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Family Life
Parenting
Babies and Infants
Diaper Changing
Diaper Genie Instructions for Assembly, Refills, Cleaning & More Download Article Discover tips & tricks for using the pail to reduce odors Co-authored by Wits End Parenting and Elaine Heredia, BA
Last Updated: October 30, 2025 Fact Checked
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Assembly
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Diaper Disposal
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How to Empty It
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This article was co-authored by Wits End Parenting and by wikiHow staff writer, Elaine Heredia, BA. Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 270,783 times.
Learning how to manage your baby’s dirty diapers involves a bit of trial and error—how often should you take your child’s dirty diapers to the trash? What is the best way to mask the smell between trips to the garbage? Luckily, products like the Diaper Genie® can help. Read on to learn how to assemble a Diaper Genie®, how to properly dispose of diapers, and how to refill and clean it for many odor-free, diaper-changing years to come!
How does a Diaper Genie work?
A Diaper Genie® reduces dirty diaper odors by sealing them in a plastic liner inside the pail with a clamping mechanism. To use it properly, pull enough film out of the liner refill to fill the pail and tie a knot in the bottom of it. Lift the lid and push the rolled-up dirty diaper into the film. Then close the lid.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
How to Assemble a Diaper Genie®
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1 Attach the head and the base at the hinge. The first step in assembling your Diaper Genie® is to attach the head of the pail (piece A) to the base (piece B). There's a hinge on the bottom of the head and a bar at the top of the base. While holding the head at a 45-degree angle, place the bar from the base into the hinge and press down gently until they click together.[1]XResearch source
If any pieces are missing, ask for replacement parts or a new Diaper Genie® by filling out a Help request form on DiaperGenie.com. To find the form, click the black “? Help” button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
2 Check if the foot pedal works. Press down on the foot pedal with your foot. It should cause the lid and the clamp underneath the lid to open smoothly. If not, the head may not be properly connected to the base, so try taking it off and putting it back on again.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Insert the canister into the base. Hold the canister at a 60-degree angle and insert the bottom into the base. Then tilt the top up and push it into the base until you hear it click into the head.[3]XResearch source
4 Prepare a liner refill for your Diaper Genie®. Pull the tab on the Diaper Genie® refill to remove the plastic seal. Then, pull downwards until you’ve released about 18 in (46 cm) of film (or enough to fill the bottom of the Diaper Genie®). Tie an overhand knot in the bottom of the film to secure it.[4]XResearch source
NOTE: Some Diaper Genie pails use square refills, while others use round ones. Make sure you buy the right one when your first refill runs out!
5 Put the liner refill in the pail. Lower the liner refill into the top of your Diaper Genie® and push the knot you tied down through the clamp. Finally, close the lid on the pail. You’re now ready to start using it![5]XResearch source
Advertisement Section 2 of 5:
How to Dispose of Diapers in the Diaper Genie
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1 Roll the dirty diaper into a tight ball. After you change your baby, roll their dirty diaper up tightly and secure it with the diaper tabs or a small piece of adhesive tape. The tighter you wrap the dirty diapers, the more of them the Diaper Genie® will hold before you need to empty it.[6]XResearch source Here's how many newborn diapers you can expect your Diaper Genie to hold based on the size of the pail:
Diaper Genie® Classic Pail: 55 newborn diapers
Diaper Genie® Compact Pail: 50 newborn diapers
Diaper Genie® Platinum Pail: 47 newborn diapers
Diaper Genie® Signature Pail: 47 newborn diapers
Diaper Genie® Deluxe Pail: 42 newborn diapers
Diaper Genie® Select Pail: 40 newborn diapers
Diaper Genie® Complete Pail: 36 newborn diapers
2 Open the lid and push the dirty diaper through the clamp. Press down on the Diaper Genie® foot pedal to lift the lid, then push the dirty diaper all the way down through the clamp. Ensure the clamp closes again after the diaper is fully inserted. Then lift your foot off the pedal to close the lid.[7]XResearch source
Once the clamp closes, the Diaper Genie® twists the film directly under the clamp, sealing the dirty diaper (and its odor) inside the pail.
