Does the smell of ‘wet dog’ or a lingering litter box scent seem permanently attached to your favorite blanket? You love your furry friends, but their unique aromas can sometimes take over your home, especially after laundry day. Finding a detergent that truly tackles those tough pet odors, instead of just masking them, feels like a never-ending quest. You’ve probably tried everything—extra soaking, blasting the hottest water—only to find the smell returns once the item dries.
The struggle is real when standard detergents fail against organic pet messes. Choosing the wrong product can mean wasting money or, worse, permanently setting those stubborn smells into your fabrics. This guide cuts through the confusing labels and chemical jargon. We will show you exactly what ingredients work best to neutralize pet smells completely.
Keep reading to discover the top-rated detergents proven to banish pet odors for good. We’ll break down enzyme technology, explore eco-friendly options, and give you practical tips for washing everything from muddy dog beds to accident-stained towels. Get ready to enjoy truly fresh laundry again!
Top Laundry Detergent For Pet Odors Recommendations
- Concentrated Powder Detergent: ACTIVE Pet Detergent is a Powerful, High Efficiency Compatible Odor Destroyer & Stain Eliminating Detergent. Every Scoop has a Natural Cleaning Power to Handle any Mess, Stain, or Smell left behind by your pet.
- Suitable for all Pet Laundry: Including Pet Bed, Clothing, Leash, Harness, Blankets, Towels, Furniture Covers & More! ACTIVE is an All-in-One Laundry Detergent Compatible With All Fabric Types, Even Use on your own Clothing and Bedding that smells like your pet!
- Bio Based Enzyme Cleaner: ACTIVE Enzyme Laundry Detergent is Formulated to Target Pesky Stains and Odors, Including Pet Urine, Cat & Dog Pee, Vomit, Slobber, Dirt, Grime, Oils and Protein Stains. ACTIVE Enzymes even get rid of Wet Dog Odor, and others stubborn scents
- Natural & Fragrance Free: ACTIVE Pet Detergent is a Natural Laundry Stain Remover, Free of Harsh Chemicals and Gentle for Pets and Sensitive Skin. ACTIVE Actually Removes Odors rather than using scents to cover them up like some alternatives
- Best Value 64 Loads: Compare ACTIVE Dog Laundry Detergent to liquids that take up more space with less uses. Our Value Pack Comes in a Bulk 2 Lb bag so you can Keep Your Pet Laundry Taken Care Of!
- FEBREZE IN WASH PET ODOR ELIMINATOR: You will receive (1) 98 Fl Oz bottle of Febreze Maximum Strength In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator laundry detergent additive. Remove tough pet odors from fabrics and clothing in a single wash. Brought to you by Nehemiah Manufacturing.
- MAXIMUM STRENGTH LAUNDRY ODOR ELIMINATOR: This detergent additive removes even the toughest pet odors instead of just masking them. Ideal for removing odors from cat and dog beds, sofa covers, pet carriers, dog collars, pet urine and more!
- FOR BEST RESULTS: Pretreat hard-to-remove odors by placing the item in hot water, add 1 capful of Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator and soak. Continue with normal wash. For Light Odors use 1 capful. For Heavy, use 1 1/2 capfuls. For Extreme Odors, use up to 2 capfuls
- SAFE TO USE WITH LAUNDRY PRODUCTS: Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator is safe to use with laundry detergent pods, liquid laundry detergent, fabric softeners, and bleaches. Compatible with regular and high efficiency washing machines.
- SUBSCRIBE & SAVE: Never run out of Febreze In Wash Pet Odor Eliminator Laundry Additive when you add it to your subscriptions. Save with every purchase
- LAUNDRY BIO-ENZYMATIC FORMULA: Helps break down and destroy tough pet stains and odors, such as urine, feces, vomit, blood, grass and drool.
- GENTLE ON FABRICS: Perfect for use on clothing, pet beds and more—not for use on specialty fabrics, including washable silk, khaki, fluorescents, wool, suede and leathers.
- SAFE FOR PETS AND HOME: Formulated without phosphates, parabens, sulfates and bleach, this product is safe for use around pets and home, when used as directed.
