I am not a particularly clumsy person, but I am adept at spilling when distracted or stressed. (Frequent readers may recall the great chili crisp oil disaster of 2026). Between my toddler and me, my home is awash with random coffee, food, marker and crayon stains. It’s not a great look! Having a good set of cleaning products readily on hand has been essential this past year, as my son has become more of a rascal, and my absentmindedness persists.While researching the different kinds of cleaning products, I came upon a term I had never heard before: “enzymatic” or “enzyme-based” cleaning products. Brandon Pleshek, a cleaning professional and founder of Clean That Up, explained that, “enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions to break down organic matter. Instead of just lifting or dissolving dirt and grime, an ezymatic cleaner actually ‘eats’ it, breaking the waste down into smaller pieces so it’s much easier to clean up.”As a result, Pleshek says that enzyme cleaners are ideal for pretty much any organic messes, like vomit, feces, urine and other bodily fluids. He added, “I think when people hear ‘enzyme cleaner,’ they immediately think of pets, but these can be used in and around the house in so many different ways. They are also great for food stains on clothes, stinky smells in bathrooms or even getting rid of odors in trash cans.”He does caution against using them on any natural fibers like wool and silk, and also avoids using it on wood.Below, we’ve rounded up a selection of popular, effective enzyme cleaners, including Pleshek’s favorite brand. Take a look and see which one is best for your home’s needs. You better believe that I’ll be picking one up posthaste!The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.AmazonAn expert-recommended enzyme cleaning sprayBrandon Pleshek, a cleaning professional and founder of Clean That Up, said that War On Pee is his go-to enzymatic cleaning product. ”This has been our favorite in our professional cleaning company for many years, but for a long time, it was only available to professionals. They recently made it available on Amazon for homeowners, and I am so glad others can use it now! What makes this one so different from most enzyme cleaners is that it’s not only packed full of powerful enzymes, but it’s formulated to crystallize when it dries. This is huge because it won’t leave a sticky residue behind, it doesn’t always have to be rinsed, and it helps prevent spots from coming back. It also helps get rid of any yellowing and smells great. If you can’t tell, I absolutely love this stuff!”AmazonA lavender-scented enzyme cleanerThis enzyme cleaner is formulated to “eat away” odors caused by common animal messes, whether it’s urine, poop, puke and beyond. It does have a reviewer-approved lavender smell, but it doesn’t cover up stinkiness; it works to fully eliminate it.Promising review: “This stuff is amazing! My cat marks her territory from time to time and I’ve tried every product and process I could find to remove the smell. Most recently, she decided to spray my couch and I knew it was going to be near impossible to remove. I washed the cushions, covered them in baking soda and left them outside to air out but it didn’t help one bit. Then, in desperation, I decided to try this stuff. All it took was one good spray down with this product and there is not even a hint of cat scent. My husband even asked me what I used because he can’t smell a thing. And it smells so good that I sprayed it on my other furniture just to freshen it. I’m ordering a second bottle now just in case this happens again!” — Shantelly LaceAmazonA spot-cleaning odor and stain eliminator spray reviewers want to purchase by the gallonThis odor and stain eliminator spray is perfect for spot-cleaning hardwood, upholstery, carpets and other sites of pet accidents that you can’t just throw in the washing machine. (While the brand promises it’s safe to use on wood, we’d recommend spot-testing it first, based on Pleshek’s guidance.) The spray uses bio-enzymes and natural citrus oil to remove stains and smells after a soak of up to one hour. When it’s ready, just blot the area to lift away the gross residue. The natural spray is safe to use around pets and kids, too.Promising review: “We recently adopted a rescue cat who’s been having some adjustment issues, so I needed something strong enough to tackle intact male urine, one of the toughest odors to remove. I first tried a well-known “miracle” store-bought brand, and it only helped slightly. This product, on the other hand, made a noticeable difference in under 15 minutes. It tackled the odor on our vinyl plank flooring far more effectively than anything else I’ve used. Honestly, I just wish they sold it by the gallon!” — EstherAmazonAn enzyme cleaner for pet messesIf you can get past the ridiculous name, this cleaner will change your life. It’s a popular recommendation on the r/CleaningTips subreddit, with one redditor proclaiming they regularly buy it by the gallon! It’s designed to break down and neutralize organic, funky smells from biological messes like urine, feces, vomit, blood, skunk spray and much more. It’s been designed to work safely on a range of surfaces, like hardwood floors, tile, fabrics, plastic and upholstery, without damaging any materials.Promising review: “It really works. I have been searching for a good product that actually gets rid of the smell of cat urine rather than masking it, and my search is over. I actually discovered this product using an AI search. This stuff works! And yes it works on old urine odors and hot pet pee spots on old carpet! When you have five cats, especially ones who find other places to pee other than a litter box things can get rather aromatic in a negative way. This stuff gets rid of the smell! My house no longer smells like aged ripe cat pee. It is easy to use and it leaves behind a refreshing minty scent that soon fades into nothing. No smell at all, not from the cleaner or