Cloth Diaper Project - Hanging Pail Tutorial

First of all, I want to point out that I am using PUL film in this tutorial. I do not recommend using PUL film; however, I have a lot of it and I want to use it up. I would recommend using a yard of PUL with the laminated side (plastic-y side) on the inside. This will keep smells and leaks in much better than PUL film. If you are like me and somehow wound up with 15 yards of PUL film though, you can use it sandwiched between two layers of cotton.

I will be posting a tutorial for a zippered wet bag using PUL next week, as I've swapped with another mama for some more PUL.

This hanging pail uses a zipper closure. I do this for three reasons 1) it allows me to hang the pail on the changing table rather than needing a diaper pail 2) its very easy to transport and clean and because you can throw it in the wash, it won't get stinky like a diaper pail 3) that zipper holds in smells!

I wanted to put this together quickly, since I have previously made one and wanted a second for washing day. I used 2 yards of Michael Miller groovy guitar and 2 yards of PUL film. Open and spread the 2 yards of cotton fabric so that you are looking at the wrong side of the fabric and spray one half side with adhesive (you need this if working with PUL), fold PUL film widthwise and place on the glued side.


Fold the cotton fabric over the PUL film to create a sandwich (cotton, doubled up PUL film, cotton), smooth down.


Sew or serge the ends of the fabric, making sure to catch the PUL as you sew. I have added a microfleece scrap on one end. I will use this to drop essential oil or tea tree oil as a deodorizer for the pail! I've also left some length at the end for a flap (just trying something different)
Next fold the sandwiched fabric in half lengthwise, making sure the microfleece patch is on the outside when you begin to sew, stitch or serge along the sides to form a bag.


Flip inside out. I sewed the sides of my flap to make it prettier. Then I sewed the zipper. Because I included a flap, I did not sandwich my zipper. I was in a hurry, but this actually turned out to be a fortunate short cut as I find it much easier to zip and unzip this bag then my others! The flap also covers it nicely.


Please note I also added a loop on one edge so I could hang it off the changing table. You can use ribbon, fabric, elastic, whatever you have and just stitch it on :)


This pail will hold several days worth of diapers. I wash every other day, but you could easily get 4 or more days worth of diapers in this.