The Focus Way · Cleaning guide
How to stop a nappy bin smelling (our salt-jar trick)
By the Focus Cleaning team · Published
The short answer
Wrap each nappy tightly, empty the bin often and wipe the inside with warm soapy water. Then make a small odour jar: fill a jar with coarse salt, add a splash of fabric softener and a few whole cloves, close it with a lid that has holes, and sit it in the bin's outer compartment or next to it. Refresh it every couple of weeks, and keep it where children can't reach it.
Before you start
What you'll need
- A small glass jar with a metal lid you can punch holes in (or a shaker-style lid)
- Coarse salt
- A splash of your usual fabric softener
- A small handful of whole cloves
- Warm water, a little detergent and a cloth for the bin
Safety first
- Keep the jar out of reach of babies and children: salt, softener and cloves are not safe to swallow, and small jars and cloves are a choking risk.
- Make sure the lid is screwed on firmly so the jar can't spill if it's knocked.
- If anyone in the home is sensitive to fragrance, skip the softener and use plain salt or bicarb instead.
- Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaning products. Some combinations release toxic gas.
- Keep the room ventilated: open a window and run the exhaust fan while you work.
- Wear gloves, read the label on any product, and follow its directions.
- Store products in their original labelled containers, out of reach of children and pets.
Check the surface
- Check your nappy bin's instructions before putting anything inside it. Many sealed bins should only be wiped with warm, soapy water.
- Sit the jar where it won't touch nappies or the refill cassette.
Step by step
- 1
Seal every nappy
Roll the nappy up using its tabs and seal it in a bag before it goes in the bin. Where practical, tip solids into the toilet first.
- 2
Empty and wipe the bin
Empty the bin regularly and wipe the inside and the lid with warm, soapy water. Let it dry with the lid open.
- 3
Fill the jar with coarse salt
Fill a small jar about three-quarters full with coarse salt.
- 4
Add softener and cloves
Add a splash of fabric softener and a few whole cloves on top. The salt holds the scent, the cloves add a warm, clean smell.
- 5
Close with a lid that breathes
Screw on a lid with small holes so the scent can come out but nothing spills.
- 6
Place it and refresh it
Sit the jar in the bin's outer compartment or right next to it, up out of children's reach. Replace the salt and cloves every couple of weeks.
What the Focus team recommends
A jar like this freshens the room, but it can't do the job on its own. Sealing nappies, emptying the bin often and a quick wipe inside are what stop most smells. Keeping your outdoor wheelie bin in the shade with a lid that closes properly helps too.
Questions
Why does my laundry smell even with a sealed nappy bin?
Usually the bin needs emptying or a wipe inside, or a nappy went in without being sealed. Clean the bin, let it dry, and check the lid closes properly.
Can I use bicarb instead of salt?
Yes. Bicarb of soda is a common odour absorber. Use it the same way, in a jar with a lid that has holes.
Is it safe with a baby in the house?
Only if the jar stays well out of reach and the lid is on firmly. Salt, softener and cloves can be harmful if swallowed, and small items are a choking risk.
Sources and further reading
- Managing nappies: tips for managing odours · Lake Macquarie City Council (NSW)
- Cuddly Fabric Conditioner: label warnings · Cuddly (fabric conditioner label, via Amcal)
Appliance and product manuals always take priority over general advice.
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