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Whether house training a puppy or experiencing the occasional accident from an older dog, cleaning dog urine is an expected aspect of dog ownership. However, this doesn’t mean you must sit and allow stubborn pet stains to build up inside your home.
There are many different cleaning solutions for pet stains, but not all of the products successfully remove these types of stains quickly. Some products merely lift the stain while the odour lingers in the fabric, whether that’s carpet or a sofa. The ability to remove the smell is vital, especially when the smell is of pet urine, faeces, or vomit. Not to mention that many animals will return to the same spot if the smell of their urine is still there.
For this reason, enzyme cleaners have proven to be successful in removing stains and smell. Some enzyme cleaning products might include “bio” in their names. This article will discuss the best enzyme cleaner for dog urine and why this type of cleaning product is the best for the job.
Table of Contents
What is an Enzymatic Cleaner?
Enzyme cleaners contain enzymes that break down organic stains and smells. These cleaning products are biological catalysts, enabling chemical reactions to occur; these reactions remove urine stains and pet odours.
The enzymes also speed up the reactions, ensuring that little accidents are cleaned up quickly.
The Different Types of Enzyme Cleaners: Pros and Cons
Three main types of enzymes are used in enzymatic cleaners; protease, amylase, and lipase.
- Protease enzymes break down proteins, which means they can clean urine, blood, and vomit stains. This is the primary enzyme for cleaning pet stains.
- Amylase enzymes break down starchy stains, such as baby foods and sauces.
- Lipase enzymes break down oily stains, like butter.
Can Enzymatic Cleaners Remove Old Urine Stains?
Unlike some cleaners that only target fresh stains, an enzyme cleaner can successfully remove old urine stains. More of the cleaning product might need to be used, but most old stains will break down, and the odours will be removed.
The 6 Best Enzyme Cleaners for Cleaning Dog Urine
Knowing which is the best enzyme cleaner for dog urine can help you to avoid stained and smelly furnishings in your home.
Simple Solution Extreme Pet Stain and Odour Remover
- Three times stronger than Simple Solution’s regular stain remover
- Enzyme formula helps to discourage repeat marking
- It can be used on carpets, fabric sofas, bedding, soft toys, clothing, etc.
- Safe to use around animals and children
Envii Pet Fresh
- Neutralises the odour of urine instead of masking it with fragrance
- Safe to use around pets and children
- Leaves behind the scent of mint
Bactador Odor and Stain Remover Concentrate
- It can be used to remove faeces and urine stains, pet odours and area markings, sweat, saliva and vomit, and food and drink stains
- Biological microorganisms completely remove stains by digesting the dirt
Airpure Naturally Gone Pet Odour Eliminator
- 100% biodegradable
- Cruelty-free product, meaning it doesn’t use animal products, by-products or their derivatives
- Made in Britain
OUT! Super Strength Pet Stain and Odour Remover
- No harsh chemicals
- Suitable for water-safe surfaces
- Removes pheromones that cause repeat marking
- It can be used as a laundry pre-wash
Nobleza Pet Stain and Odour Remover
- Removes stains and smells while being gentle on furnishings
- Derived from a plant-based formula
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Household Pets’ Top Picks for the Best Enzyme Cleaner for Dog Urine in the UK
#1 Simple Solution Extreme Pet Stain and Odour Remover
The solution really is simple with this product. Simple Solution Extreme Pet Stain and Odour Remover can be used on various furnishings, which means it’s a great multipurpose product. As well as being used on different materials, it can clean urine, faeces, vomit, and other stains. It’s made of a stronger but safe formula than the original Simple Solution stain remover product.
Many of the reviews for this product were positive, commenting on how effective it was at cleaning dogs’ accidents, like this one:
“This is an absolute must have for new puppies once they have accidents in the house completely gets rid of the smell which then also helps them to learn as they don’t keep going back to the same spot. I will always have a bottle of this now no matter how old my dogs are in case of accidents, sick, etc!”
