What's the difference between an enzyme cleaner and a regular cleaner?

Enzyme cleaners use biological enzymes (proteins that speed up chemical reactions) to break down organic matter like urine, blood, and food at the molecular level. Regular cleaners use surfactants, solvents, or oxidizers to lift or dissolve stains. The practical difference: enzyme cleaners permanently break down the source of odors, while regular cleaners may mask or temporarily remove them.

Can I mix an enzyme cleaner with other cleaning products?

You shouldn't. Mixing enzyme cleaners with bleach, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide can deactivate the enzymes and make the product useless. Apply the enzyme cleaner on its own, let it work, and use other products separately if needed.

Why does it matter if my cleaner has enzymes or not?

For everyday cleaning, it may not matter. But for organic stains like urine, vomit, blood, or pet accidents, enzymes are what actually break down the odor-causing compounds. A non-enzyme cleaner might remove the visible stain but leave behind proteins that keep smelling, especially when exposed to humidity.

Are enzyme cleaners better than bleach?

They do different things. Bleach whitens and disinfects through oxidation. Enzyme cleaners break down organic matter. For pet stains and odors, enzyme cleaners are more effective because they target the source. Bleach can also damage fabrics and surfaces that enzyme cleaners won't harm.

How do I know if an enzyme cleaner is actually working?

You usually won't see bubbling or foaming. The enzymes work at a microscopic level. The signs it's working: the stain fades over several hours, and the odor decreases as the treated area dries. If the stain or smell remains after drying, apply a second round.

Do enzyme cleaners expire?

Yes. The enzymes in these products are biological and lose potency over time, especially if stored in extreme heat. Most enzyme cleaners have a shelf life of 1-2 years. Check the expiration date on the bottle and store in a cool, dry place.

Is It an Enzyme Cleaner? 15 Popular Products Answered

Most popular household cleaners are not enzyme cleaners, even if they work well on stains. We checked the ingredient lists of 15 products people commonly ask about. Below you’ll find a clear yes or no for each, plus what makes a cleaner enzyme-based in the first place.

You’ll also learn how to check any product’s ingredients yourself so you’re never guessing again.

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Full disclosure.

What makes a cleaner an enzyme cleaner?

An enzyme cleaner contains biological enzymes as its active cleaning agents. The most common ones are protease, amylase, lipase, and cellulase. These enzymes break down organic matter (protein, starch, fat, plant fiber) at the molecular level.

How can you tell? Look for specific enzyme names on the ingredient list. You might also see phrases like “bio-enzymatic formula,” “enzyme-powered,” or “contains natural enzymes.” If the label doesn’t mention enzymes anywhere, it’s almost certainly not an enzyme cleaner.

Here’s the key distinction: surfactants lift stains off surfaces. Oxidizers bleach them out. Enzymes break them apart. A product can be effective without being enzyme-based. But for organic stains like urine, blood, or vomit, enzymes target the source of the odor in a way other cleaning agents don’t.

For a full explanation, read our guide on what qualifies as an enzyme cleaner.

Quick-reference table

Here’s the short version. Scan for the product you’re curious about.

Product	Enzyme Cleaner?	Key Cleaning Agents	Best Enzyme Alternative
OdoBan	No	Quaternary ammonium, surfactants	Nature’s Miracle Advanced
OxiClean	No	Sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach)	Rocco & Roxie
Vinegar	No	Acetic acid	Any bio-enzymatic cleaner
Folex	No	Surfactants	Biokleen Bac-Out
Resolve (standard)	No	Surfactants, oxygen agents	Resolve Pet Expert (enzymatic)
Fabuloso	No	Surfactants, fragrance	Nature’s Miracle
Pine-Sol	No	Pine oil, surfactants	Biokleen Bac-Out
Simple Green	No	Surfactants (non-toxic)	Biokleen Bac-Out
Angry Orange	Some products	Varies by formula	Check label for “enzyme”
Nature’s Miracle	Yes	Bio-enzymatic (protease)	N/A
Rocco & Roxie	Yes	Bio-enzymatic (bacterial)	N/A
Biokleen Bac-Out	Yes	Live enzyme cultures, plant surfactants	N/A
Seventh Generation	Some products	Varies by product line	Check specific product
Lysol	No	Quaternary ammonium, phenol	Nature’s Miracle
Bona	No	Water-based surfactants	Biokleen Bac-Out

Product information based on publicly available ingredient lists at time of writing. Formulations can change, so always check the current label.

