So I have a 23 month old and a 40 month old. Both are in diapers, although my 3 year old is finally showing potty training interest! When he was born though I purchased a cheap diaper pail because I didn’t want to have to bother with refills or fancy bags, and I figured the cheap one would be just fine. Well I was wrong. It has been awful, it broke, it smells, and so when Mom Central emailed me saying I was accepted in their Diaper Pail Test Drive Program, I was more than excited!
So I will be reviewing two diaper pails – Diaper Genie Elite and Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail – within the next month. This past week I have been using the Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite and love it. (Yes I realize I used the words “love” and “diaper” in the same sentence.)
ABOUT THE DIAPER GENIE:
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
MY THOUGHTS:
When I first opened the box I was glad it was in just two pieces that snapped together and then you snapped in the refills bags. I will say though that the directions were a little unclear and I snapped the pieces together without first noticing that I had to make sure this other piece was already through. So that was a pain trying to fix it after it was already snapped together, but I got it fixed and it was just user error!
First, I will say the Diaper Genie is tall, so I don’t have to bend down to put a diaper in it. It is white so it matches any nursery décor and it is narrow so it doesn’t take up too much room. The foot pedal makes it nice, especially if I have my son in my hands. It is a little weird to have to push the diaper in through the hole of the Diaper Genie, but that is the only way for them to make it so it locks the smell inside. I have found too that if you wrap the diapers as tight as you can they slide right thru with no problem. There is also no way for the diapers to leave a residue on the pail since it only touches the refill bags inside.
Putting in the refill was as easy as snapping it in and then tying a knot. You then just open it up and use the cutter inside to cut the bag when you want to empty it and tie another knot at the top. Then you have basically a long tube of diapers in one bag, which is weird and heavy but I will say I didn’t notice a smell! Yes, I do throw poppy diapers in it in my son’s nursery, so no smell is an absolute must! I felt so bad in the best that his nursery had a funk, but no more!
Overall, I would definitely recommend the Diaper Genie Elite. It is easy to set-up, use, and it is the #1 selling diaper disposal system in protecting against unwanted germs and odors. The refills do cost about $5 a pack on average but they seem to last awhile, especially if you roll the diaper tightly into a ball. This is from the Playtex website over how many diapers the Diaper Genie II Elite Refill packs can hold: “It seals 270 Newborn diapers, 233 #1 diapers, 192 #2 diapers, 176 #3 diapers, 144 #4 diapers and 105 #5 diapers.” Also, in case you are wondering what makes the Diaper Genie Elite as opposed to the other Diaper Genies, well this one has a foot pedal that allows hands-free opening and a double-lock design that seals in odor.
BUY IT: You can find the Diaper Genie Elite wherever baby items are sold. You can also find it on Amazon
Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure: 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.
Mlw says
Hi there. How did you fix your “user error?” I have done the same thing and can’t get the top piece off the bottom now. I called Playtex and they are telling me you can’t take apart without breaking it. It sounds like you did. Help!