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There’s nothing quite like sharing life with a pet. They fill our homes with so much joy, love, and furry snuggles—and, from time to time, the inevitable mess. Whether you live with a puppy-in-training or a cat with a sensitive digestive tract, occasional accidents are part of the package. Even well-trained pets on their best behavior will have a slip-up sometimes. And when they do, an enzymatic pet cleaner may be able to help.
Gaining popularity among pet parents, enzyme cleaners are often regarded as environmentally friendly and safer for humans and pets than traditional cleaners. They’re also advertised as concentrated solutions—a more economical way to deal with urine, poop, or vomit stains.
So how do enzymatic pet cleaners work? And are they really the safest, most effective options for cleaning pet stains and odors in the home? To find out, we interview Dr. Paula Simons, DVM, a veterinarian at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists and consultant for Senior Tail Waggers.
How Do Enzymatic Pet Cleaners Work? An Expert Explains
Why do so many pet parents consider enzyme cleaners superior when battling pet messes? The answer boils down to how these products work.
According to Dr. Paula Simons, enzymatic pet cleaners use helpful, non-pathogenic bacteria to create enzymes: biological compounds that break down organic waste into smaller components. Once the enzymes break apart the stain and odor molecules into manageable pieces, the bacteria can more easily digest them.
In a nutshell, enzymes speed up the breakdown process for bodily pet messes. “They act as catalysts to accelerate the natural decomposition process for organic stains caused by pet accidents,” says Dr. Simons.
She adds that different enzymes exist, and each type dissolves a certain kind of stain. “Enzymatic cleaners work by using specifically targeted enzymes to treat specific types of pet messes, such as vomiting or diarrhea,” she explains. For example, proteases break down pesky protein-based stains like poop and pee and are often found in enzymatic pet cleaners.
Speaking of urine stains, your everyday cleaners and soaps won’t quite cut it. Nor will “natural” household items, like baking soda, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. While they can help, uric acid isn’t water soluble and clings to whatever surface it lands on, so stains and odors will remain locked in your carpet fibers or fabrics.
Even if they’re undetectable to you, your pet’s sensitive sniffer will still be able to smell them. Only an enzymatic cleaner can fully break down organic pet stains and odors.
What are the benefits of enzymatic pet cleaners?
For one, they’re incredibly effective. Dr. Simons explains that enzymatic pet cleaners are successful because they go beyond surface-level cleaning. These cleaners get at the source of the mess, breaking down organic molecules and eliminating them entirely from surfaces like carpets, furniture, and clothes.
This makes enzyme cleaners ideal for treating pet messes because they leave behind no trace of the original stain—which is critical for discouraging repeat accidents.
Aside from their unmatched effectiveness against bio-based messes, Dr. Simons says they’re generally safe to use around pets and children when used correctly according to instructions on the label. “Plus, they’re extremely gentle on delicate fabrics—yet powerful enough to get rid of tough pet stains effectively,” she adds.
Enzymatic pet cleaners are also biodegradable, so they’re better for the planet. And because they usually have a higher concentration than other cleaners, they’re generally easier on your wallet.
Potential drawbacks of enzyme cleaners
There are, of course, some downsides to consider. First, enzyme cleaners require time to work their magic. In most cases, you’ll need to let these cleaners air dry thoroughly, often overnight. They may also require repeat treatments to fully eliminate stains and odors. And although enzyme cleaners can be used safely on a range of surfaces, you can’t use them on leather.
Additionally, enzymatic pet cleaners are great for removing bodily stains and smells, but they won’t do anything about removing viruses from feces or vomit—only a disinfectant can do that. And while they’re generally a safe choice for most homes, enzyme cleaners can cause an allergic reaction in pets if they inhale too much of the cleaner. That’s why it’s important to ventilate the area you’re cleaning and, if possible, remove your pet from the room.
How To Use Enzymatic Pet Cleaners
Many enzymatic pet cleaners are multi-functional and can address a host of bio-based stains, from pee and poop to vomit and sweat. But depending on the surface you’re trying to salvage, your choice of application may vary.
For carpets, couches, and large pieces of upholstered furniture that can’t be tossed into the washing machine, you’ll need to spray or soak the surface directly with cleaner. A color-safe cleaner that can be sprayed or poured right onto the stain, like Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover or Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator, works well in these instances. Both cleaners are safe for carpets, hardwood floors, furniture, clothing, and most fabrics.
When using an enzymatic pet cleaner, you’ll want to follow the directions on your cleaner’s label, but generally, you’ll take the following steps.
- Blot up as much pet waste as possible.
- Soak the stained area with your enzyme cleaner. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Blot up as much enzyme cleaner as you can.
- Let the enzyme cleaner air dry thoroughly (usually overnight).
Enzymatic pet cleaners can also be used in your washing machine, which is ideal for cleaning sheets, clothing, and washable dog beds. For these kinds of messes, a laundry-compatible cleaner like Biokleen can attack stains in two ways.
First, you can use it to pretreat stains, working the cleaner into the fabric and letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before laundering. You can also add an enzyme cleaner directly to your laundry machine. Note that repeat wash cycles may be required to remove stains and odors entirely.
To deep clean your home or freshen up your car’s interior, pair an enzymatic pet cleaner with a wet/dry vac, like the Bissell Little Green Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner. You can use these machines to extract any remaining cleaner that’s been soaking on your carpet or car seats.
Or you can add a diluted enzyme cleaner that’s upholstery-safe, like Bubba’s Rowdy Friends, directly to the vacuum’s tank to work on serious stains. (Remember, enzyme cleaners are not suitable for leather interiors.)
Are Enzymatic Cleaners Worth It for Pet Parents?
Enzymatic pet cleaners will most often be the most effective solution to tackle pet stains. Though they take some time to work and won’t help disinfect a soiled area, only enzyme cleaners can remove bodily stains and odors 100 percent. Plus, they’re safe, affordable, and better for the planet than many other harsh cleaning chemicals.
In particular, we think enzymatic cleaners are ideal for pet households prone to regular accidents. But even if you have a well-trained and well-behaved pet, it’s handy to have at least one enzyme-based cleaner available for the inevitable mishap.
Benefits of enzymatic cleaners:
- Unmatched effectiveness at cleaning bio-based messes
- Discourage repeat accidents by leaving no odors detectable to pet noses
- Generally safe to use around pets and children
- Gentle on delicate fabrics
- Biodegradable—better for the planet
- Highly concentrated, which is good for your wallet
Downsides of enzymatic cleaners:
- Need time to air dry thoroughly, typically overnight
- May require repeat treatments
- Can’t be used on leather
- Can’t remove viruses contained in feces or vomit; that requires a disinfectant
- Can cause allergic reaction in pets if inhaled in large quantities; ventilate the room they’re used in
If you’d prefer to use something else, you still have choices. “If you’re looking for alternatives to traditional enzymatic cleaners, there are other options available such as baking soda combined with vinegar, white distilled vinegar alone, hydrogen peroxide 3%, and borax powder mixed with water,” Dr. Simons tells us.
However, these “natural” cleaning remedies may require more effort than commercial products. And they may not be as effective against stubborn, old stains, or pungent cat urine accidents.
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews, and interviews with veterinary experts. We prioritized cleaners with pet-safe ingredients that work hard against stubborn stains and strong odors. We also considered different pet parents’ needs and cleaning concerns.
As always, we’re guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.