Advertisement Section 3 of 5:
How to Empty a Full Diaper Genie®
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1 Remove the top of the pail. When your Diaper Genie® is full, unhinge the top from the bottom by pushing the button located in the middle of the pail (where the top and bottom parts meet). Flip the top part over, revealing the built-in, childproof cutter mechanism on the inside.[8]XResearch source
2 Cut the liner at the top. Pull the liner into the cutter and press down until it severs the liner. Tie a knot at the top of the liner to close the diapers inside.
3 Throw the full bag away. Lift the full, tied-off bag out of the Diaper Genie® and dispose of it outside, wherever you put your garbage.
Advertisement Section 4 of 5:
How to Refill the Diaper Genie®
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1 Tie a knot in the film. After emptying the full Diaper Genie®, tie a knot at the bottom of the film sticking out of the refill. If you fail to do so, the dirty diapers you place in the pail will fall out of the bottom of the film when you try to remove the next full load.[9]XResearch source
2 Pull out about 18 in (46 cm) of film. After tying a knot at the end of the film, pull out about 18 in (46 cm) of liner, like you did when you were preparing to use your Diaper Genie® for the first time. Ensure that the amount you pull out is enough to fill the bottom of the pail.[10]XResearch source
3 Secure the head back onto the canister. Finally, flip the head of the Diaper Genie® back over so it's sitting atop the base and the canister. Press down until the parts click back into place.[11]XResearch source
Advertisement Section 5 of 5:
How to Clean the Diaper Genie®
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Deep clean your Diaper Genie® whenever it smells or looks dirty. To do so, take the Diaper Genie® apart and spray the inside and outside with a bleach-based cleaner. Let it soak for at least 1 hour, rinse it off with water from your tub or shower, then wipe it down with paper towels or a soft cleaning cloth. Dry it by hand or let it air dry before using it again.[12]XResearch source
To prevent having to deep clean, clean the pail with an anti-bacterial cleaning wipe several times throughout the week.
Expert Q&A
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Question The lid came unhinged. Is there a trick to getting it back in without breaking it? Catherine Palomino, MS Master's Degree, Elementary Education, CUNY Brooklyn College Catherine Palomino is a former Childcare Center Director in New York. She received her MS in Elementary Education from CUNY Brooklyn College in 2010. Catherine Palomino, MS Master's Degree, Elementary Education, CUNY Brooklyn College Expert Answer While holding the top at a 45-degree angle, place the bar from piece B into the hinge and press down until they click together. If this cannot be done with ease, then do not force it and instead contact the manufacturer for assistance. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
Question Does a Diaper Genie use batteries? EpcotMagic Top Answerer No, a Diaper Genie does not require batteries. You manually push the diaper into the unit, and an internal mechanism seals it into the bag. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 12
Question How can I tell when my Diaper Genie is full? JoannaISR Community Answer Your Diaper Genie is full when you can no longer comfortably fit additional diapers into it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 11
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Video
Tips
The red line on the liner roll indicates when your roll is getting low, so you know you'll need to replace it soon. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you notice an odor and the pail isn't full, double-check that you tied the bottom of the liner into a knot. If you forget to tie a knot, the liner won't contain the odor from your baby’s dirty diapers effectively. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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Co-authored by: Wits End Parenting Parenting Specialists This article was co-authored by Wits End Parenting and by wikiHow staff writer, Elaine Heredia, BA. Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies. This article has been viewed 270,783 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 9Updated: October 30, 2025 Views: 270,783 Categories: Diaper ChangingArticle SummaryX
To use a Diaper Genie, roll a diaper into a tight ball and secure it with the adhesive tape on the diaper. Next, lift the lid of the Diaper Genie and push the diaper down through the clamp to seal it in the bag. Then, close the lid. Once the bag is full of dirty diapers, unhinge the top of the Diaper Genie and use the built-in cutter mechanism to cut the bag. Finally, tie a knot in the tope of the bag and put it in an outside garbage can. For tips from our Childcare reviewer on how to clean your Diaper Genie to get rid of lingering smells, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Download Article Discover tips & tricks for using the pail to reduce odors Co-authored by Wits End Parenting and Elaine Heredia, BA 
