Ubbi Vs Munchkin Diaper Pail: Which One Is Better?

When I was building my baby registry, I obsessed over every item. But the diaper pail? I spent weeks researching it. Why? Because I have a sensitive nose, and the thought of my nursery smelling like a landfill was my biggest fear.

This led me to the two biggest names in the game: the steel Ubbi and the Arm & Hammer-powered Munchkin. I’ve used both extensively, and my goal here is to give you the real, hands-on comparison I wish I’d had. I’m going to walk you through exactly how they perform in the real world to help you decide which pail deserves a spot in your home.

A Brief Comparison Table

My Experience With The Ubbi Diaper Pail

My initial attraction to the Ubbi was purely logical: it’s made of steel. Steel doesn’t absorb odors, while plastic does.

This seemed like a long-term win. When it arrived, I was impressed. It felt solid, sleek, and looked more like a piece of modern decor than a trash can for poop.

The setup was nonexistent; I just took it out of the box, put in a regular 13-gallon kitchen trash bag, and it was ready.

The number one selling point for me, and for most people, is the “no special bags” feature.

I cannot overstate how wonderful this is. I was already dreading the recurring cost of diapers and wipes; adding another proprietary refill to my shopping list felt like a scam.

With the Ubbi, I just used the same scented kitchen bags I already had.

When I ran out in a pinch, I could use a grocery bag. This flexibility is its superpower.

In terms of odor control, the Ubbi is an absolute fortress… when it’s closed. The steel body and thick rubber seals lock in every bit of smell. I could put my nose right up to the lid and smell nothing. However, this creates a “pressure cooker” effect. The moment you slide that little lid open to put a new diaper in, you are hit with a wave of concentrated, eye-watering stench. It’s a quick “whoosh,” and then it’s gone once you slide the lid closed, but it is potent.

Using it is simple, but it requires a free hand. You have to manually slide the lid open and closed. This was fine with a newborn, but once my baby became a wiggling alligator during changes, having to take a hand off the baby to open the pail was a genuine hassle. The child lock, on the other hand, is fantastic. It’s a simple twist knob that completely baffles my toddler.

Pros Of Ubbi Diaper Pail

• No Special Bags Required: This is the single biggest advantage and deserves the most attention. The long-term savings are astronomical. Let’s do some quick math. A 3-pack of proprietary refills for a competitor might cost $20 and last, say, 6-8 weeks. That’s roughly $170 a year. A box of 100 high-quality, 13-gallon kitchen bags costs about $20 and will last you… well, a very long time. Over the 2-3 years you’re in diapers, you will save hundreds of dollars. This isn’t just about money, either. It’s about convenience. You will never have that “oh no, I’m out of diaper pail bags” moment at 3 AM. You just walk to your kitchen and grab another trash bag. This feature also makes it more environmentally flexible, as you can choose to use biodegradable or compostable bags if that aligns with your family’s values. The freedom from a proprietary system is, in my opinion, its most powerful feature.
• Superior Material (Steel): The powder-coated steel construction is not just for looks. Plastic is a porous material. Over months and years, it will inevitably absorb odor molecules. You can scrub it, bleach it, and sun it, but eventually, a plastic pail will start to smell “funky” even when it’s empty. The Ubbi’s steel body is non-porous.³ It simply cannot absorb the smell. This means the pail you buy on day one will be the same pail you use on day 1,000. When it gets dirty, you wipe it with a disinfectant wipe, and it is literally good as new. This makes it a fantastic item to pass on to a friend or sell, as it retains its value and integrity far better than any plastic competitor.
• Excellent Odor Lock (When Closed): The design is brilliantly simple. The entire top lid is ringed with thick, airtight rubber seals.⁴ The sliding door also has its own rubber gasket. When that pail is closed, it is hermetically sealed. I can personally attest that you can have a pail full of the absolute worst diapers, and the nursery will smell pristine. You can put your face an inch from the seams and detect nothing. This is crucial for a small nursery where the pail might be close to the crib or a rocking chair. It contains the ambient smell perfectly, which is, after all, the primary job of a diaper pail.
• Aesthetic Design And Color Options: Let’s be honest: most baby gear is an eyesore. The Ubbi is one of the few items that genuinely looks good. Its slim, oval profile and sleek metal finish blend into a modern home seamlessly. It doesn’t scream “POOP BUCKET.” Furthermore, it comes in a massive array of colors and patterns, from simple white, grey, and black to bright mint, blush pink, and even woodgrain or marble finishes.⁵ You can actually match your pail to your nursery’s decor theme, which is a small but significant bonus for parents who care about their home’s aesthetic.
• Child Lock Feature: This seems like a minor feature until your child turns 18 months old. Toddlers are obsessed with buttons, lids, and, for some horrifying reason, trash. The Ubbi has a simple, effective child lock right next to the sliding lid.⁶ It’s a small red button that you turn to lock or unlock the lid. It’s easy for an adult to operate with one hand but completely non-obvious to a curious toddler. This has saved me from a potential “diaper-pocalypse” more times than I can count. Any pail without a child lock is a disaster waiting to happen, and the Ubbi’s is one of the best.