Is It an Enzyme Cleaner? Quick Reference

Product	Enzyme Cleaner?	Active Ingredient
Nature's Miracle	Yes	Bio-enzymatic (protease)
Rocco & Roxie	Yes	Bio-enzymatic (bacterial)
Biokleen Bac-Out	Yes	Live enzyme cultures
Anti Icky Poo	Yes	Multi-strain bacteria + enzymes
Angry Orange	Some products	Check label
OdoBan	No	Quaternary ammonium
OxiClean	No	Sodium percarbonate
Vinegar	No	Acetic acid
Baking soda	No	Sodium bicarbonate
Hydrogen peroxide	No	Oxidizer
Bleach	No	Sodium hypochlorite
Folex	No	Surfactants
Resolve	Some products	Check label
Lysol	No	Quaternary ammonium/phenol
Bona	No	Water-based surfactants

15 products answered

1. Is OdoBan an enzyme cleaner?

No. OdoBan disinfectant and odor eliminator uses quaternary ammonium compounds and surfactants. It works by killing bacteria and masking odors with fragrance. It does not contain enzymes. OdoBan is effective as a sanitizer and deodorizer, but it won’t break down urine proteins the way an enzyme cleaner does. If you need to remove pet stain odors at the source, you’ll want an actual enzyme product.

2. Is OxiClean an enzyme cleaner?

No. OxiClean’s active ingredient is sodium percarbonate, which is an oxygen-based bleach. It removes stains through oxidation, not enzymatic action. OxiClean works well on many household stains, but it doesn’t target the protein bonds that cause pet urine odor. For urine or vomit stains, an enzyme cleaner will outperform it.

3. Is vinegar an enzyme cleaner?

No. Vinegar is acetic acid. It cuts grease and can kill some bacteria through its acidity, but it contains no enzymes at all. Vinegar can actually interfere with enzyme cleaners if you use them together. The low pH (around 2-3) deactivates enzymes on contact. If you’ve already cleaned a spot with vinegar, rinse it with plain water and let it dry before applying an enzyme cleaner. For more on this, see our enzyme cleaner vs vinegar comparison.

⚠️ Don't Mix Vinegar and Enzyme Cleaners

Vinegar’s acidity (pH 2-3) deactivates the enzymes in bio-enzymatic products. If you’ve cleaned a stain with vinegar, rinse the area thoroughly with plain water and let it dry completely before applying an enzyme cleaner. Using them at the same time wastes your enzyme product.

4. Is Folex an enzyme cleaner?

No. Folex Carpet Spot Remover is a surfactant-based cleaner. It uses detergent action to lift stains from carpet fibers. Folex works well on surface stains like coffee, wine, and dirt. But it doesn’t break down organic compounds at the molecular level the way enzymes do, so it’s less effective on urine, blood, or vomit.

5. Is Resolve an enzyme cleaner?

It depends on the formula. Standard Resolve carpet cleaner (the red can) uses surfactants and oxygen-based cleaning agents. It’s not enzyme-based. However, the Resolve Pet Expert line does include some enzymatic formulas. Check the specific product label. If it says “enzymatic” or lists enzyme ingredients, that particular product qualifies. The standard Resolve does not.

6. Is Fabuloso an enzyme cleaner?

No. Fabuloso multi-purpose cleaner is surfactant-based with added fragrance. It contains no enzymatic ingredients. It’s designed for general surface cleaning, not for breaking down organic stains or odors.

7. Is Pine-Sol an enzyme cleaner?

No. Pine-Sol uses pine oil and surfactants. It’s a solvent-based cleaner with a strong pine scent. No enzymes in the formula.

8. Is Simple Green an enzyme cleaner?

No. Simple Green all-purpose cleaner is a non-toxic, surfactant-based degreaser. It’s a solid general cleaner, but it doesn’t contain enzymes. For organic stains, you’d need a separate enzyme product.

Cleaning product ingredient label showing protease and amylase enzymes

ℹ️ Disinfectant vs Enzyme Cleaner

These are different product categories. Disinfectants (Lysol, OdoBan) kill bacteria and viruses. Enzyme cleaners break down organic stains and odors. They do different jobs. You can use both, but apply the enzyme cleaner first (to break down the organic matter), let it dry, then disinfect if needed. Don’t use them at the same time.

9. Is Angry Orange an enzyme cleaner?

Some products, yes. Angry Orange pet odor eliminator sells multiple formulas. Their bio-enzymatic products are labeled as enzyme-based, and those do contain enzymes. Their standard citrus spray relies on fragrance and surfactants, not enzymes. Check which formula you’re buying. The packaging makes this clear if you look for “enzyme” on the label.

