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Ubbi vs Diaper Genie: Which Is The Best Diaper Pail?

Ubbi vs Diaper Genie: Which Is The Best Diaper Pail?
Latest posts by Keith Lindner (see all)

Dirty diapers. Possibly every new mom and dad’s worst nightmare. Not only is storing soiled diapers in your regular trash can unhygienic, but the smell can be unbearable. It’s a good idea to keep dirty diapers separate from your normal garbage, which is where the Ubbi vs Diaper Genie comes in.

Chances are you’ll have loads of nappy changes to deal with while your baby is growing and developing – Diaper Genie themselves claim that a baby will go through 9,600 dirty diapers in their first three years, so it’s super handy to have somewhere to toss them.

To give you some sort of idea on what to look for; your diaper pail should be effective in eliminating odors. It’s likely that when you open the door or lid of your bin, you’ll be hit with a stench of unpleasantness, but once the pail is sealed you shouldn’t be able to smell a thing.

You should also bear in mind that you’ll have to buy garbage liners to put inside the pail. Some brands have their own bespoke liners that you have to use – others allow you to use standard garbage liners. We’ll delve into this in more detail, but it’s something to think about if you’re trying to keep costs down.

We hope that by the end of this review, you’ll have a much better idea of what each diaper pail can offer you, taking into account the price, design features, functionality, and overall parents’ rating. Your days will be busy enough without having to worry about dirty diapers, so take some well-deserved time out to read this guide and let us make life easier for you.

The Main Differences Between the Ubbi vs Diaper Genie

It’s always a great idea to know the differences between both diaper pails. This gives you a clearer idea on which one might work best for you and your family. Below are some of the main differences, listed side by side so you can see which one might be your winner. We’ll go into more detail on the rest of the points below, but for now here are the key differences between both models.

  • The Ubbie is made from steel – the Diaper Genie is made with plastic.
  • The Diaper Genie has a foot pedal, but the Ubbie has a close-door function.
  • You can use standard garbage liners with the Ubbi, but with the Diaper Genie you need to use their branded liners.

Ubbi and Diaper Genie – Which Is Better for Your Baby?

Both the Ubbi and Diaper Genie have good points and bad points – which is why we’re here to delve into the nitty-gritty of both models. Our expert moms and dads have looked into both brands – weighing up the key features and pros and cons of each one.

This will leave you with a better understanding and knowledge of them both, unbiased and tried and tested. From the price to how easy each one is to use; check out our in-depth review below.

Ubbi

ubbi

The Ubbi diaper pail is hugely popular; it’s won loads of awards and always gets a high rating from moms and dads all over the world. It’s made from stainless steel and comes in a range of 13 colors to choose from, so if you’re conscious about the design blending in with your home style choices then there’s no need to worry!

One of the biggest features of the Ubbi is that it’s designed to keep bad smells at bay. It’s airtight, so once it’s closed the smells are locked in by the steel locks. It’s powder-coated, too. This makes it easy to keep clean – but we should note that Ubbi suggests using a dry cloth only to keep it looking its best. This is because harsh chemicals or even liquids of any kind (including water) can lead to mold and rust.

There are a few downsides. Firstly, the Ubbi doesn’t come with a foot pedal. In hindsight, this is quite a major drawback. Imagine juggling a crying baby while attempting to throw a dirty diaper in the bin. Without a foot pedal, you’ll need to use one hand to open the lid and dispose of the diaper. We can’t imagine this would be too easy while you’re carrying your child.

However, a huge plus point is that you don’t need to use their branded garbage liners – you can use any standard 13-gallon bag. This is great for keeping costs down as you can literally stock up at the local grocery store. And the pail has a child-proof lock to stop curious children from getting into it. This is really handy once your child gets older, as you can use the Ubbi to throw out larger diapers later on.

Overall, the Ubbi is a super solid design that really does do the job. Sure, there are a couple of downsides but the pluses far outweigh the cons. If you’re looking for a reliable pail that looks just as good as it functions, the Ubbi is a winner.

