Pet Odor Removers: Enzyme Cleaners and How to Use Them
A guide to pet odor removers - why enzymatic cleaners are the ones made for pet urine, what to avoid and why, and how to clean each kind of surface, following the Humane World for Animals advice.
AI illustration For pet urine, use an enzymatic cleaner: these are made to break down the waste that causes the smell, where a scented spray only covers it for a while. Blot first, soak the spot, give the cleaner the time its label asks for, and let it air-dry. And skip the steam cleaner - heat can set the stain for good.
Most of the advice in this guide follows the Humane World for Animals page on removing pet stains and odors.
Why the Smell Comes Back
A spot that was only wiped, or sprayed with something perfumed, still has the residue in the fibers and the padding underneath. The smell fades as it dries and returns when the residue is disturbed or the air is damp. That matters for a second reason: an animal that can still smell an old accident is more likely to use the same place again.
So the aim is to remove the residue, not to cover it.
What to Avoid
- Steam cleaners. Humane World is direct about this: the heat will permanently set the stain and the odor by bonding the protein into man-made fibers.
- Ammonia and vinegar. Its reasoning is about your pet rather than chemistry: strong chemical odors may encourage the animal to reinforce the scent mark in that spot.
- Bleach on urine. Bleach must never be mixed with ammonia, and urine contains it.
- Perfumed “neutralizers” used alone. They change what you smell, not what is in the carpet.
Enzymatic Cleaners
Humane World describes enzymatic cleaners as products that break down pet waste odors. Nature’s Miracle and Anti-Icky-Poo are two widely sold brands.
Dog version or cat version?
Some makers sell separate products for dogs and for cats. Buy the one for your animal; cat owners in particular should not assume the dog version will do.
Four products compared
| Product | Type | What the maker states | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Solution Pet Stain & Odor Remover | Enzymatic | For dog and cat urine, feces and vomit on carpet, upholstery, bedding and other water-safe surfaces; ingredients include natural enzymes and non-pathogenic bacteria; stream, foam or mist nozzle | See on Amazon · Maker’s page |
| Simple Solution Cat Urine Destroyer | Enzymatic, for cat urine | ”Breaks down cat urine proteins”; directions: saturate twice the size of the mess, including the carpet backing and pad, leave 10 minutes, blot, and let it dry naturally, which may take 24-48 hours | See on Amazon · Maker’s page |
| Angry Orange Dual Action Pet Stain Remover | Enzymatic | ”Enzymatic formula works on fabrics or hard surfaces” | See on Amazon · Maker’s page |
| Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator | Odor eliminator, not enzymatic | Derived from orange peel oil; “eliminates tough pet odors rather than just masking”; for furniture, turf and wood floors | See on Amazon · Maker’s page |
How we put this together. Four widely sold products from two makers, compared on what each maker states on its own product page, checked on 26 October 2026. We looked for Nature’s Miracle and Rocco & Roxie product pages too, but could not read them that day. The orange-oil spray is a different kind of product from an enzymatic cleaner: for urine, the enzymatic ones are the type described above. We have not tried them. There are no prices here: the Amazon links search for the exact product, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them.
How to Clean a Fresh Accident on Carpet or Upholstery
This is the Humane World method, with the enzymatic cleaner added where its label says.
- Blot up as much as you can. Lay a thick layer of paper towels on the spot, cover them with newspaper, and stand on the pile for about a minute. Repeat with fresh layers until the area is barely damp.
- Rinse with clean, cool water and blot again.
- Apply the enzymatic cleaner as the label directs - enough to reach as deep as the urine did.
- Leave it for the time on the label. For Nature’s Miracle that is about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Blot, don’t scrub.
- Let it air-dry. No heat.
Old or Set-In Stains
Humane World suggests renting a carpet extractor (a wet vac) for set stains, cleaning the area, and then applying a pet odor neutralizer. Use cool water, not a steam function. A stain that has soaked through may need a second treatment, and the padding under it may need replacing - cleaner on the surface cannot reach it.
