Cloth Diaper Pails :: A 30 Second Cleaning Routine
One of the unknowns about cloth diapering is whether or not your home will smell like an outhouse if you have a diaper pail with we and dirty diapers in it while waiting to be washed. There are two things that you can do to virtually eliminate any lingering smell in your pail and markedly decrease the work of keeping your diaper pail clean. We’ve tired many methods and routines and found a solution that works for us. It works because it keeps the smell down, really cleans the diaper pail, it’s quick and non-toxic.
The two part system involves using a diaper pail liner and giving your pail a quick wipe every time you take the diapers out to launder them.
What do you need?
- 1 diaper pail (any garbage can of sorts with a lid will do)
- 2 diaper pail liners
- Spray bottle filled with a 50% vinegar, 50% water solution – add some drops of essential oil if you don’t like the smell of vinegar
- Cloth wipes
The How To:
- Remove diaper pail liner bag #1 from diaper pail full of dirty diapers
- Spray down the inside of the diaper pail and lid with the vinegar and water solution
- Wipe down the inside of the diaper pail and lid with cloth wipe
- Toss cloth wipe in to the dirty diaper bag
- Line Diaper pail with fresh diaper pail liner
That’s it. You’re set for your next change and ready to throw the diapers in the wash. It was quick, easy and you have a fresh smelling, disinfected pail.
Happy (fast and easy) Cleaning!
March 23rd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
My routine is just about that quick also. I don’t use a diaper pail liner in my pail though.
Once I have tipped the diapers into the wash, I shake in some baking soda, a ‘glug glug glug’ of vinegar – swirl it around and then spray down the insides using the toilet diaper sprayer and empty the contents into the washer! Let the diaper pail air dry and I’m done. I have the convenience of the washroom right beside my laundry room so it makes it easy to rinse, but a small pail of water would also do the trick (wiping down with a washcloth!)
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for sharing Lisa! Having your diaper pail in close proximity to a bathroom and/or the laundry definitely opens up some options.