Features:

  • Uses steel locks, which aren’t porous and keeps the smell locked inside
  • Ready to use right out of the box
  • Comes with a child-proof lock to stop little hands getting inside
  • Requires a 13-gallon trash bag
  • 4 1/4″; wide opening
  • Available in 13 colors

Pros:

  • It’s made from sleek steel, which is hard-wearing and easy to maintain
  • The design looks great, so it’ll be a great feature in your home
  • It has a child safety lock to stop your child from getting into the pail
  • You can use regular trash liners with it as well as their own brand liners to save money
  • It’s powder-coated, so easy to keep clean with a dry cloth
  • Buy now at Amazon

Cons:

  • There’s no foot pedal, so you need to use one hand to open the lid
  • The design can sometimes let nasty smells escape – you deposit dirty diapers through an open door, which isn’t pleasant

Parents’ popular opinion on the Ubbi

The Ubbi diaper pail won nine awards proving parents and experts’ approval, so it’s an incredibly popular choice with moms and dads alike. However, online reviews paint an incredibly accurate picture when it comes to how popular a particular item is, so there is just a few we’ve gathered:

  • One parent loves stainless steel construction. They say that not only is it easy to clean, but the smell is well contained.
  • Another parent raved that “we’ve been using this for two years and it’s one of those baby products that we can’t live without”. They also love that it doesn’t require a special bag – they use a standard 13-gallon garbage bag instead.
  • Many parents love the look of the Ubbi in their home.
  • Other parents think that the Ubbi contains the nasty diaper smell really well, even after 11 months of use.
Ubbi Steel Odor Locking | Amazon
$79.99

No special bags, refills or inserts are required with the Ubbi diaper pail saving time and money unlike other pail on the market.holds up to 55 diapers.

Buy at Amazon
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
02/25/2024 04:49 am GMT

Diaper Genie

diaper genie

The Diaper Genie is a great example of a product that does all the hard work for you. Packed with so many great features, it’ll give you the peace of mind that used, dirty diapers will live out the rest of their days in a sanitary, hygienic environment that will help keep the home smelling fresh and clean.

There’s a double airtight clamp that keeps all odors to an absolute minimum, and it also contains built-in antimicrobial – which does its best to stop any nasty bacteria growing on the inside of the pail.

As an added hygiene benefit, the Diaper Genie is operated using a simple foot pedal. This means you’ll have no hand contact with the bin, which is usually necessary when disposing of diapers. The convenience continues when it comes to emptying the Diaper Genie, too – the pail houses a front tilt system that displays the bag at an angle, with a built-in cutter that makes it easier to remove. You simply tie the bag and get rid of it. Easy.

Their special garbage bags can hold up to 270 used diapers. This is more than enough room at one time, and it means less time needs to be spent emptying the Diaper Genie.

We admit, this does sound slightly unsanitary but you don’t need to worry as the Diaper Genie has some fantastic tricks up its sleeve to combat unsavory odors and unfriendly bacteria, which will leave your home smelling fresh and clean.

The biggest downside is that, unlike the Ubbi, you’ll need to purchase bags specifically made to fit inside the Diaper Genie. Sure, you can go rogue and choose supermarket-own brands, and this is perfectly fine, but you may find that they don’t fit too well, which means you won’t get the most out of the clever design. The bags do seem to fill up quite quickly too.

That being said – don’t let that put you off the Diaper Genie. It’s the number 1 diaper pail for a reason. There are so many good features that really do work to make life easier for you, and the design is very well thought out. If you’re after a solid, sturdy pail that will last you your baby’s younger years, then the Diaper Genie is a fantastic option.

Features:

  • Double airtight clamps to keep nasty smells locked inside the pail
  • Activated carbon filter
  • A clever odor lock system
  • Built-in antimicrobial that inhibits bacteria growth on the pail.
  • Holds up to 270 newborn diapers

Pros:

  • Hands-free diaper disposal means you don’t need to touch the lid
  • Odors are well contained in the pail, meaning no nasty smells seep out
  • Ready to use straight from the box
  • It’s easy to remove the bag – the pail comes with a cutter and you simply tie a knot in the bag and dispose
  • The Diaper Genie comes with bags for you to use straight away
  • It features a high-gloss design that looks great in any room

Cons:

  • You need to use special refill bags, which increases the lifetime cost
  • Fills up quite quickly

Parents’ popular opinion on the Diaper Genie

The Diaper Genie is the number 1 diaper pail, with over 1.5 million moms putting their trust in the pail. Therefore, there are tons of online reviews to get through from real mom and dads, giving their honest opinion on what they liked – and disliked – about the Diaper Genie. This is what some of them have to say:

  • One mom loves that the bag system was easy to use and it left her nursery smelling good.
  • Another person raved that the Diaper Genie keeps the smell locked firmly away, and it also keeps out the flies. However, they did recommend emptying the bin if you’re planning to be away for a few days.
  • One particular reviewer loved the cutter tool inside the pail, which allows you to just cut out the old bag out and start again with a new one.
  • One parent did warn that when you open the door of the Diaper Genie, the smell can be pretty unbearable  – so beware!
Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Pail | Amazon
$47.99

Diaper Genie’s ultimate diaper disposal system controls odors and makes changing your baby’s dirty diapers a breeze. Our tallest pail requires no bending with a foot pedal for easy, hygienic and hands-free opening.

Buy at Amazon
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
02/25/2024 04:49 am GMT

The Verdict: Diaper Genie or Ubbi?

This one’s a really tough call. Both the Ubbi and Diaper Genie have so many plus points to shout about: they both look great, they’re both sturdy and hard-wearing, and they both have hygiene at the forefront of their design. In terms of price, the Ubbi is the more expensive design.

However, if you look at it long-term, the Ubbi may work out cheaper as you can buy standard garbage liners instead of the more expensive branded option – as required by Genie Diaper.

The Diaper Genie probably just edges it when it comes to the overall design. The simple fact it has a foot pedal makes it easier to use and means you don’t need to actually touch the bin. It’s also easier to remove the bag with the Diaper Genie, which is thanks to the clever cutter that’s hidden inside the pail.

That doesn’t mean the Ubbi isn’t a great design – the fact it’s stainless steel and powder coated means it’s a bit easier to maintain, and there’s a lot more choice when it comes to the overall design.

Bottom Line: If I had to choose, we think the Diaper Genie  just comes out on top for the reasons above, but both are amazing designs and we really don’t think you could go wrong with either.

FAQs

Question: How do I clean my Ubbi

Answer: Ubbi’s website advises not to even bother cleaning the pail, not even with water. This is because liquids or other chemically-based cleaning materials can create condensation that will lead to mold and rust. The Ubbi is also designed to be self-cleaning, so in theory, doesn’t even need all the harsh chemicals. The Ubbi is actually airtight, so you need to make sure it’s completely dry at all times. Your best bet when it comes to maintaining your Ubbi is to use a dry cloth to wipe the pail down.

Question: Does the Ubbi diaper pail require special refills?

Answer: The great news is no! You can use any kitchen garbage bag, as long as it’s tall and holds 13 gallons of garbage. You can get Ubbi’s own brand refills too, which are available to buy separately.

Question: How many diapers does the Ubbi hold?

Answer: In total, the Ubbi holds around 55 newborn diapers, 50 size-1 diapers, 41 size-2 diapers, 38 size-3 diapers, 31 size-4 diapers, 23 size-5 diapers, and 20 pull-ups diapers.

Question: How does the Diaper Genie stop bad smells?

Answer: The Diaper Genie uses a clever odor lock system that contains a built-in odor-controlling antimicrobial. This basically stops germs and smells in their racks. The bin also contains double airtight clamps to help seal in odors. This stops them from seeping through and reaching you.

Question: How many diapers does the Diaper Genie?

Answer: According to the manufacturers, the Diaper Genie can hold up to 270 dirty diapers.

Question: How do you change the bag inside the Diaper Genie?

Answer: It’s actually very easy. You can just pull the bag through the built-in cutter. Put a knot in the end and pull it out – but don’t yank as you don’t want to break anything.

Final Thoughts on Diaper Genie vs Ubbi

We hope this review has helped you on your way to choosing between the Ubbi and Diaper Genie. Both designs tick a lot of boxes, but as ever this is only a guide and the choice is 100% with you. We’d love to know which one you went for – let us know how you got on.

If you have any questions then feel free to pop them in the comment section below – our expert moms and dads are more than happy to help! And if you have anything else you’d like us to review, let us know and we’ll see what we can do.

Playtex Diaper Genie Complete Pail | Amazon
$47.97

The diaper genie is just plained designed better. Small things you notice after 500+ diapers! the foot pedal is invaluable and the clever cutter inside makes it simple and mess free to remove that 12lb bag of "Poot" as my son says...

Buy at Amazon
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
02/25/2024 04:56 am GMT

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