Best Enzyme Cleaner for Pet Urine and Accidents (Dogs and Cats)

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Urine, poop and vomit leave proteins behind that soap alone may not break down, and a spot that still smells to your dog or cat can draw them back to go there again. An enzymatic cleaner is made to break down those organic messes. This page compares three enzyme cleaners, explains how to use them so they work, and covers the surfaces and mistakes to avoid.

The short answer: blot up as much as you can, soak the spot with an enzymatic cleaner, leave it for as long as the label says, then blot and let it air dry with your pets kept away. Skip ammonia, vinegar and steam cleaners on urine. If your pet keeps having accidents, see your vet.

How we wrote this: the cleaning advice comes from the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals and a veterinarian-written PetMD guide, and the health advice from VCA, the Cornell Feline Health Center and the AKC, all linked where they are used and checked on 30 October 2026. Product notes come from the makers’ own pages and from picks reported by KTLA with BestReviews, NBC Select and Bob Vila. We did not test these cleaners ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Our picks at a glance

Why use an enzymatic cleaner

The ASPCA says to clean accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleanser designed to neutralize pet odors, and not to use an ammonia-based cleanser: urine contains ammonia, so cleaning with ammonia could attract your cat to the same spot again. Humane World for Animals also says to avoid ammonia and vinegar, because strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark, and to use an enzymatic cleaner if you can still see or smell the soiling. A veterinarian writing for PetMD recommends finishing with an enzymatic cleaner and names Nature’s Miracle and Rocco & Roxie as examples.

How to use an enzyme cleaner on urine

  1. Find every spot. PetMD and Humane World both suggest a UV or black light to find soiled areas you cannot see.
  2. Blot, do not rub. PetMD says to soak up excess moisture with a towel, because rubbing can spread urine through the fabric.
  3. Soak the spot. Use enough cleaner to reach as deep as the urine went. On carpet, Simple Solution says to cover twice the size of the mess and soak the backing and padding.
  4. Wait. Enzymes need time. The labels range from 5 minutes (Simple Solution) and 10 minutes (Nature’s Miracle for Dogs) to 30 to 60 minutes (Rocco & Roxie). Bob Vila notes that enzymatic cleaners often need fairly long wait times to work well.
  5. Blot and air dry. Then check again once it is dry, and repeat on old or deep stains.
  6. Keep pets away until dry. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center says most enzyme-based cleaners can cause mild stomach upset, so let them dry before your pet goes back in the area.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Ammonia or vinegar on accident spots. Both the ASPCA and Humane World advise against them, as above.
  • Steam cleaners. Humane World says the heat will permanently set the stain and odor by bonding the protein into man-made fibers. Rocco & Roxie also says heat can deactivate its biological ingredients.
  • Other cleaners first. Nature’s Miracle says other cleaners and detergents may chemically set stains, so use the enzyme cleaner first.
  • Skipping the test spot. Test on a hidden area first. Rocco & Roxie says to stop if color comes off on the cloth.

Hardwood floors and old stains

These cleaners are water based, so go easy on wood. Nature’s Miracle says not to use its dog formula on untreated hardwood, leather, suede, silk or wool. Rocco & Roxie says to be careful how much you apply and how long you leave it on hardwood, because too much water can cause swelling and, in extreme cases, warping. PetMD says to test a small hidden area of a hard floor first. Humane World adds that if the wood is discolored, the varnish or paint has reacted to the acid in the urine and may need to be removed and replaced.

Old stains take more work. Rocco & Roxie says older stains and odors may need more than one application, and BestReviews says Simple Solution Extreme may not work as well on old stains as it does on odors. Humane World says that if urine has soaked into the carpet padding, you may need to replace parts of the carpet and padding.

Our picks

Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator

Best overall, and a favorite for cat urine. KTLA and BestReviews chose it as their Best of the Best pet urine eliminator and tagged it best for cats, saying it is especially well loved by cat owners who struggle with stubborn urine odors. NBC Select named it its best cleaning spray, recommended by two cleaning experts. Rocco & Roxie lists carpets, floors, furniture, clothing, litter boxes, kennels and carriers among its uses. The label says to let it stand 30 to 60 minutes on new stains and at least an hour for deep odors. It contains fragrance. BestReviews notes that heavily soiled surfaces may need more than one application.

Simple Solution Extreme Stain and Odor Remover

Shortest wait before blotting. Simple Solution says this formula is 3x stronger than its regular one and works on dog and cat urine, feces and vomit on carpet, upholstery, bedding, fabric toys and other water-safe surfaces. Its directions call for a wait of 5 or more minutes before blotting. BestReviews picked it for easy application, noting a nozzle with stream, foam and mist settings, but said it may not work as well on old stains. The maker gives no guidance for hardwood, so we would keep it to fabrics and carpet.

Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover for Dogs

Widely sold dog formula. Nature’s Miracle says to spray, wait 10 minutes and blot, and lists carpets, hard floors, furniture and fabrics, but not untreated hardwood, leather, suede, silk or wool. A cleaning business owner recommended it for stubborn dog stains in NBC Select’s roundup. Its label says it is harmful if swallowed, not to apply it on your pet, and to keep people and pets off treated areas until dry.

If accidents keep happening

Cleaning removes the smell, but it does not fix the cause. For cats, the ASPCA says the first step with peeing outside the litter box is to rule out urine marking and medical problems by having your cat checked by a veterinarian, and VCA says diseases of the urinary tract can cause it. The Cornell Feline Health Center lists urinating outside the litter box as a common sign of lower urinary tract disease, and says a cat who strains but passes little or no urine may have a urethral obstruction, which is an absolute emergency. Call your vet right away if you see that.

For dogs, the AKC says one accident may not mean much, but several cleanups may signal a trip to the vet for a checkup, and PetMD says a house-trained dog who starts having accidents should see the vet to check for a medical cause. Never punish accidents.

Keeping the litter box clean helps too: see how to deep clean a litter box and how often to change cat litter. For crates and bedding, read how to clean a dog crate and how to wash a dog bed.

FAQ

Do enzyme cleaners work on cat urine?

The ASPCA recommends an enzymatic cleanser for cat accidents, and BestReviews says Rocco & Roxie is especially well loved by cat owners with stubborn urine odors. Cat urine that has soaked deep into padding may need several treatments, or parts of the carpet and pad replaced.

Are enzyme cleaners safe for pets?

The makers say their products are safe around pets when used as directed. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center says most enzyme cleaners can cause mild stomach upset, so keep your pet out until the area is dry and store cleaners out of reach.

Can I use vinegar instead?

Humane World advises against vinegar and ammonia on accident spots because strong odors may encourage your pet to mark there again. Use an enzymatic cleaner on urine, and save vinegar for general cleaning.

How long should I leave an enzyme cleaner on?

Follow the label: from 5 minutes for Simple Solution Extreme to 30 to 60 minutes for Rocco & Roxie on new stains, and longer for deep or old odors.

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