Ubbi Vs Munchkin Diaper Pail
Trying to choose between Ubbi vs Munchkin diaper pail for disposing of your baby’s dirty diapers?
Then let us help you decide which is the best diaper pail for you: Munchkin vs Ubbi diaper pail!
The smell of a dirty diaper has a tendency to linger, and it isn’t something you want in your lovely nursery.
Or anywhere else in the home! This is where the diaper pail comes in.
The diaper pail locks the dirty diaper away, and traps the bad smells in.
Parents love both the Ubbi and the Munchkin Step diaper pail, and both brands are known for their quality odor confinement.
In this Munchkin diaper pail vs Ubbi review, we have compared both diaper pails compare, focusing on usability, odor prevention, price, and more so you can find the perfect diaper pail for you and your little one!
And if you love this guide on what’s the difference between Ubbi and Munchkin diaper pails, then check out these guides on Diaper Genie vs Munchkin, diaper pail deodorizer ideas, best diaper pail alternatives, and must have diaper caddy essentials. Or even our review on Diaper Genie Elite vs Complete.
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Ubbi Vs Munchkin Diaper Pail
Let’s begin by taking a closer look at both your options.
All About Ubbi Diaper Pail
Ubbi is a parent and baby brand that prides itself on innovation, and the Ubbi diaper pail is no exception.
The first diaper pail to be made of steel, it uses carefully chosen materials and a clever design to store dirty diapers and trap odors.
An award-winning design, the Ubbi diaper pail is popular with parents thanks to a durable construction and a variety of style options.
However, while the slide opening prevents bad smells from being disturbed, it also makes the Ubbi slightly tricky to use.
Pros
- The steel construction resists odors and adds durability.
- A child lock keeps away curious hands.
- Reduced air disturbance thanks to a slide opening.
Cons
- You need both hands to operate the Ubbi.
- When the door slides open, bad smells can get out.
All About Munchkin Diaper Pail
Created by Arm & Hammer, the Munchkin Step is a foot pedal diaper with a twist and lock mechanism to prevent odor leaks.
When you drop a diaper into the Munchkin Step, the liner ring twists the bag closed, keeping smells inside.
Anything that does get through is then absorbed by the puck baking soda cartridge in the lid.
The Munchkin Step is simple and easy to use, and it really does prevent odor leaks.
However, to get the best from the Munchkin Step, you have to use the costly Arm & Hammer liner bags.
Pros
- The twist and seal system offers superior smell prevention.
- A baking soda cartridge absorbs leaking odors.
- The push pedal design is easy to use.
Cons
- The diapers have to be forced through the opening.
- The Munchkin Step needs branded bags for the best performance.
Similarities And Differences Between Ubbi And Munchkin Diaper Pail
The Ubbi and Munchkin Step are both designed to meet the same need: locking away dirty diapers and their bad smells. But how do the two compare?
Odor Elimination
Odor elimination really is the big draw of both the Ubbi and the Munchkin diaper pails.
So, let’s start with how well they actually perform.
The Ubbi uses the design and the materials for odor elimination.
The steel construction is non-porous, so bad smells don’t get trapped, and the locking lid traps odors away.
The slide opening minimizes air disturbance, reducing odors again.
The Munchkin Step uses a few methods to lock away dirty diaper smells.
First, the self-sealing system twists and seals the bag after each diaper drop, containing smells whether the lid is open or closed.
Second, the puck baking soda cartridge in the lid traps smells that do leak through, while releasing a subtle lavender fragrance.
Both pails do a decent job at eliminating odors, although we think the Munchkin offers a superior performance overall.
Materials
The Ubbi is the first ever steel diaper pail, and the use of steel is a clever choice.
As a non-porous material, it doesn’t absorb odors, leading to a fresher smelling pail.
Lightweight but durable, you can expect an Ubbi to last from birth all the way to potty training (and potentially for another child).
Steel is easy to wipe clean, but the major downside to the material is you can’t use water.
If moisture gets trapped inside the Ubbi pail, it can lead to rust.
The Munchkin, however, is made from plastic.
Plastic is strong and light, and it’s super easy to clean.
You can use water, soap, and disinfectant to clear away any disasters, and eliminate lingering odor.
However, plastic is less durable, and you might find your diaper pail looks a little worse for wear with repeated usage.