Read more: Comparison Of Leatherman Free T2 And Victorinox

Cons Of Ubbi Diaper Pail

• The “Puff” Of Air: This is the Ubbi’s Achilles’ heel. Because the pail is so airtight, it traps all the odor inside. When you slide that small lid open, you are displacing air, and a concentrated puff of the most heinous smell you can imagine escapes. It’s a gut punch. It’s fast—as soon as you drop the diaper in and slide the lid closed, the smell is gone—but for those two seconds, it is awful. I learned to hold my breath, drop the diaper, and turn my head. It’s a significant trade-off. You get zero ambient smell, but you pay for it every time you open the lid. This is the single biggest complaint users have, and it is 100% valid.
• Manual Lid Operation: The sliding lid is sleek, but it is not hands-free. In the trenches of diaper changing, especially with a wiggly baby or a newborn, you often have only one free hand. Your other hand is pinning the baby’s legs, holding their hands, or just keeping them from rolling off the changing table. Having to reach over and use that one free hand to find the small handle and slide the lid open is an extra step of friction. It’s not as simple or as fluid as stepping on a pedal. I’ve definitely had moments of fumbling with the lid while holding a very messy diaper, which is a stressful experience. A foot pedal is simply a superior mechanism for this task.
• Bag Changing Process: While using any bag is a pro, the process of changing the bag is a bit of a con. You have to lift the entire top canister off. Then, you have to unhook the full, heavy bag from the interior ring, tie it off, and try to pull it out without it snagging or ripping. Because you’re using a standard kitchen bag, it’s often a very full, very heavy, and very smelly package. Then you have to fit a new bag, making sure to tuck it neatly around the ring so it doesn’t interfere with the seal. It’s not difficult, but it’s a messy, hands-on process. You are much more “up close and personal” with the bag of dirty diapers than with a system like the Munchkin.
• Higher Initial Cost: You are paying a premium for that steel construction and design. The Ubbi is often one of the most expensive diaper pails on the shelf.⁷ While I firmly believe it pays for itself within the first year by saving you on proprietary bags, that initial sticker shock is real. When you are already buying a car seat, stroller, and crib, dropping a significant amount on what is essentially a trash can can be a tough pill to swallow. You are making a long-term investment, but the short-term cost is undeniably high compared to many plastic models.

My Experience With The Munchkin Diaper Pail

After a few months with the Ubbi, I got a chance to try the Munchkin Step pail at a friend’s house, and I was intrigued enough to buy one for our second changing station.

The Munchkin’s philosophy is completely different. It’s plastic, but it focuses on tackling the smell in two ways: sealing the bag and masking the odor.

The “Step” feature is, for me, its biggest win. Being able to hold a messy baby with one arm, a dirty diaper in the other hand, and just tap a foot pedal to open the lid felt like a luxury.

It’s a true one-handed operation.

But the real magic is what happens inside. When you close the lid, the mechanism twists the bag, creating a seal. This means the smell is trapped in the bag, not just in the pail. The result? When you step on the pedal to open it, you smell… nothing. Maybe a faint whiff of the lavender-scented baking soda puck that’s clipped to the lid. This completely solves the “odor puff” problem of the Ubbi.

The downside, of course, is the bags. You must buy the Munchkin refill rings. They are expensive, and they are a constant recurring cost.² The “Snap, Seal & Toss” system, where you cut the bag from the continuous ring, is clean and easy, but it’s a commitment. I also found that the Arm & Hammer baking soda puck ran out quickly, adding another small, annoying cost.

