A big problem in my home is keeping my house smelling fresh, because of all the dirty diapers being tossed away. I’m so worried about my home smelling like a huge lavatory, my stinky diaper removal consists of bagging the diaper and disposing of it OUTSIDE in the trash immediately after changing my son. I’m sure you can imagine how much this has become a enormous pain in the butt at night! Having to walk the diaper out to the trash can in the dark is no fun. However, I go to these extremes to save myself the embarrassment of guests questioning if the toilet has backed up or exploded.
Being that I need a new easier system of diaper disposing, I am VERY happy to be a part of the Mom Central diaper pail test drive team. Over the next month I’m going to be test driving two diaper pails and alternating the use of each pail every other week. I will be giving you my honest opinion on the functionality, ease of use, odor control, and overall experience using each diaper pail. Hopefully, this will help any of you moms out there who are wondering the differences between the pails and how they measure up.
Last week I used the Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite.
Product Description (by Playtex)
The Diaper Genie® Disposal System has all the requirements moms need when it comes to diaper pails:
* Patent pending double-locked pail design and multi-layer refill seals in odor and germs
* Antimicrobial protection inhibits odor-causing bacteria
* Diapers only touch refill film, not the pail, so no messy residue is left behind
* Foot pedal allows for easy, hands-free opening
* Ergonomic, no need to bend down
* Made in the USA
Assembly
I dislike assembling anything, but the Diaper Genie II Elite is fairly simple. It comes in two separate pieces and its as easy as lowering the hinge into the groove. You have to push down on the hinge until it snaps in place and you hear a click. This can take some muscle, so don’t be afraid to give it a hard push.
Starting the refill and replacing it is also easy too. Pull plastic tab on refill and remove the plastic seal. Then pull film up and out of refill and push down through the center hole. Next pull film downwards to approximately the length of the pail and tie knot at the bottom. Step on foot pedal, feed film into the pail through the clamp, and place refill into the pail. Now your pail is ready for use!
Functionality and Ease Of Use
The Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite has a nice sturdy ergonomic design. Its slender enough to be able to fit in a corner without blocking to much of an area and can easily be moved from place to place.
The pail uses a five-layer refill with odor-barrier technology. The multi-layer film forms a barrier between the pail and diapers. The diapers only touch the film and not the pail which eliminates any messy residue and having to constantly wash the pail. Each refill can approximately holds (depending upon diaper size) 270 Newborn diapers, 233 #1 diapers, 192 #2 diapers, 176 #3 diapers, 144 #4 diapers and 105 #5 diapers before needing to be replaced.
The foot pedal opens the lid for easy, hands-free disposal and the taller design makes it simple to hold your child plus throw away the diaper without having to bend.
How To Use
1. Step on foot pedal.
2. Roll the diaper and drop it into opening. Release pedal to close lid.
How To Empty
1. To empty, press the button on the front and open pail.
2. Locate the top of the bag of diapers and place film into the childproof cutter. Then pull refill film across to cut.
3. Tie a knot and throw away the bag filled with dirty diapers.
4. Prepare pail for use by pulling film full length of the pail and tying a knot at the bottom. Close the pail making sure the button locks and your all set!
Odor Control
Odor control is the most important feature to me. Does the pail contain the odor? Yes and no. My son wets and soils about 5 diapers per day. The diaper pail holds roughly three days worth of dirty diapers before having to empty it. On the third day the smell from all the festering diapers blows me back when the lid is open to throw away another diaper. Peeee eeeeeeeeuw! It takes the room a few minutes to air out after closing the lid. The diaper pail holds the odor only when the lid is closed which is still pretty good, since it holds all those stinky diapers and remains to keep the room smelling fresh when the top is shut.
Why I Like It
Over all I think this is a good diaper pail. I like the hands free system and the slender design. Its very easy to empty and the fact the diapers do not actually touch the pail is ideal! There is less mess and its more hygienic than other diaper disposal methods.
What I Would Change
The refills can become costly ($6.99) depending on usage and inconvenient if you run out. I also would like to see more odor control when the lid is open.
4 Stars
I would rate the Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite four out of five stars for ease of use, overall design, and odor control.
Buy It
The Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite ($49.95) can be purchased online at diapers.com, BabiesRus, ToysRus, Target, Walmart, amazon.com, and Kmart. OR search for a local store near you.
Watch next week for my Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail review!
“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.”
With all of the diaper pails we’ve tried, the plastic of the pail eventually soaks up the dirty diaper smell, and then it stinks, even when it’s empty. Now we’re on baby #4, and we’re still running the stinky diapers to the outside garbage can. I wish there were a really good diaper pail!