However, some reviews complained that the spray function eventually stopped working:
“Great product until you get halfway down. You really need to sort the spray mechanism out. For something that is marketed at removing carpet stains and odours, once you get halfway down it does spray out the nozzle and just dribbles down the hand. You need to invest in an all directions spray! Does the job at removing stains and odours so slightly disappointed it doesn’t spray better. “
Pros
- Safe but stronger formula than the original Simple Solution.
- It can be used on multiple furnishings for various stains.
Cons
- The spraying function might eventually stop working, possibly due to the lack of pressure as the bottle empties.
#2 Envii Pet Fresh
This pet urine cleaner uses natural bacteria to break down the source of stains and odours in, instead of just masking the smell with heavy fragrance like many other deodorisers; these other products will often wear off eventually. It is free of hazardous ingredients; Envii works to ensure products are 100% natural and safe to use around pets.
“This product is fantastic! We have a new puppy and spent the first few days with dettol, antibacterial sprays and all sorts of other time-consuming and ineffective products… and then we discovered this! It is so easy to use and so effective!
“I have three bottles now, one for every area of the house and it is so easy to grab quickly and the problem is solved. Simply mop up the excess, a skoosh of this magical potion and it’s all dealt with. It smells lovely and fresh without smelly artificially overpowering as well.”
Some reviewers found that the Pet Fresh product didn’t deter repeat marking, as this review says:
“I tried using this to stop my puppy having accidents. Didn’t seem to work for us as he’d still pee in the same spots. It does smell nice though.”
Pros
- Proven to be more effective than some other cleaning products available.
- Leaves behind a mint scent instead of a chemical smell.
Cons
- Reviewers said it does not stop animals from repeat marking.
#3 Bactador Odor and Stain Remover Concentrate
This multi-purpose product uses biological microorganisms to break down stains and odours. It can be used on carpets, furniture, and other surfaces, and it can remove pet odours such as urine, faeces, and vomit. As it’s a concentrate, it can be diluted into a spray or used as is for tougher stains and smells.
Lots of reviews were happy with this product; the review below comments on how concentrated the cleaner is and how this offers more value for money:
“I tried other, non biological products on a Persian carpet with an extremely unpleasant dog smell which didn’t work at all.
“This product is a concentrate, enough for at least10 litres, but it only costs the same as one litre of a competing product and the results were great! I had to apply it more than once, but i used a spray bottle and it was super easy.”
One review, however, stated that the product has a strong smell, saying:
“Smell takes some getting used to – but better than cat urine.”
Pros
- Concentrated cleaner offers more value for money.
- It can be used on a range of stains and odours.
Cons
- Some reviewers say that strong after-scent can take a while to get used to.
#4 Airpure Naturally Gone Pet Odour Eliminator
This is a great option for those who are conscious about the environment or anyone who prefers a more natural cleaning solution. Airpure Naturally Gone Pet Odour Eliminator is made from a plant-based formula and is 100% biodegradable. It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, making it safe to use around pets and children.
How successful this natural product was, was the focus for many reviews:
“Been using this for the last few months takes stains and smell of dog pee out my carpet straight away. It also cleans the dog sick quickly as well and take the stains of everything out of my carpets – Irn Bru, Cola.”
Although this product was reviewed to be successful for many animal lovers, the scent put some buyers off:
“I bought this because of the reviews, however I didn’t like the smell which to me was slightly minty. My cat’s didn’t seem to like it either so will not be buying this product again.”
Pros
- Plant-based formula and no harsh chemicals, meaning it is safe to use around pets and children.
- Successfully lifts a variety of stains from furnishings.
Cons
- Some reviewers did not like the scent that was left behind.
#5 OUT! Super Strength Pet Stain and Odour Remover
Although it is advertised as “for cats,” OUT! Super Strength Pet Stain and Odour Remover is a great product for those who want to avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning up their pets’ messes. It’s an oxygen-based formula, meaning it’s safe for surfaces and your pet. It has been advertised as powerful enough to remove pheromones, which should help to discourage repeat marking.
