Hate the smell of cat pee? Here are the 12 best pet odor eliminators

Ryan Knoll, the owner of the home cleaning company Tidy Casa, says an enzymatic spray is the best choice for cleaning up smelly pet messes on hard and soft surfaces alike. "We clean over 600 homes a month, and battling pet odors is on the agenda daily," he says. "An enzyme-based cleaner breaks down the organic matter causing smells." Nature’s Miracle enzymatic cleaners are highly recommended by experts. The brand offers a separate formula for cat messes, so make sure you pick the right one.

Biokleen Bac-Out is one of the absolute best cat urine odor eliminators on the market. Even though the label was recently updated to focus on carpets, this product can be used on hard and soft surfaces — including luggage, which can be a lifesaver if Kitty decides to express her displeasure about your upcoming vacation by peeing in your suitcase.

Clorox Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist can be used on hundreds of hard and soft surfaces where your pets may roam or rest their weary paws, including couches, mattresses, dog beds and car interiors. 

“Unique is responsibly formulated to not only mask odors but also help get rid of them from the base issue,” says Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer. “They have ones for various floor types to ensure the products are safe for whatever surface you’re using them on, from hardwood floor to outdoor areas and pet beds.” This formula is safe for use on carpet and can penetrate down into the padding to eliminate deeply set-in odor-causing bacteria.

Experts recommend that people with pets deep-clean carpets twice a year with an extraction machine. For a smaller tool to clean up pet messes, we recommend a portable carpet cleaner. The Hoover CleanSlate Pet is our pick for its ease of use and effectiveness.

"Using a mild dish soap and warm water is an effective DIY solution for preventing and eliminating pet odors throughout the home," says Maria Mooney, a cleaning expert at Truly Free. Dawn Free & Clear is a great choice for hard surfaces and it doesn’t have any fragrance or dyes in its formula.

Pets spend a lot of time on the floor, so it's important to use a pet-safe floor cleaner to keep them safe and ensure they don't ingest any harmful chemicals. Bona’s line of floor cleaning products — which includes this spray designed for hardwood floors — is pet-safe and expert-approved. For stone, tile, laminate and vinyl floors, Bona's multi-surface cleaner is a good, pet-safe choice.

Knoll recommends a fabric-safe enzyme cleaner for keeping pet odors at bay on upholstered furniture: "Follow the instructions on the bottle, and those deep-seated odors will disappear." This product is similar to the Biokleen product at the top of our list, but it’s specially formulated to treat pet odors on upholstery and has a lavender lime scent.

Dog beds can be machine washed, but the detergent you use matters. "Be sure it's a detergent without dyes or fragrances," Doty says. "Additives may smell better, but can be harmful to skin or even toxic if it chews on their bed or blankets. Never wash your dog bed with a detergent that has the following chemicals: chlorine, fragrance, petroleum distillates, diethanolamine or bleach."