Pros Of Munchkin Diaper Pail

• Exceptional Odor Control System: This is the Munchkin’s crown jewel. The combination of the twisting mechanism and the baking soda puck is brilliant. The real hero is the twist. When you close the lid, the internal mechanism twists the bag, creating a literal seal that locks the diaper and its odor inside the bag.⁸ This means the pail itself, the empty air above the sealed-off diapers, doesn’t smell. The Arm & Hammer baking soda puck, which clips into the lid, is the secondary defense.⁹ It absorbs and neutralizes any faint odors that might be lingering. The result is that when you step on the pedal and open the lid, you are not hit with that “puff” of death like you are with the Ubbi. You just smell a faint, pleasant lavender scent from the baking soda. For parents who are extremely sensitive to smell, this feature alone makes it the winner.
• Hands-Free Foot Pedal: I cannot overstate the convenience of a foot pedal. It’s a true game-changer. Picture this: you have a dirty diaper in one hand and you’re using your other hand to steady your wiggling baby. You don’t have to let go of the baby. You don’t have to fumble with a lid. You just tap the pedal with your foot, the lid pops open, you drop the diaper, and you let the lid close. It’s seamless, hygienic, and makes the entire process faster and less stressful. This is a massive quality-of-life improvement, especially during those middle-of-the-night changes when you’re half-asleep.
• Clean “Snap, Seal & Toss” System: Changing the bag, while proprietary, is admittedly very clean.¹⁰ You open the front door of the pail (which is a great feature, no lifting a heavy top off). You use the built-in cutter to clip the top of the full bag. You snap the bag, and it’s sealed. Then you just tie a knot in the top and toss the whole “sausage” of diapers. You pull down a new length of bag from the continuous refill ring, tie a knot in the bottom, and close the door. Your hands never have to go inside the pail or get near the opening of the bag. It feels much more sanitary and less “gross” than pulling a full, open bag out of the Ubbi.
• Built-in Child Lock: Like the Ubbi, the Munchkin also includes a child lock, which is essential. It’s a simple button on the front of the pail that you can slide to lock the foot pedal mechanism. This prevents curious toddlers from stepping on the pedal and exploring the contents. It’s easy for an adult to engage or disengage but effective at keeping little ones out. Given that a foot pedal is practically an invitation for a toddler to play, having this lock is a non-negotiable and well-executed feature.

Cons Of Munchkin Diaper Pail

• Proprietary Refills Cost: This is the deal-breaker for many, and it’s a massive con. You must buy the Munchkin-branded refill rings. You have no other choice. These refills are not cheap. This locks you into a recurring expense for the entire time your child is in diapers. It’s the “razor and blade” business model. The pail itself is reasonably priced, but the company makes its money on the bags. This ongoing cost will easily make the Munchkin far more expensive than the Ubbi over a 2-3 year period. You also have to remember to buy them. Running out of refills is a huge pain, as you can’t just substitute a regular trash bag. You’re left with a useless piece of plastic until your new refills arrive.
• Plastic Construction: At the end of the day, this is a plastic pail. While it’s made of durable, high-quality plastic, it is still a porous material. Over time, it is susceptible to absorbing odors. The baking soda puck does a great job of masking this, but if you let a particularly nasty bag sit for too long, or if you don’t clean the pail regularly, it will start to smell. I’ve noticed that after a year or so, many plastic pails (this one included) have a faint, lingering sour smell even when empty. The steel Ubbi simply does not have this problem. This also means its long-term resale or hand-me-down value is significantly lower.
• Baking Soda Refills: It’s not just the bags. That little Arm & Hammer baking soda puck that works so well? It also needs to be replaced, typically every 60-90 days. While they aren’t as expensive as the bags, it is another small, recurring cost and another item you have to add to your shopping list. It feels a bit like being nickel-and-dimed. You can, of course, choose not to replace it, but then you lose one of the pail’s key odor-fighting features, which defeats the purpose.
• Bag Capacity And Waste: The twisting mechanism is great for odor, but it’s not efficient for space. The twisting eats up a lot of the bag’s real estate. I found that I was “filling” a Munchkin bag much more quickly than an Ubbi bag, even with the same number of diapers. The bag just doesn’t hold as much. Furthermore, the “Snap, Seal & Toss” system, while clean, creates a lot of plastic waste. You’re using a thick, proprietary plastic ring and then a lot of bag material for each “link” you create. It feels significantly less eco-friendly than just using one large kitchen bag.

