It does the best job of masking smells. The Munchkin Step has plastic teeth that cover the opening almost entirely, and they help this pail block odor more effectively than any other pail we’ve tested. When you shut the lid (which you have to do manually, a small flaw), the teeth twist to close the bag, ensuring that smells stay inside. The Munchkin Step further battles odor by masking stink with scented bags and a baking soda puck. These measures are effective, but during the first round of testing, some testers found the “fake lavender” smell of both off-putting. When we tested this pail again, in 2023, the lavender smell was less noticeable, so we think the company has made it more subtle (we’ve reached out to the company to confirm this).
