When it comes to pet stains and odors on carpet and upholstery, what is the best type of cleaner? Let's take a look at "Enzymes vs. Oxidizers to remove pet stains and odors." They're both safe to use on most surfaces. They both work to eliminate the source of the stain and odor. But one is faster, and non-reactive.
Why does cat urine smell so bad?
Feline urine often has a much stronger smell than canine urine. Urine in both cats and dogs is made up of ammonia and mostly water. There are other components of waste in each, but it's the ammonia that hits your nose with an eye-watering punch. And because dogs typically drink more water than cats, the ammonia in feline urine is more concentrated. Feline urine also contains crystals that penetrate deeply into carpet and upholstery fibers making them difficult to remove.
Both enzyme and oxidizing pet stain and odor removers work to eliminate the source of urine odors, fecal odors and vomit, but they do so very differently.
How do enzymes work?
Enzymes are biological molecules (most often proteins) that speed up a biological reaction. They break things down. In our bodies, enzymes aid in digestion. In the food industry, enzymes are used to produce cheese and beer. To eliminate the odor of pet urine, enzyme cleaners break down uric acid, and when they work—over time—the odor evaporates. But there are factors that can cause enzyme cleaners not to work. We often hear from cleaning professionals relying on enzymatic cleaners to eliminate pet urine who say they usually work, sometimes 9 out of 10 times. But what happens that one time they don't work?
When enzyme treatments don't work, the culprit is usually moisture, temperature or the wrong pH. And sometimes the wrong chemical reaction. If your cat or dog is taking medication or is on a special diet that changes your pet's urine content or pH, the enzymes can't work properly. Similarly, humidity and temperature can cause enzyme cleaners to underperform. It's important to read the label and make sure you're letting your enzyme cleaner dwell or sit for the recommended amount of time, usually several hours. And if the air is especially dry or warm and the treatment dries too quickly, the product fails and you're left with the mess.
Oxidizers work fast to eliminate pet odors and stains.
It's always mandatory to read the label when using a cleaning product. As we discussed enzymatic treatments for pee, poop and puke can take hours, depending on the brand, from two to twelve or more hours. Oxidizers work much faster—much faster. But it's still necessary to read the label. Our own PISS OFF+ is recommended to dwell or sit on the surface for a full 10 minutes before blotting up urine, feces or vomit.
Other things you'll want to look for on the label are directions for using the product safely. Does the product leave a residue? Is it reactive with other products and surface materials? Do you need special eyewear, masks or gloves? Most all products are going to require you to Keep Out Of Reach Of Children. Be alert for the words DANGER or POISION. Are those cleaners you really want to use around pets?
PISS OFF+ is Carpet & Rug Institute Certified because while it's tough on odors and stains, it's gentle of delicate fibers and doesn't leave a dulling residue. In fact PISS OFF+ is actually a carpet brighter.
The Clean Truth
PISS OFF+ is Energized by the SoRite Company powering solutions that work with our patented sodium chlorite formula. Our technology—guided by Innovation, Education, Truth and Trust delivers solutions that are fast, effective and reliable. www.sorite.com