Dekor Diaper Pail Reviews: Is It Worth It?

When you’re building a baby registry, the sheer number of “must-have” items is overwhelming. A diaper pail seems like a no-brainer, but which one? I spent weeks agonizing over this, and I kept coming back to the Dekor. If you’re on the fence, let me make it simple: buy it.

It’s one of the few baby items I’ve used every single day for years. It’s not perfect, but its hands-free design and unique bag system make it a genuine nursery essential. Don’t overthink it like I did; this is the one you want.

My Experience With The Dekor Diaper Pail

Let me take you back to my first child’s nursery. It was pristine, perfect, and smelled like baby powder and new furniture.

I was determined to keep it that way. I’d heard the horror stories about diaper pails—the “smell of death” that wafts out, the expensive refills, the flimsy parts.

I settled on the Dekor Plus, mostly because I liked the idea of the foot pedal and the continuous bag system.

For the first year, I was a Dekor evangelist. I would tell anyone who would listen how brilliant it was.

With a newborn, you’re changing 10-12 diapers a day, and having a truly hands-free system is a game-changer.

You step on the pedal, the outer lid lifts. You drop the diaper onto the little spring-loaded “trap door,” and it vanishes.¹ Poof. No smell, no mess. The odor control, in the beginning, was absolutely flawless. I’d let the bag get completely full (and the Plus holds a ton of newborn diapers) before changing it, and my nursery never smelled.

Then, my sweet baby started eating solid foods. This, my friends, is when the battle truly begins. The odor-containing magic started to fade. It wasn’t that the pail smelled when it was closed; it was the “waft.” The moment I stepped on that pedal, a cloud of truly eye-watering stench would escape from the trap door. It was like the pail was angry. I also realized that the “drop” part of the “step and drop” was no longer accurate. I had to actively push the diaper through the trap door, which felt… less than sanitary.

I’ve had my Dekor Plus for over four years now, through two children. Do I still use it? Every single day. Has it held up? Yes, though the inner trap door feels a little less “springy” than it used to. The plastic itself, despite my best cleaning efforts, has absorbed some of that toddler-diaper funk. It’s just a fact of life for plastic pails. But here’s the kicker: I would buy it again. Its convenience, especially in those early days, is unmatched. The flaws are real, but for me, the daily usability still outweighs the long-term odor battle.

Also read: My Thoughts on Matrixx Water Softener

Pros Of The Dekor Diaper Pail

• Truly Hands-Free Operation: This is, without a doubt, the number one selling point. When you are holding a squirming, messy baby, you do not have a free hand to twist a knob, slide a lid, or manually shove a diaper into a small hole. The Dekor’s foot pedal is wide and responsive. You step, the lid opens. You drop (or, let’s be honest, push) the diaper through the inner trap door. You release the pedal, and both lids close. This entire process happens while you’re still holding your baby, ready to get them dressed. It feels seamless and is something you will appreciate at 3 AM.
• The Brilliant Continuous Refill System: I cannot overstate how much I love this bag system. Instead of individual bags, you buy a “refill,” which is basically a giant, continuous tube of plastic.² You pull it down, tie a knot at the bottom, and you’ve created your first bag. When the pail is full—or, more importantly, when there’s a single, truly toxic diaper you want out of your house immediately—you just open the front door of the pail, pull the bag down, cut it with the built-in, child-safe cutter, and tie a knot at the top. Then, you pull the remaining tube down, tie a new knot at the bottom, and you’re ready to go. This means you never waste bags. You can take out a “bag” with one diaper or fifty. This flexibility is amazing for odor control, as you can dispose of poop diapers right away without feeling like you just wasted a 13-gallon trash bag.
• Effective Multi-Layer Odor Control (For A Long Time): The Dekor system is built on layers of defense. First, you have the main lid. Second, you have the spring-loaded trap door, which is lined with a rubber gasket to create a seal.³ Third, the refill bags themselves are lightly scented and are meant to trap odors. For the first 12-18 months (primarily breastmilk or formula diapers), this system is practically impenetrable. The nursery remains fresh, and you only smell the diapers when you’re actively changing the bag. It creates a false sense of security, but it’s a wonderful, odor-free honeymoon phase.
• Durable And Resilient ABS Plastic: The company makes a big deal about their pail being made from ABS plastic, not cheaper polypropylene.⁴ They claim this “closed-cell” plastic won’t absorb odors.⁵ Now, as I mentioned in my experience, I think “won’t” is a strong word; “resists” is more accurate. But compared to a standard kitchen trash can, the difference is night and day. My Dekor hasn’t scratched, dented (like a metal Ubbi can), or turned yellow. It has also stood up to vigorous cleaning with bleach and vinegar solutions, which is a huge plus.
• The “Plus” Model Is A Cloth Diapering Dream: If you are even considering cloth diapering, just get the Dekor Plus. Its opening is significantly larger than the Classic or Mini models, which is essential for stuffing bulky cloth diapers inside.⁶ Even better, Dekor (and other brands) sell reusable, waterproof “wet bag” liners that are shaped to fit the pail perfectly.⁷ You just pop the liner in, fill it with dirty cloth diapers, and then carry the whole bag to the laundry. You buy two, so one is always in the pail while the other is in the wash. This versatility makes it a fantastic long-term investment.