Finding old spots
Use your nose and, if you have one, a black light: old urine shows up under UV in a dark room. Humane World’s tip is to outline each spot lightly with chalk so you can find it again with the lights on.
Hard Cases
Urine in the subfloor
If urine has gone through carpet and padding into the floor beneath, surface cleaning will not reach it. Lift the carpet, replace the padding, treat the floor with enzymatic cleaner and let it dry fully. Humane World notes that where wood has discolored you may need to remove and replace the layer of varnish or paint.
Hardwood floors
Wipe up at once, apply cleaner sparingly so it does not soak into the wood, and dry. Check that the product is labeled for sealed wood.
Mattresses
Blot heavily, apply the enzymatic cleaner, give it its time, blot again and dry the mattress thoroughly with moving air before making the bed. Then use a waterproof protector.
Washable items
Humane World’s advice for bedding and clothes is to add a one-pound box of baking soda to your regular detergent and air-dry if possible; if you can still see or smell the stain, wash again with an enzymatic cleaner.
Vomit, Diarrhea and Other Messes
Lift solids first, blot the liquid, then treat the spot with an enzymatic cleaner as for urine. For skunk spray on the animal itself, ask your vet’s office for de-skunking instructions before you reach for anything in the cupboard.
Litter Box Odor
If the house smells of the litter box between cleanings, look at the box as well as the litter - and a cat that has started avoiding the box may have a health or behavior problem, which our pet problem-solver hub covers.
- Wash the empty box regularly with a mild, unscented cleaner
- Replace a plastic box once it is scratched and holding odor, or switch to stainless steel
- Put a mat under and in front of the box to catch tracked litter
More in our litter box hygiene guide.
When Cleaning Is Not Enough
Replace the carpet and padding when urine has repeatedly soaked through to the floor, or when the smell returns soon after every cleaning. Treat and seal the floor before the new carpet goes down.
Surface-by-Surface Cheat Sheet
| Surface | Approach |
|---|---|
| Carpet (fresh) | Blot, rinse with cool water, enzymatic cleaner for the label time, air-dry |
| Carpet (old) | Extractor with cool water, then enzymatic cleaner; repeat; check the padding |
| Hardwood | Wipe at once; cleaner sparingly; dry |
| Tile and grout | Enzymatic cleaner, left on for the label time |
| Mattress | Blot, enzymatic cleaner, dry thoroughly; add a protector |
| Upholstery | Blot, enzymatic cleaner, blot dry; test a hidden patch first |
| Washable fabric | Detergent plus baking soda; then an enzymatic wash if needed |
| Subfloor | Replace padding, treat the floor, replace or reseal the finish |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does vinegar remove pet urine smell?
It is one of the things Humane World says to avoid, along with ammonia: a strong chemical odor may encourage your pet to mark the spot again.
Can I use a dog enzyme cleaner on cat urine?
Use the version the maker sells for cats.
Why does the spot smell worse after cleaning?
Usually because the residue was wetted again without being removed, or because the cleaner did not reach as deep as the urine did. Treat it again, with enough cleaner and enough time.
Is it safe to use enzymatic cleaners around pets?
Follow the label. As a rule, keep pets off the treated area until it is dry.
How long does a bottle last?
Check the date on the bottle and the maker’s storage advice.
Do steam cleaners help with pet odor?
No. Heat can permanently set the stain and the odor into the fibers. Use an extractor with cool water.
Can I make my own enzyme cleaner?
We know of no evidence that home recipes work as a commercial enzymatic cleaner does. For a real accident, buy one.
My pet keeps going in the same place. Is that a cleaning problem?
Partly - lingering scent invites it. But Humane World’s first advice for a pet having regular accidents is a vet visit to rule out a medical cause.
Final Word
Blot, rinse, use an enzymatic cleaner, give it time, and keep heat away. Find the old spots with a black light. And if accidents keep happening, the cause is as likely to be medical or behavioral as it is to be the carpet.
Related Reading
- Litter Box Hygiene Guide Last updated: October 2026. The cleaning method follows Humane World for Animals; product directions are the makers’.