- ODORCAPTURE 360 TECHNOLOGY: An odor neutralizing system from Nature’s Miracle, the brand you trust because it works!
- WORKS IN ALL MACHINES INCLUDING HE: Use in addition to your laundry detergent to help loosen and remove tough pet stains and odors.
- LAUNDRY DETERGENT ADDITIVE: Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to every wash, in the fabric softener drawer, to sanitize and deodorize smelly laundry. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer kills many bad odors that detergents leave behind.
- COLOR SAFE BLEACH ALTERNATIVE: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is a bleach alternative that effectively kills 99.9% of bacteria, without the harshness of bleach. It's gentle on fabrics, effective in cold water, and is safe to use on colors and whites.
- LYSOL LAUNDRY SANITIZER: Better than in-wash scent boosters that just mask bad odors. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer kills the odor causing bacteria that laundry detergents alone can leave behind, even in cold water Can be used in standard and HE machines.
- ODOR ELIMINATOR FOR STRONG ODOR: Say goodbye to stubborn odors with Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, an advanced formula designed to act as an effective odor eliminator for even the toughest smells, leaving your clothes smelling fresh after every wash.
- HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS and CLEANING SUPPLIES: Lysol is a leader in disinfection. Shop our range of household cleaning supplies including disinfectant wipes, toilet bowl cleaners, air sanitizers, and disinfectant sprays. The best protection is prevention
- One 100.5 fl oz bottle of ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean with Odor Blasters Laundry Detergent, Fresh Burst Liquid Laundry Detergent cleans 77 medium loads when used as directed
- Triple-power HE laundry detergent fights tough odors, blasts away stains and boosts freshness so your clothes look and smell their best
- With trusted ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda plus an odor fighter, this HE laundry detergent is formulated to deeply clean clothes and deliver lasting freshness
- Laundry stain remover forces out stubborn stains and nasty odors using OxiClean Stain Fighters to remove stains like food, grass, grease and more
- Odor Blasters fights tough smells like body odor, sweat and musty towels and leave clothes with a lasting Fresh Burst scent
- LAUNDRY DETERGENT ADDITIVE: Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to every wash, in the fabric softener drawer, to sanitize and deodorize smelly laundry. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer kills many bad odors that detergents leave behind.
- COLOR SAFE BLEACH ALTERNATIVE: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is a bleach alternative that effectively kills 99.9% of bacteria, without the harshness of bleach. It's gentle on fabrics, effective in cold water, and is safe to use on colors and whites.
- LYSOL LAUNDRY SANITIZER: Better than in-wash scent boosters that just mask bad odors. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer kills the odor causing bacteria that laundry detergents alone can leave behind, even in cold water Can be used in standard and HE machines.
- ODOR ELIMINATOR FOR STRONG ODOR: Say goodbye to stubborn odors with Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, an advanced formula designed to act as an effective odor eliminator for even the toughest smells, leaving your clothes smelling fresh after every wash.
- HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS and CLEANING SUPPLIES: Lysol is a leader in disinfection. Shop our range of household cleaning supplies including disinfectant wipes, toilet bowl cleaners, air sanitizers, and disinfectant sprays. The best protection is prevention
- Eliminates pet odors and stains - LaundraPet enzymatic laundry detergent by Alpha Tech Pet is designed to remove animal pet odors and stains from pet poop and urine, and heavy soils from washable garments, leaving them soft and smelling fresh!
- Triple-action enzymatic power - Offering 3x cleaning efficacy, LaundraPet is a pet laundry detergent fortified with enzymatic technology that boosts cleaning power by 15%. It can be used in cold water, saving energy consumption.
- Veterinarian-approved - This pet enzyme cleaner is an effective pet odor eliminator with the purest cleaning ingredients for home, clinics, or kennels. It is a dermatologist-approved, all-natural, family and pet-safe detergent.
- Perfect for high-efficiency washers - Its low-sudsing formula is ideal for high-efficiency machines, making it the choice of groomers, vets, and pet owners. Plus, an economical pet cleaning solution as you can get up to 96 washes (1oz for HE and 2oz for regular washers).
- Trusted animal care solutions - With over 38 years in business, Alpha Tech Pet delivers eco-friendly, USA-made products scientifically formulated for effective and gentle pet care solutions.
