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5 Best Pet Stain & Odor Removers - July 2021

It goes with the territory that when you have pets, you are going to clean up after them. As much as we love our fur babies, they do sometimes make messes, and having a good pet stain and odor remover on hand is a must. Most of these products use specially formulated enzymes to break down organic matter - feces, urine, vomit, and even drool - to eliminate the stain and its odor. Others use a more traditional, detergent-based approach to clean up pet messes. With so many pet stain and odor removers on the market, you might be overwhelmed by the choices. How do you decide which formula is best for your household? At BestReviews, we are here to help make that decision easier for you. If you are shopping for a pet stain and odor remover, take a look at our top recommended picks. If you want general tips on how to choose the right product for you, keep reading our shopping guide. Pet accidents can happen for a number of reasons: your pet does not have access to the outdoors or the litter box, your dog or cat gets sick, or your puppy is in the process of being toilet trained. Many times we can not catch pet messes right when they happen, and they seep into the carpet, upholstery, or floor. The key is finding a pet stain and odor remover that works to deep clean these types of surfaces without destroying them. Detergent cleaners: These products are designed to work on carpets and upholstery, and many of them are compatible with or exclusively for use with carpet cleaners. These products tend to lather up, especially when used with a machine. Although these pet stain and odor removers may contain chemicals, you can find ones with biodegradable or less-toxic ingredients. Look for ones that follow the Safer Choice Standard of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Enzymatic cleaners: The beauty of most enzymatic pet stain and odor removers is that they are safe to use on virtually any surface your pet has soiled. These work gently yet effectively without releasing harmful toxins into your home, making them naturally an eco-friendly and safe choice for households with pets and children. • None How they remove stains: Enzymatic cleaners for pet stains mainly use biological compounds called enzymes to rapidly break down other biological compounds - the pet mess. These products are formulated with specific enzymes, such as protease, to tackle protein-based stains like urine and feces. As unpleasant as this sounds, these bio-enzymes "feed" on ammonia crystals and the organic matter of feces until they are all gone. Enzymatic cleaners can provide a deeper clean than detergents because they get into every nook and cranny of the surface they are working on. • None How they remove odors: One downside of enzymatic cleaners is that they must dry completely to work, which can be a bit of a waiting game. The drying process is what eliminates the odor, so you might have to wait up to 24 hours to notice that the odor is gone. These longer-acting cleaners have a reputation for getting rid of odors more effectively than detergent cleaners because they actually break down the odor-causing bacteria rather than mask the smell. How to use enzymatic pet stain and odor removers When approaching a pet mess, you first want to remove or blot up as much of the surface solids or liquids as you can with paper towels. Depending on the product bottle, either spray or pour the cleaner directly onto the remaining stain. No need to rub or scrub. Let the enzymes "eat away" the mess. Most removers require that you leave them on the stain for five to ten minutes. Then use an absorbent towel to blot or wipe the area and allow to dry completely. • None Carpets: For carpets, be sure to saturate the stain with solution so it reaches the carpet pad. Some solutions also require an application of water, particularly with urine stains, so be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions before using. • None Upholstery: Most pet stain and odor removers work on any surface, but for upholstered furniture we recommend looking for a product that is certified safe for carpets by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). Allow it to sit for five minutes and wipe it away with a white cloth. If color appears on the cloth, you know you can not safely use the product on your upholstery. • None Laundry: You can use pet stain and odor removers as a prewash treatment.on clothes or bedding soiled by pets Spray or pour the solution directly onto the stain and let it sit for up to ten minutes, without scrubbing, before putting the item in the washing machine. • None Hardwood floors: Most enzymatic cleaners can be used on all surfaces, but some are not suitable for hardwood floors and other uncarpeted surfaces like concrete, tile, linoleum, and vinyl. Be sure to check the product's label before using it on these surfaces. • None Tougher stains: If you've let the enzymatic pet stain and odor remover dry completely and still smell the odor, you might need to repeat the process a couple times. This is not out of the ordinary. You can also leave the solution on longer - at least an hour - and cover it with a towel weighted down by an object to better absorb liquid out of the fabric. Spray bottle: Spray bottles give you better control over how much of the solution you apply to a targeted area. Spray bottles usually contain 32 ounces. Although these bottles are generally used to deliver the solution through the spray nozzle, you can also unscrew the top and pour the solution directly on the stain. Pour bottle: Pour bottles generally come with a larger volume of solution, typically a gallon. You pour the cleaner directly on the stain, making it harder to control the amount of solution you apply. However this may be the best choice for tougher stains. Also, if you have lots of pets or a pet that has lots of accidents, you might prefer the larger bottle. A big consideration when it comes to pet stain and odor removers is the scent. Some products have strong, even overpowering scents and some are less bold. Which you use comes down to your preference. If you are sensitive to scents, look for an unscented enzymatic cleaner. Some detergent pet stain and odor removers come with additional perks like sanitizing properties, Scotchgard, or a brush head attached to the bottle for scrubbing. These products range in price from $5 to $40. Spray bottles tend to be less expensive than pour bottles and cost from $5 for a budget product to $30 for a high-quality formula. Pour bottles come at a higher price point, between $20 and $40, but are an economical choice because they typically contain four times the amount in a spray bottle. • None Let the product dry. When using an enzymatic pet stain and odor remover, be sure to wait 24 hours for it to dry completely before vacuuming the area. • None Avoid using hot or warm water with enzymatic cleaners. The enzymes do not react well to extreme temperatures and wo not work effectively. • None Use enzymatic cleaners at full strength. Most enzymatic cleaners should not be diluted with water. For tougher stains, look for a "concentrated" enzymatic cleaner, which contains more enzymes and is more effective. • None Use a machine-formula product with a carpet or steam cleaner. These tend to be more detergent-based solutions that come in pour bottles. We recommend that you avoid using enzymatic cleaners in machines because of the high temperatures used by these appliances. Q. What is the shelf life of pet stain and odor removers containing enzymes? A. Typically one to two years. Store enzymatic cleaners away from heat or freezing temperatures. And do not forget to shake the bottle before use to activate the enzymes. Q. Is is safe for paws and little feet to be around pet stain and odor removers? A. Enzymatic cleaners are safe for pets and children to be around. You might want to cover the treated area with a towel while the solution is working. Not all detergent-based cleaners are safe for little ones and creatures. Those with biodegradable ingredients tend to be safer, but the safest bet is to use an enzymatic solution. All household cleaners should be stored where children and pets can not gain access. Q. Should I scrub the site of the pet mess with these cleaners? A. You certainly can, and detergent cleaners may require it so the solution penetrates more deeply. For enzymatic cleaners, let the solution soak in first before you scrub. You may find that the enzymes do the work for you and save you some elbow grease.