Buyers were pleased with how easy this product was to use; this review explains:
“This pump spray is easy to use and at a good price compared to others. It smells of vanilla which is nice and is pet-safe. I could tell it was getting to work straight away to breakdown the odour and germs as I left it on carpet and laminate for 30 mins after a wee accident the day before (which was not the cat’s fault) so I’ll be buying another to keep this to hand!”
This product also had reviewers stating that repeat marking was not stopped:
“Takes away smell but it doesn’t stop your pet from going back to the same area!”
Pros
- Environmentally safe product.
- Reviewers have stated it works as quickly as 30 minutes from spraying stains.
Cons
- It does not dissuade repeat marking.
#6 Nobleza Pet Stain and Odour Remover
The Nobleza Pet Stain and Odour Remover is made from a plant-based formula, making it suitable for those who don’t want to use harsh chemicals. It’s also cruelty-free, meaning it doesn’t contain any animal-based products.
Reviewers were happy with the performance of this stain remover, as shown below:
“Our Border Terrier is a little scruff, so he enjoys eating grass a lot. This usually means that he brings it up later on and I have to clean it up, so I thought I’d give this pet odour/stain eliminator a try.
“First impressions were that it smelled really nice. Once I had rubbed it in to the carpet it got rid of the slight stain caused by my dog bringing up the grass and a few hours later it looked as though it had never happened…result!”
This customer found it didn’t work quite as well on old stains, though:
“This has a lovely scent to it and doesn’t leave a mark on the sprayed surface when it drys. However, I was hoping this could take away old stains on sofas but it doesn’t work. No matter how much you spray and rub it. So I was a bit disappointed. This might work well with fresh stain but didn’t try as I intended to use this to get rid of sofa stains and car seat stains.”
Pros
- Plant-based formula and cruelty-free, making it an eco-friendly product.
- Reviewers have said it works quickly on fresh stains.
Cons
- It might not work on older stains.
The Best Enzyme Cleaners for Cleaning Dog Urine FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the key aspects of an effective enzyme cleaner?
First, it’s essential to ensure the cleaner contains enzymes; these will break down the dirt and odours organically. It can be difficult to differentiate between enzyme cleaners and products that use chemicals to lift stains.
Also, although most enzyme cleaners are made safely, not all are safe to use around animals and children; this should also be checked. How the product should be used will also affect this, so check the instructions.
Are there different types of enzyme cleaners?
There are several different types of enzyme cleaners, and these products are usually different in how they are used. Some are spot-on treatments, which can be used to deep-clean a small area, while others are carpet shampoos, which can be used in a device to clean a carpet or other large area.
Will enzyme cleaners bleach furniture and/or carpets?
Some enzyme cleaners can lighten the fabric it is used on. This is why people should conduct a spot test before using the product.
Why do animals urinate in the same spot repeatedly?
Animals, like dogs and cats, can regularly return to the same spot to urinate. This is often due to the area not being cleaned correctly, so some of the odour still lingers. To prevent this, it is crucial to use an enzyme cleaner that digests the dirt completely.
Training pets from a young age will also help to stop this behaviour.
To Sum Up
There are many enzyme cleaning products on the market, but knowing the best enzyme cleaner for dog urine in the UK is essential, especially if you have a new puppy incoming. Young dogs, and even some older ones, can have accidents; cleaning up urine and faeces is a common aspect of pet ownership. Enzyme cleaners can help you ensure these messes are cleaned up right.
The six enzyme cleaners discussed in this post have been selected for their effectiveness in cleaning various stains and odours, primarily those from dogs. Some of them can be used as multipurpose cleaners, while others are best suited to stains and odours created by pets. They all contain enzymes for organic cleaning.
If you need a product for cleaning dog urine, then one of the six products in this article will be your best bet.