Diaper Genie, marketed as a product that stores diapers while eliminating their odor, offers parents the convenience of avoiding a trip to the trash can each time they change a diaper. But the odor prevention benefits only last as long as the Diaper Genie stays clean. Regularly sterilizing your Diaper Genie keeps it smelling fresh and kills germs that might make you and your family sick.
Equipment
Gathering the required equipment before beginning allows for quick and efficient cleaning of your Diaper Genie. Follow the directions that accompany it regarding recommended cleaning products. If you don't have this material available, a terrycloth rag, bleach, water and soap work well for cleaning a Diaper Genie as well as sterilizing it.
How To
Remove the liner from the Diaper Genie and discard. Take the lid off the product, which makes it easier to clean the inside. Use a damp rag and warm, soapy water to wipe off any visible debris from the entire surface of the Diaper Genie. For heavily soiled areas, rinse the rag and apply more soap. The next step is to sterilize the Diaper Genie. Mix 3/4 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water and pour it into the Diaper Genie. Allow the mixture to sit for about five minutes. Pour it down the drain and rinse the Diaper Genie well. Allow it to air-dry before replacing the liner. On a sunny day, placing your Diaper Genie outside to dry offers additional germ-killing benefits.
How Often
Playtex, manufacturers of the Diaper Genie, recommend cleaning the product periodically. Once a month is a good option, but if you notice an odor at any time, cleaning your Diaper Genie helps eliminate the problem. If you stay at home with your baby rather than spending the day elsewhere, you might have to clean your Diaper Genie more often. If any feces transfers from a diaper to the surface of your Diaper Genie, clean it immediately to prevent germs from being passed to your family.
Considerations
If you prefer to avoid bleach, disinfecting wipes are a good alternative for sterilizing the inside and outside surfaces of your Diaper Genie. For parents who don't want to use harsh chemicals in their child's room, vinegar combined with water is an alternative that has disinfectant properties. Keep all cleaning products out of reach of your child to prevent poisoning. To protect your floors, clean your Diaper Genie in the bathtub or yard to keep bleach from splashing on carpet or hardwood.