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Co-authored by: Wits End Parenting Parenting Specialists This article was co-authored by Wits End Parenting and by wikiHow staff writer, Elaine Heredia, BA. Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies. This article has been viewed 270,783 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 9 Updated: October 30, 2025 Views: 270,783 Categories: Diaper Changing Article SummaryX
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1 Attach the head and the base at the hinge. The first step in assembling your Diaper Genie® is to attach the head of the pail (piece A) to the base (piece B). There's a hinge on the bottom of the head and a bar at the top of the base. While holding the head at a 45-degree angle, place the bar from the base into the hinge and press down gently until they click together.[1] 
3 Insert the canister into the base. Hold the canister at a 60-degree angle and insert the bottom into the base. Then tilt the top up and push it into the base until you hear it click into the head.[3] 
4 Prepare a liner refill for your Diaper Genie®. Pull the tab on the Diaper Genie® refill to remove the plastic seal. Then, pull downwards until you’ve released about 18 in (46 cm) of film (or enough to fill the bottom of the Diaper Genie®). Tie an overhand knot in the bottom of the film to secure it.[4] 
5 Put the liner refill in the pail. Lower the liner refill into the top of your Diaper Genie® and push the knot you tied down through the clamp. Finally, close the lid on the pail. You’re now ready to start using it![5] Advertisement 
1 Roll the dirty diaper into a tight ball. After you change your baby, roll their dirty diaper up tightly and secure it with the diaper tabs or a small piece of adhesive tape. The tighter you wrap the dirty diapers, the more of them the Diaper Genie® will hold before you need to empty it.[6] Here's how many newborn diapers you can expect your Diaper Genie to hold based on the size of the pail: 
2 Open the lid and push the dirty diaper through the clamp. Press down on the Diaper Genie® foot pedal to lift the lid, then push the dirty diaper all the way down through the clamp. Ensure the clamp closes again after the diaper is fully inserted. Then lift your foot off the pedal to close the lid.[7] 
1 Remove the top of the pail. When your Diaper Genie® is full, unhinge the top from the bottom by pushing the button located in the middle of the pail (where the top and bottom parts meet). Flip the top part over, revealing the built-in, childproof cutter mechanism on the inside.[8] 
2 Cut the liner at the top. Pull the liner into the cutter and press down until it severs the liner. Tie a knot at the top of the liner to close the diapers inside. 
3 Throw the full bag away. Lift the full, tied-off bag out of the Diaper Genie® and dispose of it outside, wherever you put your garbage. Advertisement 
1 Tie a knot in the film. After emptying the full Diaper Genie®, tie a knot at the bottom of the film sticking out of the refill. If you fail to do so, the dirty diapers you place in the pail will fall out of the bottom of the film when you try to remove the next full load.[9] 
2 Pull out about 18 in (46 cm) of film. After tying a knot at the end of the film, pull out about 18 in (46 cm) of liner, like you did when you were preparing to use your Diaper Genie® for the first time. Ensure that the amount you pull out is enough to fill the bottom of the pail.[10] 
3 Secure the head back onto the canister. Finally, flip the head of the Diaper Genie® back over so it's sitting atop the base and the canister. Press down until the parts click back into place.[11] Advertisement 
Deep clean your Diaper Genie® whenever it smells or looks dirty. To do so, take the Diaper Genie® apart and spray the inside and outside with a bleach-based cleaner. Let it soak for at least 1 hour, rinse it off with water from your tub or shower, then wipe it down with paper towels or a soft cleaning cloth. Dry it by hand or let it air dry before using it again.[12] 
Catherine Palomino, MS Master's Degree, Elementary Education, CUNY Brooklyn College Catherine Palomino is a former Childcare Center Director in New York. She received her MS in Elementary Education from CUNY Brooklyn College in 2010. 
EpcotMagic Top Answerer No, a Diaper Genie does not require batteries. You manually push the diaper into the unit, and an internal mechanism seals it into the bag. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 12 
JoannaISR Community Answer Your Diaper Genie is full when you can no longer comfortably fit additional diapers into it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 11 
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