We all love our pets, but one problem that most of us have to deal with is the occasional accident in the house that can leave our rugs and furniture smelling terrible, and it can be difficult and expensive to clean. Commercial carpet cleaners can work well, but sorting through the many brands can be frustrating, so we’ve chosen several of the most popular brands to review for you so you can see if they work. We’ll give you the pros and cons of each one and tell you how it performed on our stains. We’ve also included a short buyer’s guide where we discuss what you should look for if you continue to shop. Keep reading while we discuss size, ingredients, fragrance, and more to help you make an informed purchase.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
Works on virtually any material (but always test)
No unnatural or chemical smells
100% satisfaction guarantee
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Best Value
OUT! Oxy Stain & Odor Remover
Hydrogen peroxide
Easy to use
Safe around pets and children
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Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Elimininator
No harsh chemicals
Easy to use
Certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute
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Shop Care Pet Urine & Odor Destroyer
Multiple sizes
Professional strength
Non-toxic
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KIDS ‘N’ PETS Stain & Odor Remover
Cruelty-free
Bio-degradable
Non-toxic
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The 9 Best Carpet Cleaners for Dog Urine
- Hepper Advanced Bio Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray – Best Overall
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Size: 32 ounce
Enzymes: Yes
Pet urine can be a real pain to get out of fabrics, woods, and furniture. If your dog is having accidents, you’re going to want a product on hand that can take care of the issue efficiently. Our overall favorite—hands down—is our Hepper Advanced Bio Enzyme Pet Stain and Odor Eliminator Spray.
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Size: 32 ounce
Enzymes: Yes
Our formula comes in a 32-ounce bottle, so you have plenty to keep on hand for future accidents. It is incredibly effective at lifting stains and creating a like-new finish. You can use it on basically any surface, including carpets, floors, fabrics, furniture, and virtually anywhere else in the home.
It doesn’t stop with just removing bad smells. This formula is fantastic for any of your pet’s physical unpleasantries—including drool, vomit, and feces—this applies to dogs, cats, and most animals you’ve got staying with you! This product has a natural scent, no chemical smells or fake fragrances that mask but do not treat the issue.
The product comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you find that the product isn’t right for you, we will work with you to make it right. We want to note that even though it is safe for many areas in the home, always color test before applying.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Pros
Few ingredients
No harsh chemicals
Easy to use
Certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute
Cons
Contains fragrance
OUT! Oxy Fast Activated Pet Stain & Odor Remover is our pick as the best carpet cleaner for dog urine for the money. It uses hydrogen peroxide to destroy the odor-causing organic material, and it comes in a spray bottle that makes it incredibly easy to use. It uses light cleansers that are non-toxic and safe to use around children and pets.
Few ingredients
No harsh chemicals
Easy to use
Certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute
- Few ingredients
- No harsh chemicals
- Easy to use
- Certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute
Contains fragrance
- Contains fragrance
Size: 32 ounce
Enzymes: No
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We liked OUT!, and felt that it worked well, but it does contain fragrance that some pet owners might not like and the bottle is extremely flimsy, and many buyers complain about leaks.
Pros
Hydrogen peroxide
Easy to use
Safe around pets and children
Cons
Contains fragrance
Flimsy bottle
Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Professional Strength Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator is a great premium pick. It’s a powerful cleaner that works well without using harsh chemicals. Instead, it uses enzymes to attack the ammonia crystals and remove the odor. It’s easy to use and comes in a spray bottle so you can deliver it directly to the stain, and it even has a certification from the Carpet and Rug Institute.
Hydrogen peroxide
Easy to use
Safe around pets and children
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Easy to use
- Safe around pets and children
Contains fragrance
Flimsy bottle
- Contains fragrance
- Flimsy bottle
The Rocco and Roxie cleaner is extremely effective at removing odors, and the only problem we had with it is that it contains fragrances that we usually try to avoid, and that some people and pets might not like.
Shop Care Super Enzyme Pet Urine & Odor Destroyer is another great carpet cleaner for dog urine. We reviewed the one-gallon size, but it is also available in the 32-ounce we see in other brands and other amounts up to two bundles of five gallons suitable for a kennel or similar facility. It uses enzymes to create a professional strength cleaner that destroys the stain at its source, removing all odor and visible signs while remaining non-toxic and safe to use around pets and children.
Size: 1-gallon
Enzymes: Yes
The downside to Shop Care Super Enzyme is that there is no sprayer to apply it. Even if you purchase the 32-ounce size, you will likely need an additional spray bottle.
Pros
Multiple sizes
Professional strength
Non-toxic
Cons
No sprayer
Contains fragrance
The KIDS ‘N’ PETS Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover is a cruelty-free cleanser that uses salts and alcohol to remove the odor and stain. It’s biodegradable, safe for the environment, non-toxic, and safe to use around your pets. The formula is cruelty-free and comes in a one-gallon container, so there is plenty to go around.
Multiple sizes
Professional strength
Non-toxic
- Multiple sizes
- Professional strength
- Non-toxic
No sprayer
Contains fragrance
- No sprayer
- Contains fragrance
Size: 1-gallon
Enzymes: No
The downside to the KIDS ‘N’ PETS is that it can take more than one cleaning to remove the urine from your rug completely, so you don’t get as many uses as you would think from the large container.
Pros
Cruelty-free
Bio-degradable
Non-toxic
Cons
It May take more than one cleaning
Simple Solution Extreme Stain & Odor Remover uses the power of enzymes to deliver a potent cleaner that comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle. It has a 3-in-1 nozzle that allows you to deliver the cleaner as a mist, foam, or stream for more versatility and accuracy. It uses enzymes to break down and neutralize odor-causing bacteria to remove stains permanently.
