating)

I give the Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail 4.5 stars for controlling odor.  However, I think the overall design needs to be revamped and only give it 3 stars for ease of use.

Buy It

Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail ($25.00-34.99) can be purchased online at Toys R Us,  Target,  Amazon.com,  KMart,  Buy Buy Baby, and Diapers.com

“I am a member of the Mom Central community and I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central, sponsored by Diaper Genie, and received a free Diaper Genie diaper pail and a free Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail to facilitate my review.”