Plastic also absorbs odors more than steel, so escaped smells can stick around.
Capacity
All diaper pails make impressive claims about capacity, but in reality, both the Ubbi and the Munchkin Step are likely to hold around 50 newborn diapers.
If you really wrap them tight, you can get more in.
However, once there are 50 diapers in the pail, you’re going to want to change the bag anyway — even the best diaper pail can only hide so much bad odor.
Opening Mechanism
It’s really easy to use the Munchkin Step foot-pedal mechanism.
With just a press of the foot, the lid swings open, and you can throw the dirty diaper away.
Because of the hands-free operation, you can keep hold of your child and ditch the diaper, all in one go.
The Ubbi, on the other hand, uses a slide technique.
This is intended to minimize air disturbance, so fewer bad smells can break free.
While the slide lid is easy enough to use, it can’t be operated hands-free.
Unless you have very flexible fingers, you’ll need both hands to dispose of the diaper.
While we much prefer the pedal mechanism of the Munchkin, it isn’t without problems.
The twist seal in the lid does prevent odors getting through, but it also prevents diapers getting in.
You really have to push to drop the diaper into the Munchkin pail.
Most times, this shouldn’t be a problem. But when blowouts happen, you might get your hands dirty.
Ease Of Use
One area where both diaper pails have issues is the ease of use.
Both pails require you to bend down to get the diaper into the pail.
For the Ubbi, you have to bend to open the lib.
With the Munchkin, you have to bend to push the diaper through the opening.
This isn’t a major issue, but it can cause backache with repeated use.
And for moms fresh from the hospital, bending can be a real pain.
It isn’t enough of a problem to turn us away from either the Ubbi or the Munchkin, but it is something to keep in mind, particularly for parents with mobility issues.
Child Lock
Both the Ubbi and the Munchkin Step do come with a child lock mechanism, but the Ubbi is superior.
The Ubbi child lock really does prevent little hands from getting into the pail, and you’ll feel happy leaving even curious toddlers alone with the Ubbi.
The Munchkin Step does include an out-of-reach locking button, and it’s reasonably good at keeping younger babies away.
However, it’s not quite as “out-of-reach” as you might hope.
Particularly adventurous little hands can potentially break into the Munchkin.
Liners
Ubbi and Munchkin Step (owned by Arm & Hammer) both make their own branded liners to use with the diaper pail.
The Ubbi liners are fairly basic, although they are made with 20% recycled materials, which is a nice touch.
The Munchkin Step diaper pail can be used with both the Munchkin diaper rings, and the snap, seal, and toss bags.
With 7 layers and a lavender scent, these bags are able to keep bad smells away.
While both brands market their own liners, the Ubbi is compatible with any standard trash bag.
But the Munchkin is best used with Munchkin branded liners.
Most non-branded trash bags simply don’t fit the pail properly.
Design
No diaper pail is ever going to be a stand-out design feature in the nursery, but both designs are sleek and unobtrusive.
But if you’re a parent with an eye toward design, the Ubbi really does come out on top.
It’s available in a range of colors, unlike the Munchkin Step, which is only sold in white.
The powder coat finish looks good (and is easy to clean) and the steel build adds to the overall appeal.
Price
The initial price difference between the Ubbi and the Munchkin Step is minimal, but we have found the Munchkin to be cheaper.
However, the Munchkin is best used with the specific branded liners, and these are costly.
The baking soda cartridge also needs to be replaced occasionally.
While your initial Munchkin purchase might save you some money, over time, this is likely to be the more expensive option.
Final Thoughts On Ubbi Vs Munchkin Step Diaper Pail
Overall, we think any parent will be pleased with the performance of both the Ubbi diaper pail, and the Munchkin Step.
The Munchkin Step is our preferred choice thanks to the foot pedal opening mechanism, and the twist trash bag closing.
It’s incredibly easy to use, and bad smells really are locked away.
But there are some benefits to the Ubbi.
For a start, you can use any non-branded trash bag to save money.
And the steel construction offers better durability.
We hope this guide will help you choose the right diaper pail for a fresher smelling nursery.
And if you like this guide on Munchkin Step diaper pail vs Ubbi, then you’ll love our other diapering guides on Huggies Snug And Dry vs Little Movers, how long can I leave a wet diaper on, Hello Bello vs Pampers, and best diapers to prevent blowouts.