Cons Of The Dekor Diaper Pail

• The Odor Containment Has An Expiration Date:
  • Solid Foods Are The Enemy: I have to be blunt: once your child starts eating real food, the game changes. That three-layer odor-blocking system I praised? It meets its match. The plastic will eventually start to absorb and retain the smell, no matter how well you clean it.
  • The “Waft” Is Real: The pail will still contain the smell perfectly fine when the lid is closed. The problem is the moment you open it. Stepping on that pedal releases a cloud of stench that can fill a room. It dissipates quickly, but it’s a potent, gag-inducing moment that you’ll experience multiple times a day.
• That “Hands-Free” Trap Door Isn’t Always Hands-Free:
  • The “Push-Through” Problem: The spring-loaded trap door works by gravity when the diapers are small and the pail is empty. Once the pail is about half-full, or you’re trying to dispose of a larger toddler diaper, gravity isn’t enough. You have to use your hand (with the diaper in it) to actively push the diaper through the trap door. This often means your hand touches the underside of the trap door, which… well, you can imagine.
  • The “Squish” Factor: This gets worse as the bag fills. You end up having to squish the new diaper down onto the pile of old diapers below, all while pushing against the spring-loaded door. It’s the least pleasant part of the design.
• The Build Quality Can Feel A Bit Flimsy:
  • It’s Not A Tank: The entire pail is very lightweight plastic.⁸ When you open the front door to change the bag, the whole unit feels a bit shaky. The hinges and latches work, but they don’t inspire a lot of confidence. I’ve heard from other parents that the bag-cutting tool can snap off or the springs in the trap door can get bent. Mine has survived, but it doesn’t feel like a premium, buy-it-for-life product. It feels like an appliance that is just good enough to get the job done.
• You’re Locked Into The Refill Ecosystem:
  • The Cost Adds Up: Those continuous refills are brilliant, but they are also proprietary. You have to buy Dekor-brand refills (or a third-party equivalent) for the system to work. They aren’t outrageously expensive, but it’s a recurring cost you’ll be paying for years.
  • They Can Be Hard To Find: Unlike Diaper Genie refills, which seem to be in every single grocery store and pharmacy, Dekor refills can be harder to find in brick-and-mortar stores.⁹ You’ll likely be ordering them online, which means you have to remember to stock up before you run out.

