Best Stainless-Steel Diaper Pail
- Attractive design
- Uses standard trash bags
- Steel bin contains odors
- Hinge can rip bags on older models
- Toddlers can figure out lock
Bottom Line
If a white hunk of plastic isn't stylish enough for your tot's nursery, you'll want to check out the sleekly designed Ubbi Diaper Pail. Reviewers say this pail has more going for it than looks: The powder-coated steel and rubber seal contain odors, and owners can use standard trash bags instead of pricey refills. The upfront cost isn't cheap, though. At $80, the Ubbi is nearly three times as much as many competitors' units.
Ease of Use
Design flaw being addressed. The Ubbi Diaper Pail earns lots of praise for its ease of use. Parents simply slide open the lid, toss in the diaper and close the lid, all of which can be accomplished with one hand. While one video reviewer shows how easy it is to load and unload bags, several owners have complained that bags often rip on a sharp-toothed hinge during removal. Ubbi has responded by redesigning the hinge and sending owners new parts, but older models remain on the market. As of January 2013, white, gray and orange models include the redesigned hinge, and the company says other colors will follow suit once inventory of the previous model runs out. Customers with the older models can contact Ubbi for replacement parts.
The Ubbi is just 23 inches tall, so parents will probably need to stoop down to put diapers in the pail. The pail is easy to clean, reviewers say.
Cost of Ownership
Can use standard trash bags. While the Ubbi Diaper Pail is one of the more expensive pails on the market, it does not require special refill bags, keeping costs under control in the long run. However, special biodegradable refills (*Est. $8 for 25) are available for parents' convenience. Owners have reported few quality issues with the pail, and Ubbi's customer service team actively responds to customer complaints on Amazon.com.
Lifestyle Features
More than a pretty pail. Reviewers say the Ubbi Diaper Pail's steel construction and rubber seal really do keep smells under control, and the pail doesn't absorb them in the long run. However, the stench doesn't magically disappear, and owners say they get a strong odor when opening the pail or changing the liner. The pail holds up to 53 newborn diapers or 23 size 5s. While reviewers appreciate the lid lock, a few say their toddler was still able to figure it out. The Ubbi's attractive design earns universal praise, and color choices include pastels, bright hues and neutrals. Ubbi also offers decals to further customize the pail (*Est. $13) and a waterproof pail liner for use with cloth diapers (*Est. $15).
| Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail in White | |
(118 reviews) In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping |
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Our Sources
1. About.com
Review Credibility: Excellent Heather Corley, the About.com guide to baby products, gives the Ubbi Diaper Pail 3.5 out of 5 stars in an in-depth review after real-world testing. She praises its attractive design, colors and decals, and says the pail is easy to load and use. The pail did an effective job of keeping odors under control when closed, and she likes the Ubbi's ability to take cloth diapers and regular trash bags. However, the smell is bad when it's time to change bags, and bags can rip during removal, she notes. She also says the cloth-diaper bag felt damp at times despite being marketed as waterproof.
Review: Ubbi Diaper Pail Review, Heather Corley, Not dated
2. CoolMomPicks.com
Review Credibility: Very Good The Ubbi Diaper Pail makes CoolMomPicks.com's list of top new baby products, culled from entries at the New York Baby Show Expo. In an in-depth review, the Ubbi earns raves for its attractive design, odor-resistant steel, rubber seal and childproof design. Editors also like that parents can use standard trash bags. The review does not note any cons.
Review: The 6 Best New Products for Babies, Editors of CoolMomPicks.com, June 5, 2012
3. Amazon.com
Review Credibility: Very Good The Ubbi Diaper Pail earns an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars in more than 50 user reviews on Amazon.com. Owners love the attractive design, and most agree it keeps smells mostly under control, though they still get a strong whiff when opening the pail or changing the liner. Some reviewers say they've had problems with bags tearing on a hinge during removal, but Ubbi sent a new part to rectify the issue and is replacing the part in all models beginning in January 2013. A couple reviewers said their toddlers figured out the childproof lock. A few cloth-diaper users say it can be hard to fit diapers through the opening, and capacity is small.
Review: Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of January 2013
4. SheKnows.com
Review Credibility: Very Good Monica Beyer reviews four popular diaper pails and bags but does not compare them. She likes the Ubbi Diaper Pail's ability to take either cloth or disposable diapers and praises its childproof lock. The pail is "cute," and one parent attests that it does keep odors to a minimum while managing to look attractive, too. The short review does not note any cons, but it is based upon parental input.
Review: Can Anything Contain the Diaper Stink?, Monica Beyer, July 19, 2012
5. GoGrahamGo.com
Review Credibility: Very Good Felicia Carter, a mother and blogger, praises the Ubbi Diaper Pail's attractive looks and ease of use in an in-depth video review. She demonstrates how to load and unload a bag, says the steel can doesn't absorb odors and likes how the rubber seal keeps them in the can. She also likes the childproof lock and its ability to use normal trash bags. However, she does wish there were a foot pedal and notes that there is a strong stench when opening the pail. The can is also light enough for a toddler to lift, she says.
Review: Ubbi Diaper Pail Review, Felicia Carter, March 15, 2012
6. BabyCenter.com
Review Credibility: Good Molly Balint, a BabyCenter.com blogger and product reviewer, insists she normally thinks diaper pails are a waste of money, but says the Ubbi Diaper Pail is an exception. She loves that it takes normal trash bags and isn't an ugly plastic bin. The pail does a good job of keeping odors locked in, and it's simple to clean and easy to use, she says. She also likes the fact that it can accommodate a more environmentally friendly waterproof liner. The review does not note any cons.
Review: 5 Reasons I Hate Diaper Pails Except This One, Molly Balint, July 9, 2012
7. CoolMomPicks.com
Review Credibility: Good Liz Gumbinner loves the Ubbi Diaper Pail's "easy on the eyes" design and says the steel won't absorb odors. She says the rubber seal does a good job of containing smells. She also likes the childproof design and the pail's ability to use standard trash bags. The review does not note any cons.
Review: Ubbi - Building a Better Diaper Pail, Liz Gumbinner, June 3, 2012
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