the urine. I will remain a loyal customer.” — DarqueAmazonA plant-based biodegradable cleaner with a unique formula that Redditors swear byMore than one person over at Reddit recommended this cleaner. It’s formulated with a blend of live enzyme cultures, plant botanicals and plant-based surfactants that the brand claims is gentle on your surfaces, skin and the planet. It’s a good option for people who are sensitive to smells or have allergies and can be used on myriad stains, from pet accidents to diaper disasters, laundry, drains and beyond. It’s available in quite a wide range of sizes, so you can start with the spray to see if you. like it and then re-purchase in larger quantities once you’re convinced.Promising review: “This has been such a life saver! We have 4 cats, a corgi, and a baby on the way- I went through a nesting frenzy and this spray has been helping me out so much! The scent is nice, spray nozzle works well, it consistently worked on spots that we previously missed (& new ones). It’s worked on pet waste stains as well as cat throw up stains!” — IamnotadownerAmazonA laundry booster that can rid your blankets, dog beds and clothing of pet smellsConsumer Reports recommends using Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost as another way to get rid of the scent of pet urine. It’s an enzymatic detergent that works to break down uric acid until it evaporates, so your fabrics come out of the wash fresh and clean. It’s gentle on fabric and safe to use in all laundry machines.Promising review: “If you got a stinky pet… this stuff WORKS. Just add it to the pets laundry load like normal and it will lift the smell and even the stains. It leaves our dogs blankets smelling fresh and clean. It hasn’t broken her skin out or anything like that. We use it for things not pet related too that really need a smell lifted like kitchen rags. It works great for the price so much so that we actually started getting the gallon size.” — Finessing_Sam._AmazonA stain remover for upholstery and fabrics that can be used as laundry pre-treatmentFolks over at Reddit and reviewers at Amazon can’t stop raving about OdoBan. We previously covered the brand’s odor-eater, and this enzymatic cleaner is just as beloved. It’s designed to be fast-acting, digesting all manner of icky organic and protein-based stains, from food to great, soil, pet mess and more. According to the brand, it has an innovative neutral pH formula comprised of gentle surfactants, solvents, enzymes and polymer technology that doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue. You can get it in a few different size options.Promising review: “I have cats. I work a dirty job. I like to hike for fun. I ride the bus to places I cannot walk to. I go camping. I like to smell like clean laundry. I do not like to offend people with a perfumy scented bunch of dryer sheets. I used to use detergent with a lot of Pine cleaner in the laundry. People thought it was weird cologne. I also used a lot of Oxy products. This stuff works better. It rinses nicely. It’s a good value for your buck. I even let litter boxes soak in this stuff. I can no longer find it locally and Amazon gets it here fast. And I live in Alaska and nothing is fast here. I have used Odo Ban products forever. They work. They kill germs. They don’t smell offensive. People walk into my apartment and say it smells nice and clean. Odo Ban products are good on drapes, sheets, blankets, carpet, as a floor cleaner, on coats and jackets. 5 stars. I hope they never stop making products.” — MikhailAmazonA highly-rated spray that can “destroy” urine stains and odorsRocco & Roxie Supply Company is a family-owned small business established in 2013 that specializes in pet odor eliminators, pet toys, pet snacks, and pet accessories. This is another popular bio-enzymatic stain and odor remover that specifically targets pet urine. It can be used on carpets and rugs but also floors, furniture, clothing, litter boxes, kennels, carriers and your pet’s bed or sleeping area to get rid of stains and smells.Promising review: “I had DEEP and OLD pet uric acid stain and smell on a very expensive area rug from a large breed dog that had a UTI. I tried several other products, including a professional steam cleaner but nothing worked. I was prepared to throw the rug out but I gave this product a try based on ChatGPTs suggestion. Figured I had nothing to lose. It WORKED! I’m 2 weeks post application and awful smell in family room is gone. Give this a try - worth every penny!” — Fitts familyWalmartA potty-training must-haveAs the name suggests, this spray is a must for human and pet parents alike. One person on Reddit proclaimed there was “NO SMELL” coming from a cat pee-soaked cushion after using it. It has a new and improved formula that is designed to get rid of even the toughest stains and smells. It’s deep cleaning power may even help to deter future pet accidents by eliminating the smell, according to the brand. (Based on information from the Humane World for Animals — formerly the Humane Society — pets may be enticed by their “personal scent” to revisit the area where the accident originally occurred.) It’s a great all-purpose enzyme cleaner that won’t break the bank. Promising review: “I have been using this product for months now, and liked it so much I decided to leave a review. We initially purchased this product because we bought a new fabric couch and we have a 3 year old and 20 montb old. The product [works] great on both the couch, carpet and on clothing. It works realky well to prevebt stains we spray it on as soon as a spill happens. it also worked well on set in stains without lightening the fabrics which has happened with other products we used in the past. We picked this product because its safe to use in homes with young children. Its a huge bottle and we even used it on our hard wood in our girls room, and it didn’t damage the floor or leave it discolored. I highly recommend this product!!” — anonymous