Maintenance Tips For Ubbi Diaper Pail

• Wipe The Seals Regularly: The rubber seals on the main lid and the sliding door are the heart of the Ubbi’s odor-locking power.¹¹ However, they can get gunked up over time with dust, lint, or… other things. This debris can compromise the airtight seal. I make it a point to take a disinfecting wipe or a cloth with some mild cleaner and wipe down all the rubber seals at least once a week. This keeps them clean, pliable, and ensures they create that perfect, tight seal every time, which is critical for preventing any ambient smell from leaking out.
• Full Interior Cleaning: Because the pail is made of non-porous steel, cleaning it is incredibly simple and effective.¹² Every time I change the bag, I give the entire interior a quick spray with a disinfectant or a 50/50 vinegar-water solution and wipe it dry with a paper towel. This takes about 30 seconds. This process removes any moisture or residue that might be lingering at the bottom and prevents any mold or mildew from ever getting a foothold. Since the steel can’t absorb smells, this simple wipe-down literally makes it as good as new. Never use abrasive scrubbers, as this could damage the powder coating.
• Strategic Deodorizer Placement: Just because the Ubbi doesn’t come with a deodorizer doesn’t mean you can’t use one. However, the placement is key. Don’t just toss a baking soda puck into the bottom, where it will get lost in the bag. I found the best method is to use a deodorizer with an adhesive back (like a charcoal sachet or a gel pod) and stick it to the underside of the main lid. Not the sliding door, but the actual top part of the pail. This way, it’s out of sight, doesn’t interfere with the bag, and helps absorb some of that “puff” of air when you open the sliding lid.
• Proper Bag Fitment: Using any bag is a pro, but using the right bag matters. A cheap, thin, off-brand bag is more likely to rip when you’re pulling it out. I highly recommend using a quality 13-gallon (tall kitchen) bag, preferably one with some flex technology and odor control (like Glad with Febreze). When you install the new bag, make sure you pull it down all the way and neatly tuck the edges around the bag-holding ring. If the bag is bunched up, it can prevent the main lid from sealing perfectly on its rubber gasket, which would let odors escape. Taking an extra five seconds to fit the bag properly is essential for performance.

Also read: My Thoughts on Matrixx Water Softener

Maintenance Tips For Munchkin Diaper Pail

• Replace The Baking Soda Puck On Schedule: This is the most obvious, but most easily forgotten, maintenance task. That little Arm & Hammer puck is actively absorbing and neutralizing odors.¹³ It will get saturated and stop working. I set a recurring reminder on my phone to replace it every two months. If you start to notice a sour smell even when the lid is closed, the puck is your first culprit. Don’t skip this; it’s a huge part of the pail’s odor-control system, and trying to save a few bucks by stretching its life will only result in a stinky nursery.
• Clean The Twisting Mechanism: This is the part of the pail that gets the dirtiest. The plastic “paddles” that twist the bag can (and will) get smeared over time. This residue is a prime source of odor. About once a month, I open the front door, use the bag cutter, and get the full bag out of the way. Then, I take a handful of disinfecting wipes and thoroughly clean the entire twisting mechanism—all the paddles, nooks, and crannies. This prevents old, nasty buildup from stinking up the pail itself and ensures the mechanism continues to twist smoothly.
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• Deep Clean The Plastic Interior: Because this pail is plastic, it needs a more serious deep clean than the Ubbi. Every few months, or if I’ve had a particularly bad bag leak, I take the whole pail outside. I spray the entire inside with a bleach-based (or other strong disinfectant) cleaner and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then I hose it out completely and let it dry in the sun. The sun is a natural deodorizer and sterilizer. This process helps to “bleach” any odors that may have started to seep into the plastic pores and keeps it from developing that permanent “funk” that plastic pails are famous for.
• Check The Bag Cutter: The “Snap, Seal & Toss” system has a small, sharp blade built into the door frame that you use to cut the bag. This little cutter can sometimes get gummed up with plastic residue from the bags. If you notice it’s not cutting cleanly or you have to tug at the bag, take a disinfecting wipe and carefully clean the blade and the plastic housing around it. A clean cutter makes the bag-changing process much faster and smoother.

