Enzymes for Pet Stains & Odor

A pet urine stain can be difficult to remove without an enzymatic cleaner.

Pet stains on carpets, couches, blankets, or even clothes can stick around for years if not treated appropriately. Sometimes the odor remains even though the stain is gone. Using a pet urine cleaner that contains enzymes can remove both stain and odor, leaving the material fresh.

Time Frame

Using an enzymatic cleaner on a fresh pet urine stain often makes the stain easier to clean than if you wait until it's dry. Often, dousing a dry pet urine stain with cold water and then blotting before using the enzymatic cleaner can make the stain easier to remove.

Function

Enzymatic cleaners work by soaking into the pet stain. A chemical reaction occurs, causing the enzymes to remove the residue from the stain. The enzymes break down the molecules responsible for causing the stain and odor. The stain is then removed from the carpet, upholstery or fabric.

Benefits

Enzymes are nontoxic, which means that they are not harmful to animals. Since animals tend to lick or chew on things they shouldn't, using a natural or nontoxic cleaner around the house helps prevent disasters from occurring.

Warning

Even though enzymatic cleaners remove pet stains and odor from household fabrics, they do not remove bacteria. Pet owners may wish to use a secondary anti-bacterial cleaner on the stain to sterilize the area and keep it safe from pets or children.

Prevention/Solution

While enzyme cleaners work well to remove pet stains and odor, the best way to tackle them is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Pets often eliminate in inappropriate places due to a urinary tract infection or other, similar infection. Other reasons for inappropriate elimination include lack of training, incontinence, fear, or in the case of cats, a dirty litter box.

References

• Science in the Box: What are Enzymes?
• Mrs. Clean: Removing Pet Stains
• Humane Society: Removing Pet Stains and Odors