How to Get Rid of the Smell of Poopy Diapers

Nothing can ruin a day faster than walking in your front door and being instantly overwhelmed by the smell of poopy diapers. If you are a parent of a child in diapers, you know exactly what I mean. The smell lingers and attaches itself to every surface of your home. Regardless of how often you change the diaper pail, you just cannot seem to get rid of the odor.

I have three children, and the youngest is only three months old. Over the years, I have become a pro at disposing of poopy diapers and removing the lingering smell from my home. Ridding your home of the diaper smell is extremely difficult once it is there, but the home remedies below should help banish the poopy odor from your home, and prevent it from returning.

Step 1: To Prevent Future Odor, Get Rid of the Diaper Pail.

Some parents swear by these diaper containers, but in my experience they tend to add to the odor problem instead of relieving it. Unless you have the time to empty the pail and clean it out completely every single day, you are better off getting rid of it. These pails trap odors inside, and germs along with them. A better alternative is to use plastic bags to wrap your poopy diapers in. You can either purchase plastic bags designed specifically for this purpose, or use plastic shopping bags that you get at the grocery store. Ask friends and family to save theirs for you if you do not bring home enough on your own.

Immediately after changing a poopy diaper, place it in the plastic bag and tie it up tightly. You can then either place that bag inside your regular kitchen trash bag, or take it outside and dispose of it directly in your outside garbage container. The most important thing is to ensure that the bag is tied very tightly to trap all of the odor inside.

Step 2: Get the Existing Odor Out of Your Home.

Removing the existing odor from your home is extremely challenging. You first need to determine if there are any specific sources of the odor, such as mattresses or soiled carpet areas. If so, those areas need to be treated aggressively with an odor neutralizer. The most effective odor neutralizers are generally marketed for the purpose of removing pet odor from carpet and furniture, but they will work equally well at removing the poopy diaper odor from your home. Spray or sprinkle these products everywhere that odor is present. Be certain to test fabrics for fading, bleaching, or other changes before using these products on furniture, carpets, or draperies.

Odors can cling to any surface. Wipe down all surfaces in your home with vinegar to remove any odor from your furniture. If the smell of vinegar seems as overwhelming as the poopy diaper smell once did, open your windows for a couple of days and the vinegar smell will disappear. It might seem excessive to wipe down every major item in your house, but it is likely the only way to fully remove the diaper smell from your home.

Any stuffed toys, curtains, rugs, or other items that can tolerate the washing machine should be washed. Items that cannot handle being washed, such as mattresses, should be placed outside in the sun for as long as possible. The sun is a fantastic, natural way to remove odors.

Baking soda should be added to your trash cans, and open boxes should be placed in the areas where diaper changes generally occur. Baking soda will absorb odors from the air. Therefore, the boxes should be changed frequently.