Comparison With Other Brands

• Vs. The Diaper Genie: The Diaper Genie is the classic, the name everyone knows. It’s most similar to the Munchkin in that it’s a plastic pail that uses a proprietary refill system. The key difference is the sealing mechanism. The Diaper Genie Complete uses a “double-clamp” system, while older models famously create a “sausage link” of diapers. In my experience, the Munchkin’s twist-and-seal is far superior at odor control when the lid is open.¹⁴ The Diaper Genie’s main benefit is its foot pedal and its widespread availability.¹⁵ However, its refills are notoriously expensive, and I find the “sausage” system wastes an incredible amount of plastic bag material. The plastic also absorbs odors just like the Munchkin. Between the two, I find the Munchkin’s odor control is better, but both suffer from the same “proprietary refill” con.
• Cost (Ubbi): When compared to any brand that requires special bags (Diaper Genie, Munchkin, Dekor), the Ubbi wins on long-term cost, full stop. The initial $80-$100 price tag for the Ubbi feels high, but the $50-$60 price of a Diaper Genie or Munchkin is a trap. You will spend hundreds of dollars on their refills over the next three years. The Ubbi’s cost of operation is just the cost of your regular kitchen trash bags, which you are buying anyway. From a purely financial perspective, the Ubbi is in a class of its own and is the undisputed champion.
• Odor Control (Munchkin): This is where the Munchkin shines against the competition.¹⁶ I would argue its odor-control system (twist + baking soda) is the best on the market for the in-use experience. It’s better than the Diaper Genie’s clamp system, which can still let out a puff of air. And it’s worlds better than the Ubbi’s “smell-blast-when-open” problem. If your single most important criteria is “I want to smell absolutely nothing, ever, even when I open the lid,” the Munchkin is probably your best bet.
• Materials (Ubbi): The Ubbi’s steel construction puts it in a premium category, even above other pails that can use regular bags (like some from Dekor).¹⁷ The steel is its defining feature. No other major brand on the market (Genie, Munchkin, etc.) uses steel. This makes the Ubbi the clear winner for durability, longevity, and the prevention of long-term odor absorption. It’s built to last for multiple children; the plastic pails are not.¹⁸
• Ease of Use: This is a mixed bag. For the act of disposing of a diaper, the foot-pedal models (Munchkin, Diaper Genie) are the clear winners over the Ubbi’s manual-slide lid. The hands-free operation is a massive plus. However, for the act of changing the bag, the Ubbi is arguably the simplest. You just lift the top and pull the bag out. The Diaper Genie’s “cut-and-tie-a-new-knot” sausage system is fussy. The Munchkin’s “snap-and-cut” is very clean but still requires you to tie a new knot at the bottom and feed the bag through. The Ubbi is just like changing a regular trash can, which is a process everyone already knows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

So, after all this, what’s the final verdict? It truly comes down to a choice between long-term cost and short-term convenience.

For me, the Ubbi is the long-term winner. That initial high price pays for itself within the first year because you’re not a slave to an expensive, proprietary bag system. I love the freedom of using any bag I want. The steel construction gives me peace of mind that the pail itself will never, ever start to stink. Yes, I have to hold my breath for two seconds when I open the lid, but I’ll take that trade-off to save hundreds of dollars. If you are budget-conscious and value durable, long-lasting products, the Ubbi is the one you should get.

However, I completely understand why someone would choose the Munchkin. If you have a hyper-sensitive sense of smell and the “puff of air” from the Ubbi sounds like a living nightmare, the Munchkin is your savior. Its twist-seal system is genuinely fantastic at locking odors away.²² And that foot pedal… it’s a dream. It just feels easier to use. If your top priority is the most pleasant, smell-free, and hands-free experience possible, and you’re willing to pay the ongoing “subscription” for the bags, you will be incredibly happy with the Munchkin.

You can’t go wrong with either, but you’re choosing two very different philosophies: The Ubbi is an investment, while the Munchkin is a convenience.