Is It an Enzyme Cleaner? 20 Popular Products Answered

Most popular household cleaners are not enzyme cleaners, even if they work well on stains. We checked the ingredient lists of 20 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.

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

20 products answered

1. Is OdoBan an enzyme cleaner?

No. The EPA master label for OdoBan Ready-to-Use lists one active ingredient, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride at 0.30%, which is a quaternary ammonium compound. No enzymes appear on the label. OdoBan is a registered disinfectant and deodorizer, and it is genuinely good at that job, but it does not break down urine the way an enzyme cleaner does.

Worth knowing: every antimicrobial claim on its EPA label is qualified to hard, nonporous surfaces, so on carpet and fabric it is working as a deodorizer rather than a registered disinfectant. We went through the full label in our dedicated guide on whether OdoBan is an enzyme cleaner.

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.

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.

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.

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.

16. Does Tide have enzymes?

Yes. Tide liquid laundry detergent lists enzymes on its ingredients. Procter & Gamble describes them as “naturally occurring proteins that break down stains into smaller pieces to make them easier to remove”, and says each enzyme targets a specific stain type.

That makes Tide an enzyme product, but it is a laundry detergent, not a spot treatment. The enzymes are formulated to work diluted in a wash cycle, not to sit on a carpet stain for eight hours. For washable items, Tide handles protein stains well. For carpet, upholstery, or a subfloor, you still want a dedicated enzyme cleaner you can saturate the area with.

Not every Tide product is the same. The liquid detergents are where the enzymes are. Check the label on any specific bottle.

17. Is baking soda an enzyme cleaner?

No. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a single inorganic compound. Enzymes are proteins. Baking soda is not a protein, so it cannot be an enzyme by definition.

What baking soda actually does is absorb odor molecules and act as a mild abrasive. That is genuinely useful, and it is why it works in a fridge or a litter box. But absorbing a smell is not the same as breaking down what causes it. Once the baking soda is vacuumed up, any uric acid left in the carpet is still there.

Baking soda is a reasonable first step on a fresh spill to pull up moisture. It is not a substitute for an enzyme cleaner on urine.

18. Is bleach an enzyme cleaner?

No, and it destroys enzymes. Household bleach is sodium hypochlorite, a strong oxidizer. It works by breaking apart the chemical bonds in stains and in the cell walls of microorganisms.

Enzymes are proteins, and oxidizers denature proteins. That means bleach does not just fail to act as an enzyme cleaner, it deactivates one. Never mix the two, and never use bleach on a spot right before applying an enzyme product.

Bleach also sets some stains rather than removing them. On pet urine it can react with the ammonia compounds, which is both ineffective and a genuine safety problem in an unventilated room.

19. Is Pooph an enzyme cleaner?

Not that anyone can confirm. Pooph lists its active ingredient as a proprietary blend and does not disclose enzymes. Without an ingredient list, there is no way to verify what is in it, and we will not guess.

What is on the record is a review by BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division, the ad industry’s self-regulatory body. NAD found Pooph’s patent and safety claims supported. It also found the company’s studies did not support its claims that the product eliminates odor, and recommended those claims be discontinued.

NAD made one more finding worth knowing if you are comparing products. It recommended Pooph stop implying that enzymatic formulas only cover up odors. So the “enzyme cleaners just mask smells” framing you may have seen in the advertising is a claim the self-regulator asked them to drop.

If you specifically want enzymes, buy a product that names them on the label. Our guide on where to buy enzyme cleaners covers which chains reliably stock them and what to look for on the shelf.

20. Is Dawn an enzyme cleaner?

No. Procter & Gamble’s ingredient breakdown for Dawn groups everything in the bottle by function: surfactants, solvents, thickeners, pH adjusters, preservatives, colorants, fragrances, and chelants. Enzymes are not among them.

Dawn is a surfactant cleaner, and it is very good at what it does. Surfactants surround grease and let water carry it away. That is why Dawn handles a greasy pan and why it shows up in wildlife rescue work.

Grease on a plate and uric acid in a carpet pad are different problems. Dawn lifts what it can reach. It does not digest what has soaked in.

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 20 products we checked, 4 are enzyme-based across the board (Nature’s Miracle, Rocco & Roxie, Biokleen Bac-Out, and Tide’s liquid detergents). Three more (Resolve Pet Expert, some Seventh Generation products, and select Angry Orange formulas) are enzymatic in specific product lines but not across their full range. One, Pooph, does not disclose enough for anyone to say.

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.