Maintenance Tips For The Dekor Diaper Pail

• Mastering The Bag Change:
  • The Knot Is Key: When you start a new bag, make sure you tie a very tight, double-knot at the bottom. A lazy knot will leak, and you do not want to clean up what leaks out. Trust me.
  • Use The Cutter: The built-in cutter on the door is your best friend. Don’t try to rip the bag or use scissors. Pull the full bag out, push it against the cutter, and swipe. It’s safe and efficient.
  • Don’t Overfill: Just because you can fit 60 diapers doesn’t mean you should. The heavier the bag, the more likely it is to break and the harder it is to push new diapers in. I found changing it once it was about 75% full was the sweet spot for sanity.
• Your Deep Cleaning Routine:
  • Wipe It Down Weekly: Every time I changed the bag, I would take a disinfectant wipe (like a Clorox or Lysol wipe) and quickly wipe down the inside of the main lid, the trap door (top and bottom), and the rim where the bag sits. This takes 30 seconds and helps keep the surface-level germs at bay.
  • The Monthly Bleach-Out: About once a month, or whenever the “waft” started to get really bad, I would do a deep clean. I’d take the empty pail outside or into the bathtub, spray the entire inside with a bleach-based cleaner (or a 1:10 bleach/water solution), and let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it thoroughly. The Dekor is made of ABS plastic, so unlike metal pails, it can handle bleach perfectly fine.¹⁰
  • Let The Sun Do The Work: After rinsing, the best thing you can do is let it air dry completely in direct sunlight. The sun’s UV rays are a natural deodorizer and sanitizer. I’d leave my pail open on the back deck for an hour, and it would smell a thousand times better.
• Daily Odor-Fighting Tricks:
  • Baking Soda Is Your Friend: This is the oldest trick in the book for a reason. I keep a box of baking soda in the nursery and sprinkle a generous amount into the bottom of the fresh bag every time I change it. This helps absorb moisture and neutralize acidic odors before they become a problem.
  • Try A Deodorizer Disc: You can buy stick-on deodorizers (like the Munchkin Arm & Hammer discs or even a basic car air freshener) and stick one to the underside of the main lid. It won’t stop the diaper smell, but it gives you a blast of something pleasant (lavender, citrus) to counteract the “waft” when you open the pail.
  • Flush The Solids: Once your baby is on solid food, the poop is the real problem. When you can, flush the solid poop from the diaper into the toilet before you put the diaper in the pail. This dramatically reduces the smell in the pail. It’s an extra step, but it’s the single most effective thing you can do for long-term odor control.

Comparison With Other Brands

• Dekor Vs. Diaper Genie:
  • The Core Difference: These two are the most similar, as both are plastic pails that use a continuous refill system. The main difference is the mechanism. Dekor uses its spring-loaded trap door.¹¹ The Diaper Genie Complete uses a “double-clamp” system and sometimes a twisting mechanism.¹² Many feel the Diaper Genie’s clamp is slightly better at sealing in odors, but it can also be more cumbersome.
  • Refill Availability: As I mentioned, Diaper Genie refills are everywhere. You can buy them at 2 AM at a 24-hour drugstore. Dekor refills are more of an “order online” item. This is a huge lifestyle consideration for a busy parent.
  • Hands-Free: Both the Dekor and the Diaper Genie Complete have a foot pedal, so they are both truly hands-free, which is a massive win over the Ubbi.¹³
• Dekor Vs. Ubbi:
  • The Material Showdown: This is the main event. Ubbi is made of powder-coated steel; Dekor is ABS plastic.¹⁴ The Ubbi will not absorb odors, period.¹⁵ That is its superpower. However, the Ubbi can rust if you clean it with harsh chemicals or let moisture sit, and it can dent if you knock it. The Dekor won’t rust or dent, but it will eventually absorb smells.
  • The Bag Debate: This is the Ubbi’s other superpower. It uses any standard 13-gallon kitchen trash bag.¹⁶ This saves you a massive amount of money over the life of the pail and means you will never run out of “special” bags. This is, for many people, the deciding factor.
  • Hands-Free Vs. Smell-Blast: The Ubbi is not hands-free.¹⁷ You have to manually slide the lid open, which requires a free hand. And when you slide that lid, the entire pail is open, releasing a “blast” of smell that many users say is far worse than the Dekor’s “waft.” With Dekor, you get the convenience of the foot pedal, but the long-term smell absorption. With Ubbi, you get zero smell absorption, but you lose convenience and get a more potent smell-blast.
• Dekor Vs. Munchkin Step:
  • The Odor-Control Champion: The Munchkin Step is often rated as the best overall pail for odor control.¹⁸ It combines a foot pedal (like Dekor) with a self-sealing “twist” system (like Diaper Genie) and adds an Arm & Hammer baking soda puck right in the lid. It’s an odor-blocking fortress.
  • The “Shove” Factor: The downside to the Munchkin’s twist system is that you often have to manually shove the diaper down into the twisted bag, which can be just as gross, or grosser, than pushing the Dekor’s trap door.
  • Refills: Like Dekor and Diaper Genie, the Munchkin also uses its own proprietary refill system (which are also bag rings), so you’re still locked into buying special bags.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

So, after four years, two kids, and thousands of diapers, is the Dekor diaper pail worth it? My answer is a resounding yes. It’s not a perfect product; the plastic will eventually hold a smell, and the trap door can be annoying. But its flaws are, in my opinion, heavily outweighed by its convenience. The foot pedal is a non-negotiable for me now, and the “cut-your-own-size” bag system is genuinely brilliant for managing odors (and costs). If you want a pail that will make your life easier every single day, this is it.