How Does Pet Stain Removal Spray Work?

Pet Stain Remover Sprays

There are numerous pet stain removal products on the market. Many of them are available in a spray form. Spray pet stain removal products are convenient and quick to use, which contributes to their popularity. There are three main types of pet stain removal sprays. This article discusses the three main types and explains how they work.

Enzyme-Based Sprays

Enzyme-based sprays are mainly composed of natural enzymes. They are the most popular type of pet removal spray because they work well without the use of harmful chemicals. The microscopic enzymes in the spray eats the urine and feces, quickly removing the stain and odor. For old stains, the product may need to be applied more than once, but a fresh stain usually only needs one application. Enzyme-based products should not be combined with chemical-based products because the chemicals can kill the enzymes.

Detergent-Based Products

Detergent-based products are not much different from dish washing liquid. The main and active ingredient is a detergent that removes stains with a sudsy cleaning action. Detergent-based products usually are scented to help cover pet stain odors. There are a few problems with detergent-based products.
It is hard to fully remove the product from carpets, which leaves a soapy detergent residue behind. The residue can attract dirt, making the cleaned spot prone to dirt spots.
The detergent-based products often do not fully clean the stain. The stain often returns.
The scent in the product just covers up pet stain odor and does not get rid of the odor. The odor often returns in carpets that are treated with detergent-based products.

Chemical-Based Products

Some pet stain remover sprays use chemicals as the active ingredients. The chemical ingredients used can vary from a relatively safe hydrogen peroxide to harmful industrial chemicals. The chemicals work by either neutralizing urine and feces to remove the stain, or by bleaching the stain. Chemical products tend to work well at stain and odor removal, but they do have two main drawbacks.
It is almost impossible to remove all chemical residue from carpets, leaving household members exposed to potentially toxic chemicals. Also, some chemical-based products can bleach certain types of carpets.