Once the enzymes break the molecules down into smaller pieces, the bacteria swoops in to consume those molecules, leaving you with a clean carpet sans pee stain. Enzyme cleaners are wonderful to use when you have pets because they “actively eliminate odors rather than simply covering them up with fragrance like most cleaning products,” Micaela Preston, lifestyle blogger and founder of Mindful Momma, tells mbg. They’re also nontoxic, safe to use, and unlikely to cause skin or respiratory irritation1. With enzymes existing in every living thing on the planet, enzymatic cleaners are a more natural alternative to conventional cleaners. Still, sometimes it helps to use a combo of the two since enzymes alone are cleaners but not disinfectants2. (While they’ll break down organic stains, they won’t kill off viruses or bacteria.) “Enzymes also help boost the cleaning power of laundry detergents, non-chlorine bleaches, and other laundry aids,” Samara Geller, a senior research and database analyst for the environmental champion Environmental Working Group (EWG), says. “They’re also added to more general household stain removers, dish detergents, and drain and septic maintenance products.” Biokleen Bac Out Natural Stain Remover, $28.98 KisClean Natural Pet Cleaner, $8.40 Naturally, It’s Clean Carpet Stains & Odors, $13.95 Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Stain and Odor Eliminator, $19.94 Ecos for Pets! Stain and Odor Remover Spray, $4.69 Puracy Natural Pet Stain & Odor Remover, $31.98 for a pack of 2 Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, $4.68 It comes in either a signature orange scent or fresh clean smell. Note that cats and birds may be sensitive to some ingredients in this concentrated formula, so save it for when pets are out of the room. Angry Orange Pet Stain & Odor Remover, $22.97 This recipe does require some fermentation knowledge, though, so those who are new to the technique might want to go the prepackaged route. To keep odors from settling in the first place, Preston highly recommends using an enzyme cleaner on a spot as soon as you find it. If you can throw the stained material in the laundry, do that quickly, too. Geller from the EWG adds you should “always read the directions and warnings on the label thoroughly before using a new product.” Do your research into a product you’re interested in and find out what enzymes are in the formula before purchasing it. Geller also cautions against using homemade enzyme cleaners unless absolutely necessary, as commercially made ones tend to be more controlled and effective. With a unique view on life, she taps into her own experiences to guide folks to live life for themselves, empowering them to explore their inner wild and find their own way in adulthood. Her weekly newsletter is a tiny way she furthers her mission to hold space for the unfathomable, romantic, and messy parts of life that make it that much more beautiful.