Cruelty-free
Bio-degradable
Non-toxic
- Cruelty-free
- Bio-degradable
- Non-toxic
It May take more than one cleaning
- It May take more than one cleaning
Size: 32-ounce
Enzymes: Yes
We like Simple Solution, especially since it uses enzymes, but it often requires more than one application and didn’t always stop the dogs from returning to the same spot to make another mess.
Pros
Easy to use
Multiple sizes
3-in-1 nozzle
Cons
It doesn’t stop dogs from going in the same spot
It sometimes requires more than one use
Skout’s Honor Professional Strength Stain & Odor Remover is a biodegradable cleaner that won’t harm the environment. It uses a plant-based fragrance that isn’t too powerful and shouldn’t overpower your cleaning like some other brands. It doesn’t expire, so it will always be ready to go when your pet has an accident.
Easy to use
Multiple sizes
3-in-1 nozzle
- Easy to use
- Multiple sizes
- 3-in-1 nozzle
It doesn’t stop dogs from going in the same spot
It sometimes requires more than one use
- It doesn’t stop dogs from going in the same spot
- It sometimes requires more than one use
Size: 35-ounce
Enzymes: No
The downside of Skout’s Honor is that it can take a few uses since it only uses mild cleansers, and some dogs return to the same spot after cleaning. Another problem was that the bottle was quite leaky, so you waste product and might get it where you don’t intend to.
Pros
Biodegradable
Plant-based fragrance
Doesn’t expire
Cons
Leaky bottle
Some dogs return to the same spot
Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover Spray is an easy-to-use cleaner that you can purchase in a 24 or 32-ounce bottle. It uses enzymes to break down the organic material causing the odor and has very few other ingredients. It’s biodegradable, so it won’t harm the environment, and it’s safe to use around children and pets.
Biodegradable
Plant-based fragrance
Doesn’t expire
- Biodegradable
- Plant-based fragrance
- Doesn’t expire
Leaky bottle
Some dogs return to the same spot
- Leaky bottle
- Some dogs return to the same spot
We found that Nature’s Miracle works quite well, but the downside is that it has an extremely strong odor that many people will likely find unpleasant to use.
Pros
Easy to use
Few ingredients
Biodegradable
Cons
Strong smell
- Urine Gone Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator
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Size: 24-ounce
Enzymes: Yes
Urine Gone Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator is another easy-to-use cleaner that comes in a spray bottle, so it’s easy to deliver to where you need it. It’s non-toxic and safe to use around pets and children, and there are only a few ingredients so you can feel good about spraying it on your furniture.
Easy to use
Few ingredients
Biodegradable
- Easy to use
- Few ingredients
- Biodegradable
Strong smell
- Strong smell
Size: 24-ounce
Enzymes: Yes
The downside to the Urine Gone brand is that it is only available in the smaller 24-ounce spray bottle, and it can run out pretty quickly, especially since it often takes several tries to lift and remove the stain. Another problem we had was that it has quite a strong odor when you use it.
Pros
Few ingredients
Non-toxic
Easy to use
Cons
Small container
Strong odor
It takes a few tries
Few ingredients
Non-toxic
Easy to use
- Few ingredients
- Non-toxic
- Easy to use
Small container
Strong odor
It takes a few tries
- Small container
- Strong odor
- It takes a few tries
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Carpet Cleaners for Dog Urine
Chemical Cleaners
The type of cleaner you choose will greatly impact your results. For example, many brands use chemical cleansers, which can be effective, but they can also harm your pet’s health. They are also unsafe to use around children. We only recommend chemical cleansers when you’ve tried the other options.
Enzyme Cleaners
Enzymes are tiny, helpful bacteria that eat the organic material (urine, feces), causing the odor. When the organic material runs out, the bacteria die, and the stain and odor will disappear. Since enzymes are destroying the stain, they are the most effective at preventing return visits, unlike other cleaners that mask them. The downside to enzymes is that it can take quite a while for the enzymes to eat the stain, and you will frequently need to treat the stain several times before it’s clean. Another problem with enzymes is that each manufacturer can use a different concentration of bacteria.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a safe chemical that you can use to destroy the organic material causing the odor like enzymes. It can be quite effective and usually less expensive. The downside to hydrogen peroxide is that it loses potency quickly, so you often need to reapply it several times.
Bottle Size
Once you know what type of chemical you want to use, you will likely choose the right bottle size. If you have a small to medium-sized dog, you should be ok with a 24 or 32-ounce bottle. However, if you have a large dog or more than one, you will likely want to choose a larger one-gallon size or larger, so you always have plenty of cleaner on hand if one of your dogs has an accident.
Spray Bottle
It may seem small, but we highly recommend choosing a brand with a spray bottle, so it is easier to apply where you need it. If it doesn’t come with a spray bottle, you will need to purchase an inexpensive one that will prevent you from getting started.
- See Also: How Many Times A Day Should A Dog Pee? What You Need To Know!
Conclusion
When choosing your next carpet cleaner for dog urine, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. Our Hepper Advanced Bio Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is super effective at lifting stains and eliminating any lingering odors without masking them with a strong, overwhelming scent. Another smart choice is the OUT! Oxy Fast Activated Pet Stain & Odor Remover, which is our pick as the best value. It uses hydrogen peroxide to keep the costs down while effectively removing the stain and odor. Third place goes to the Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Professional Strength Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator which uses enzymes to remove the stain and eliminate the smell. It comes in a spray bottle, so it’s easy to use, and it’s certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over these reviews and found a few brands you would like to try. If we helped you make your home smell better, please share our guide on Facebook and Twitter.
Featured Image Credit: Syda Productions, Shutterstock
