Cloth Diaper Pail Liners

I used a diaper dekor+ with regular trash bags as my diaper pail for nearly 2 years. Until a few days ago. It would’ve been easier to use a different pail, but I wanted my pail in the bathroom (easy access for poopies) & we have a small one. The dekor was the only option (plus it’s nice looking & holds in odors great). It’s really a terrible pail for cloth diapers. It only fit one day’s worth of diapers…maybe. I also didn’t like to throw plastic bags out that often, so I reused them until they had holes. Yes, it was kind of icky & stinky (not in the pail but transporting the bag to & fro the laundry room), but it worked.

A few months ago my dekor broke. A long time ago the foot pedal went on me, but recently the door to remove the bag cracked. It still technically worked but it was a daily irritant as the door fell off the hinges at the slightest touch. For months prior, I had been eying some zippered pail liners that could be used as a “hanging pail”. However, I knew I would want 2 and I could not fathom spending $50 on essentially a diaper pail.

After dealing with the broken Dekor for a few weeks, I was finally ready to drop the dough. I knew I wanted something that zipped closed, since I would be using it as a “hanging pail” & not an actual liner. I just didn’t like the idea of the bag being even slightly open as with a drawstring. So I went for it.  I bought two x-large zippered pail liners from Happy Tushies. The customer service was impeccable & shipping was fast.

My thoughts on it so far? I LOVE them. My reasons for the love are as follows:

• They’re nice & HUGE. I went for the X-Large, I could easily go 3 days between washes if I needed to (& if i had that many diapers…).
• Incredibly sturdy. I realize they’re new, so I can’t give the Diaper Diva seal of longevity yet, but I am thinking i will be able to. They just look & feel very securely made & the PUL is a nice heavy-weight. **Update 8 months later: They are still truckin’ & PLENTY of life left.  Props to the super sewers at Happy Tushies.
• Quite pretty. I have one hanging in Diaper girl’s bedroom for wet diapers & another in the bathroom for the ‘dirty’ diapers (yay! don’t have to go to the bathroom after EVERY diaper change anymore) & they are not an eyesore in the least.

The only thing I’m not as thrilled about:

• They are not ‘bullet-proof’ to smell. I wish I would’ve opted for the mesh pocket that holds a deo disk. They don’t cause massive reeking odor like an open pail or anything, but more than 2 days or if you stand right next to the bag & take a purposeful whif, there’s a definite ammonia odor. I don’t know why my expectations were SO high on smell-containment, esp. considering it has the “mesh pocket” option. That was just silly on my part.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with the purchase. I do not think they are a NECESSITY, but yes, life is a little easier & prettier. If it won’t cause you to go into debt…then I suggest a pail liner/hanging pail. And once diaper days are over I’m thinking I’ll use them as laundry bags &/or pool/beach bags (we are moving to Florida afterall).

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