Pet urine odor outlasts most household cleaning products. Consumer Reports tested nine sprays on dog waste and onion juice to find the best picks
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Pet urine is among the most stubborn household odors, clinging to carpet fibers and upholstery long after the surface looks clean. Enzyme cleaners have dominated the category for years, marketed as the molecular-level solution to organic messes. New testing, though, reveals that the best performers aren't always the most popular type.
Consumer Reports tested nine sprays on carpet samples stained with real dog urine and on fabric treated with onion juice, measuring stain removal and odor elimination to find the best options for pet owners.
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Starting at $5.98, OdoBan Pet Oxy Stain Remover is also the least expensive of the nine products Consumer Reports tested, at 22 cents per ounce. Its formula is a hydrogen peroxide–based oxidizer, not an enzyme cleaner. CR found it delivered the fastest visible results of all products tested, working immediately on contact and eliminating both urine stains and odors with no detectable scent remaining. It also earned the highest possible SkinSafe allergen score of 100.
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At $15.49, Skout's Honor Urine Destroyer costs 44 cents per ounce and ranks as runner-up in Consumer Reports' testing. The formula uses plant-based surfactants and mineral odor neutralizers to address odor at the molecular level without enzymes. CR found it removed fabric stains quickly and reduced odor shortly after application, leaving a subtle, clean fragrance. OdoBan outperformed it on masking dog urine scent, but CR noted Skout's Honor was not far behind.
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Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover costs $10.77, or 42 cents per ounce, and earns an honorable mention from Consumer Reports. Its bio-enzymatic formula breaks down organic material at the molecular level, though enzymes require extended contact time to fully activate. Consumer Reports found it successfully removed the dog urine stain and reduced odor for both test samples when allowed several hours of dwell time. The formula leaves behind a strong citrus scent and carries a SkinSafe allergen score of 82.
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For $7.34, or 24 cents per ounce, Clorox $CLX Urine Remover ranks among the more affordable cleaners in the group Consumer Reports evaluated. The bleach-free, hydrogen peroxide–based oxidizer is safe for both soft and hard nonporous surfaces. Consumer Reports found it reduced the intensity of urine and onion juice stains but fell short of fully eliminating odor, and the urine scent on the carpet sample didn't completely vanish. Its stain results were better than its odor results.
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Of the nine products Consumer Reports tested, Pooph Pet Odor Eliminator is among the most expensive at $22.97, or 72 cents per ounce. The fragrance-free, non-enzymatic formula is marketed as safe around pets and people. CR found it handled onion juice stains well and significantly reduced that odor, but it was the worst performer on dog urine, leaving a yellow stain visible hours after application. The smell from dog urine was only slightly masked despite the premium price.
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Puracy Pet Stain & Odor Remover runs $17.99 for 25 ounces, or 72 cents per ounce, the priciest enzymatic option in Consumer Reports' evaluation. The cucumber and mint scent mixed poorly with the test odors, however, producing a lingering unpleasant result. Consumer Reports found a faint yellow stain remained on the urine carpet sample, and instead of neutralizing the urine odor, the formula blended its fragrance with it. CR concluded the result smelled like mentholated pet urine.
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Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator carries the highest per-ounce cost of any cleaner in Consumer Reports' test at $23.92 for 32 ounces. The bio-enzymatic formula requires 30 to 60 minutes of contact time to break down pet messes. Consumer Reports found it removed the dog urine stain from carpet but could not eliminate the accompanying odor, covering it with a strong fragrance instead. CR does not list a SkinSafe score for this product.
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Consumer Reports evaluated Simple Green Bio Dog Pet Stain and Odor Remover at $12.68 for 32 ounces, or 32 cents per ounce. The bio-enzymatic formula uses safe bacteria and enzymes to break down stains and odors with no required contact time. CR found it removed the dog urine stain but left a lingering scent that was not entirely pleasant. Consumer Reports noted that while the product would work in a pinch, OdoBan outperformed it and costs less.
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Zep Urine Remover, at $9.99 for 32 ounces, is the third-lowest-priced cleaner per ounce in Consumer Reports' test at 31 cents. The professional-strength formula uses hydrogen peroxide to oxidize stains and odors. Consumer Reports found it removed the dog urine scent and left only a light, barely detectable clean smell behind. CR liked Zep but ranked OdoBan above it for being faster-acting and less expensive.
