The kit · enzyme
Enzyme stain and odour cleaner: what it removes and where never to use it
A spray with enzymes and often live bacteria cultures that break down urine, vomit, faeces and other organic residue.
- pH
- 6–8
- Safe on
- 0 materials
- Never on
- 0 materials
- UK name
- enzyme (bio) stain and odour spray
01 How to use it
Follow the exact material-specific product instructions. Avoid flooding foam, padding or wood; persistent or deep contamination needs professional assessment.
- Heat, chlorine bleach, vinegar and strong detergents deactivate the enzymes; do not combine them.
How it works
Enzymes act on particular substances: proteases on proteins, amylases on starch and lipases on fats. Suitable temperature and pH depend on the enzyme formulation; follow the product label.
On a label
On an ingredient list, enzyme cleaner shows up as enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase, urease) and often "bacterial cultures".
Avoid routine home use on a wool sweater, silk, a wool rug, leather and suede. The table gives general restrictions; an unlisted restriction is not proof that a product is compatible.
02 What it works on
- Urine residue (urea, uric acid)
- Protein
- Starch
- Oil and fat
Enzyme cleaner is strongest against urine residue (urea, uric acid) and protein, and useful on starch. It is part of the method in 106 stain files, for stains such as coffee, orange juice, beer, chocolate, gravy and egg.
03 Where it is safe
| Material | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wool and cashmere | Avoid | Protein-digesting enzymes can attack wool and silk; only use a product specifically labelled wool-safe. |
| Silk | Avoid | Protein-digesting enzymes can attack wool and silk; only use a product specifically labelled wool-safe. |
| Wool rug | Avoid | Protein-digesting enzymes can attack wool and silk; only use a product specifically labelled wool-safe. |
| Leather | Avoid | Enzyme sprays soak finished leather and can mark it; use one labelled for leather, sparingly. |
| Suede and nubuck | Avoid | Soaking suede to the depth of a stain leaves water marks and stiff nap. |
| Clothes | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| White shirt | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Jeans | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Linen | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Sheets and bedding | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Towels | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Baby clothes | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Polyester | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Leggings and activewear | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Rayon and viscose | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Carpet | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Fabric couch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Microfiber couch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Velvet upholstery | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Car seats | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Mattress | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| White sneakers | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Marble | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Granite | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Quartz countertop | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Wood furniture and floors | Test first | Wipe it on and off rather than letting it pool; standing liquid can whiten a finish. |
| Tile grout | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Painted walls | Test first | Test it on the paint first; wipe off after the dwell time. |
| Plastic containers | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
04 How the files use it
Enzyme cleaner appears in 106 stain files. The steps it is used in most:
- Spray an enzyme cleaner (81 files): The enzymes break the coffee residue into pieces small enough to blot away, without heat.
- Saturate with enzymes (12 files): Dried urine leaves urea and salts that bacteria keep turning into ammonia (and sulphur compounds in cat urine) whenever it is humid; the enzymes and bacteria in the cleaner digest that residue.
- Enzyme soak and wash (9 files): Enzymes break down the urea and proteins that hold the smell; heat and fragrance only mask them.
- Enzyme wipe, no pooling (2 files): Enzymes remove the odour from the surface; standing liquid would damage the finish.
- Enzyme soak (2 files): Porous grout soaks up urine; enzymes digest what has gone in.
05 Mixing
The combinations people ask about most, and what actually happens.
- Can you mix chlorine bleach and enzyme cleaner? Hazard chloramine fumes on urine, and dead enzymes
- Can you mix white vinegar and enzyme cleaner? Backfires slowed-down enzymes
- Can you mix enzyme cleaner and hot water? Backfires cooked enzymes
06 Files that use it
- Coffee on carpet
- Orange juice on carpet
- Beer on carpet
- Chocolate on carpet
- Gravy on carpet
- Egg on carpet
- Ice cream on carpet
- Soy sauce on carpet
- Peanut butter on carpet
- Sweat and yellow underarm stains on mattress
- Blood on carpet
- Urine (pets and people) on clothes
- Vomit (pets and people) on clothes
- Breast milk on carpet
- Drool and yellow pillow stains on couch
- Baby poop on carpet
- Baby formula and spit-up on carpet
- Baby food purée on carpet
- Grass on car seat
- Mud and dirt on carpet
- Bird droppings on carpet
07 Questions
What stains does enzyme cleaner remove?
It works best on urine residue (urea, uric acid), protein and starch, which is why it appears in the files for coffee, orange juice, beer, chocolate and gravy.
How do you use enzyme cleaner safely?
Follow the exact material-specific product instructions. Avoid flooding foam, padding or wood; persistent or deep contamination needs professional assessment. Heat, chlorine bleach, vinegar and strong detergents deactivate the enzymes; do not combine them.
What should you never mix with enzyme cleaner?
chlorine bleach. Enzyme cleaners are mostly used on urine and vomit, and urine releases ammonia as it breaks down; chlorine bleach poured on it gives off irritating chloramine vapours. Do not combine commercial cleaners unless their exact manufacturers explicitly permit the use.
Where should you never use enzyme cleaner?
Nowhere on file is ruled out completely, but check the material file before using it on anything delicate.