If you have ever used a diaper bag for any length of time, you will no doubt acquire a wide area of stains, smells, food particles, and other gunk which you may no longer be able to identify.  No, you’re not a bad mom.  But you are the mother of a small child, and they tend to cause interesting things to happen to the diaper bag you were once so proud of.  So when you finally recover from the shock of what it has become and decide to do something about it, the question arises:  How did I clean this thing?

Here we will give you a few tips, which may or may not work (hey, just being honest) to assist you in restoring you diaper bag to sanitary use.  You don’t need to try every one of these things in order to get your bag clean, but what may work for one may not work for another, so don’t give up if the first suggestion fails.

Cleaning your Diaper Bag

I am going to split this up into two sections.  The first deals with the glorious work of cleaning that mess.  The second section with discuss deodorizing, because we all know it needs it.

Vacuum

The first order of business is to get all of the crumbs out (and if you haven’t removed all of the baby items, now would be a good time).  I prefer to use a hand-held vacuum or a shop vac to suck up all of the crumbles and small food particles.  If you don’t have access to one of those, just hold the diaper bag upside down over the trash, shake violently, and then wipe the out the rest with a damp cloth.

Turn Inside Out

After you wipe down the outside, turn the diaper bag inside out if at all possible.  I know this may be difficult with some diaper bags, but it is the only real way to get at all of the nooks and crevices inside the bag.

Soap and Water

The first thing we want to try is plan old soap and water.  Place a small amount of dish detergent on a damp cloth or sponge.  Scour every inch of the diaper bag until you can no longer see any stains.  Then, grab another damp cloth and rinse the bag free of soap residue.

White Vinegar

If that doesn’t work or if you just want to be sure, wet a washcloth with plain white vinegar and wash the bag down with it.  The vinegar will clean and disinfect, as well as cover some of the smell.

Sterilization Solution

Another option is to use the sterilization solution that you use on your milk bottles.  It is safe enough to use on the containers your child uses to drink from, so it should be safe enough to clean your diaper bag with.  You will want to use this solution After the soap and water.

Dealing with the Smell

Alright, now that you have a clean diaper bag, how about making it smell good.  Often after much use, a diaper bag will become a odorous mixture of sour milk, dirty diapers, cheddar fish or fruit loops – not of baby shampoo.  So, in order to freshen it up, we must employ some strong weapons.

Citrus Rind

A great option for adding some freshness is the use the rind of citrus fruit, such as a lemon or lime.  Simply cut open the fruit and remove the meat.  Now, rub the inside of the rind around floor of the diaper bag.  It will end up smelling like you just mopped it, a welcome scent indeed.

An Apple

Apparently, an apple a day can keep the smell away.  For some reason, unknown to me, when an apple is cut open, it tends to absorb smells.  Cut an apple in half and place it inside the diaper bag for a day or two.  When you remove it, you should have a much better smelling bag.

Baking Soda

Most of use have used baking soda to deal with smells in the refrigerator.  You can also use it to help with the diaper bag issue.  Take a sock and fill it with backing soda.  Tie off the end and leave it in the diaper bag for a week or so.  It should take care of the oder issue.

Coffee Grounds

Same thing for coffee grounds, except that your diaper bag will smell like a latte.  Just make sure the grounds aren’t used – that could make it worse

Dryer Sheet

As a final option, throw in a dryer sheet.  It may not do as well as some of the other options at absorbing the oder, but it will add a nice smell.

Some Other Options

Dryel

If your diaper bag is cloth, you might try using a Dryel cleaning kit.  This will basically dry clean your diaper bag in your home dryer, a great option that tends to work beautifully.  But Do Not Do This If There Is Any Plastic On The Bag.  If you do, you will ruin it.

Febreeze

You can use Febreeze to take care of the smell, but only on the outside.  Some infants may be allergic to the chemicals in it, so do not spray it inside the diaper bag.

Buy a New One

If it is just too bad to clean, you might want to just toss it and buy a new one.