The refreshing cucumber and mint scent of the Puracy pet stain and odor remover will make you a believer in this powerful spray upon first use, but it’s the natural ingredients that keep you coming back. The plant-derived, hypoallergenic formula deploys natural enzymes to feed on tough pet messes.
I tested the solution on new and old pet accidents. For new messes, simply spritz, let sit for a few minutes and blot. The bottle says to saturate the area, but a little solution goes a long way. For old messes, let the solution sit overnight before blotting or vacuuming the next day. Both of these cleaning methods left my carpet feeling—and smelling—like new. However, it’s recommended to clean messes when you see them happen to prevent them soaking deep into fabric.
The solution claims it’s safe on all surfaces. In my testing, I found it works best on everything but hard floor. My hardwood surfaces felt sticky immediately after spraying and wiping the area. The stickiness lingered for several days, resulting in the need to mop my floors (Tineco wet dry vacuum to the rescue!).
Still, this pet stain remover stands far and above the rest for its natural ingredients and superior scent. It works like a charm on carpet and fabrics. Just make sure to let it sit for at least 15 minutes on new stains and at least one hour (or overnight) on old carpet messes.
Pros
Natural ingredients
Fresh cucumber and mint aroma
Best on carpet and upholstery
Eliminates old and new pet stains
Cons
Leaves sticky residue on hard floors
4/5
Madi Koetting/Family Handyman
As a pet parent, I’m a firm believer in having a small but mighty collection of pet cleaning products for the perfect grime-fighting concoction. A pet stain remover alone simply won’t do. But a bottle of Angry Orange odor eliminatorand best pet stain remover? Now we’re talking.
I’ve been loyal to Angry Orange since the day I welcomed my furry loved one home—here’s why. The natural orange oil scent instantly cuts the nastiest pet smells. Lingering pee, poop or vomit smells vanish upon contact with Angry Orange. Plus, it’s safe to use on all surfaces, so you can feel good about reviving your pet’s blanket or bed without harming them with unsafe ingredients (just make sure they’re a few feet away when you spray the solution).
The real test was when I moved, upgrading from carpet to mostly hardwood floor. After moving everything into the new place, I went back to clean the old apartment before handing the keys back. Upon opening the door, I could instantly smell the lingering scent of old dog pee (no thanks!). I rigorously sprayed Angry Orange all over the carpet. When I returned two days later to give the keys back, I was greeted with a refreshing citrus aroma. Success!
If you’re worried about becoming nose blind to the odors in your home, this affordable solution is like magic in a bottle. Simply spritz, walk away and await the soothing aroma of fresh citrus. The short list of ingredients is the cherry on top. This is truly the most simple yet powerful pet odor eliminator.
Pros
Fresh orange scent
Instant odor eliminator
Free of bleach, peroxides and chemical stink
Safe on carpet, hard floors, upholstery and other surfaces
Cons
Not a true stain eliminator; it’s ideal for eliminating lingering pet odors
5/5
Madi Koetting/Family Handyman
Whether you’re protecting carpet in the bedroom or an expensive rug, keeping fabric spotless is a feat as a pet parent. Let alone finding a remedy that revives fabric from old, crusty stains. Enter the Folex carpet spot remover. The solution is tough on old pet stains, and it claims to instantly remove everyday stains like coffee, food and grime.
To put the product’s “instant stain removal” claim to the test, I sprayed the formula on a few-days-old pee stain and a freshly spilled coffee stain. I was disappointed to discover you must wait for stains to dry before using Folex spray. Meaning, it’s not the stain remover you want to spring for when you catch your pet in the act making a mess on the carpet. This product didn’t remove the fresh coffee stain. The pee stain, however, was no where to be found one day later after spraying with Folex. While the product says no vacuuming is required, I saw best results when vacuuming one hour after spraying the solution.
Unlike some of the stain removers I tested, I was impressed that Folex didn’t leave a white cast when using the stream spray. In my tests, too much pet stain remover results in white marks on the carpet. Folex, however, is practically invisible even after multiple sprays.
Madi Koetting/Family Handyman
Pros
Removes old pet and human carpet stains
Doesn’t leave residue or white cast
Truly odor-free, which is ideal for people who are sensitive to fragrance
Free of volatile organic compounds (VOC), chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and petroleum
Cons
Doesn’t work on fresh stains; must wait for stain to dry thoroughly before cleaning with Folex spray
Product says no vacuuming required, but I’ve found it works best with a quick vacuum 20 minutes after spraying
Why You Should Trust Us
As a former communications specialist at Cosmos Corporation, a leading pet products manufacturer, I spent several years becoming an expert in all things dog and cat grooming, as well as pet stain removal. Plus, I’m a puppy parent. I remove pet stains from carpet, hard floor and upholstery at least twice a week. I’m constantly evaluating pet products, from toys to supplements and, of course, pet stain removers to recommend the absolute best products to Family Handyman readers.
Additionally, I have more than five years of experience writing and editing content for various print and digital outlets, including Better Homes & Gardens, Taste of Home, Reader’s Digest, The Everygirl and StyleCaster. As Product Reviews Editor, I exclusively test and research renter-friendly home upgrades, cleaning products, organizing gear and pet products to help readers level up their lives.
Madi Koetting/Family Handyman
How We Tested Pet Stain Removers
The six pet stain removers we tested were evaluated based on the overall experience, ability to remove stains on all surfaces, smell, ingredients and value for the price. We ran three surface tests: removing both fresh and old pet stains on carpet, upholstery and hard floor. Additional points were given to products that passed all three surface tests, as well as how much time it took for the stain remover to accomplish the job. Four out of the six products proved to be safe on all three surfaces while completely eliminating stains in less than an hour.
Pro tip: While a lot of stain removers recommend completely saturating the area, I’ve found this advice to be a little dramatic. It’s essential to thoroughly spray the area, but a little solution goes a long way. When I heavily saturated carpet with pet stain remover, I noticed a white cast after blotting with every product I used. This required me to finish the job with my Bissell carpet cleaner, resulting in more work. One to two direct spritzes on each inch of carpet is enough.