10. Is Nature’s Miracle an enzyme cleaner?

Yes. Nature’s Miracle is one of the most well-known enzyme cleaner brands on the market. It uses a bio-enzymatic formula with protease enzymes designed to break down pet urine, feces, and vomit. Their Advanced and Urine Destroyer formulas have higher enzyme concentrations than the Original. See our list of best enzyme cleaners for cat urine for how it compares to other options.

11. Is Rocco & Roxie an enzyme cleaner?

Yes. Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength stain remover uses a bio-enzymatic formula. It contains natural enzyme-producing bacteria that target organic stains and odors. It’s one of the top-rated enzyme cleaners among pet owners, based on our research.

12. Is Biokleen Bac-Out an enzyme cleaner?

Yes. Bac-Out uses live enzyme-producing cultures combined with plant-based surfactants. It’s one of the more eco-friendly enzyme cleaner options available. The live cultures continue producing enzymes after application, which helps with deeper stains.

ℹ️ Live Cultures vs Pre-Made Enzymes

Some enzyme cleaners contain pre-made enzymes in solution. Others (like Biokleen Bac-Out and Rocco & Roxie) contain live bacteria that produce fresh enzymes on the treated surface. The live-culture approach can be more effective on deep stains because the bacteria keep working as long as they have organic matter to feed on.

13. Is Seventh Generation an enzyme cleaner?

Some products, not all. Seventh Generation laundry detergent contains enzymes (protease and amylase). Their all-purpose cleaners and dish soaps typically do not. Check the specific product label. The word “enzyme” or specific enzyme names will appear on the ingredients list if the product contains them.

14. Is Lysol an enzyme cleaner?

No. Lysol disinfectant products use quaternary ammonium compounds or phenol. They’re designed to kill bacteria and viruses, not to break down organic stains. Lysol is a disinfectant (registered with the EPA), not an enzyme cleaner. These are two different product categories that do different jobs.

15. Is Bona an enzyme cleaner?

No. Bona floor cleaners are water-based surfactant products designed for hardwood floors. They contain no enzymatic ingredients. Bona works well for routine floor cleaning, but for organic stains on hard floors, you’d need a separate enzyme product.

Enzyme vs Non-Enzyme Products

Does Not Contain Enzymes	Depends on Formula
Nature's Miracle	OdoBan	Angry Orange
Rocco & Roxie	OxiClean	Seventh Generation
Biokleen Bac-Out	Vinegar	Resolve
Anti Icky Poo	Baking soda
	Hydrogen peroxide
	Bleach
	Folex
	Lysol
	Bona

How to check any product yourself

You don’t have to memorize this list. Here’s how to figure out whether any cleaning product contains enzymes.

Look for specific enzyme names on the label:

Protease (breaks down proteins)
Amylase (breaks down starches)
Lipase (breaks down fats)
Cellulase (breaks down plant fibers)
Urease (breaks down urea)

Check for these phrases:

“Bio-enzymatic”
“Enzyme-powered”
“Bacterial enzyme formula”
“Contains natural enzymes”
“Live enzyme cultures”

Look up the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Every cleaning product has an SDS available from the manufacturer (usually on their website). The SDS provides more detailed ingredient information than the product label. OSHA’s Hazard Communication page explains what SDS documents contain. Search for “[product name] SDS” to find it.

The simple rule: if the label doesn’t mention enzymes anywhere, the product is almost certainly not an enzyme cleaner. Manufacturers who use enzymes always call it out because it’s a selling point.

💡 Formulations Change

Manufacturers update their formulas. A product that didn’t contain enzymes last year might add them, or vice versa. Always check the current label on the bottle you’re holding, not just old information online. This article reflects publicly available ingredient information at time of writing.

If you’d rather skip the label reading and just buy a product you know contains enzymes, check our roundup of best pet stain and odor removers. Every product on that list is a verified enzyme cleaner.

You can also make your own enzyme cleaner at home if you want full control over the ingredients.

Wrapping up

Of the 15 products we checked, only 4 are true enzyme cleaners (Nature’s Miracle, Rocco & Roxie, Biokleen Bac-Out, and select Angry Orange formulas). Two more (Resolve Pet Expert and some Seventh Generation products) have enzymatic formulas in specific product lines but not across their full range.

The rest use surfactants, oxidizers, solvents, or disinfectants. Those are effective cleaning agents for many jobs. But if you need to break down organic stains and odors at the molecular level, especially pet urine, blood, or vomit, you need a product with actual enzymes in the formula.

Check the label. Look for enzyme names. And if the product doesn’t list them, it’s not an enzyme cleaner, no matter how well it works on other types of stains. For more on the different enzyme types, see our guide to proteases, lipases, and amylases. And if you’re looking for the best enzyme products for specific uses, check our dog urine and pet odor roundups.