- Use what Your Vet Uses: Thornell is an excellent provider of pet odor eliminator for home and laundry products to the veterinary industry in North America. Use what the pros use! This powerful dog and cat odor eliminator concentrate for laundry can be used safely on towels, bedding, blankets, clothing, and all other machine-washable items.
- Tough on Strong Odors: Use this pet odor remover laundry concentrate to permanently and immediately remove odors from the first application, saving you time and money. This concentrated laundry deodorizer for clothes penetrates the source of the odor whereas other pet deodorizers for home and laundry only treat surface problems.
- Easy to Use & Cost Efficient: Add L.O.E. animal odor eliminator clothes additive to the pre-soak or auto-soak cycle, or directly with the detergent. For moderate odors, use only ½ oz per load. Our 32 oz bottle of dog and cat smell eliminator is good for 64 loads of laundry!
- Not an Enzyme, Not a Mask: Our pet smell odor eliminator concentrate features a unique non-enzymatic formula that works regardless of what application you have used before. Odorcide L.O.E works where other odor absorbers for home laundry products haven’t and won’t.
- Safe for Small Pets & Children: No need to fear, pets and children can safely be around anything treated with L.O.E. pet smell and cat urine odor eliminator immediately after use. Our concentrated deodorizer odor eliminator is non-toxic, non-irritating, non-carcinogenic, and biodegradable.
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Conquering Pet Odors in Your Laundry
Pets bring joy, but they also bring smells. Accidents happen, and sometimes those lingering pet odors cling to blankets, beds, and clothes. Finding the right laundry detergent is key to winning the battle against pet smells. This guide helps you pick the best cleaner for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
- Enzymatic Cleaners: Look for detergents that list “enzymes” on the label. Enzymes are tiny helpers that actually eat away the odor-causing proteins left by urine, vomit, and dander. They are the most effective tool against tough pet smells.
- Odor Neutralizers: Some detergents use special ingredients that trap and lock away smells instead of just covering them up with perfume. This is crucial for truly fresh laundry.
- Color and Fabric Safety: Ensure the detergent works well on the fabrics you wash most often—whether it’s sturdy dog beds or delicate cat toys. Check if it’s safe for HE (High Efficiency) washing machines if you have one.
- Concentration Level: Concentrated formulas often provide better cleaning power in smaller amounts, saving you money over time.
Important Materials: What’s Inside Matters
The ingredients list tells the real story. Avoid detergents that rely only on heavy fragrances. Those just mask smells temporarily.
- Good Materials: Enzymes (like protease, amylase, or lipase), oxygen-based brighteners, and plant-derived surfactants (cleaning agents).
- Materials to Watch Out For: High levels of chlorine bleach (it can damage fabric and doesn’t always break down odor molecules well) and harsh optical brighteners if you have sensitive skin or allergies.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of a pet odor detergent depends on how deeply it cleans.
Quality Boosters:
- Deep Penetration: The best formulas sink deep into thick fabrics, like pet bedding, where odors hide the most.
- Residue Removal: High-quality detergents rinse out completely. Leftover soap residue can actually attract dirt and trap smells again later.
Quality Reducers:
- Fragrance Overload: If the only thing you smell is strong perfume after washing, the detergent likely failed to remove the source of the odor.
- Weak Formulas: Standard detergents often only clean dirt; they do not possess the specialized chemistry needed to break down biological pet messes.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the detergent affects your results. Think about what you wash most often.
- Heavy Duty Use: For cleaning dog crates, muddy towels, or accident-soiled rugs, you might need a dedicated pre-soak soak or a heavy-duty liquid formula used on the “heavy soil” setting.
- Regular Maintenance: For weekly washing of pet blankets or pet clothing, a good enzyme detergent used at the recommended dose keeps smells from building up in the first place.
- Sensitive Pets: If your pet has skin issues, look for dye-free and hypoallergenic pet odor formulas. These clean effectively without irritating sensitive skin.
10 FAQs About Laundry Detergent for Pet Odors
Q: Why do regular detergents not work on pet smells?
A: Regular detergents clean dirt and grime. Pet odors, especially urine, come from organic proteins and uric acid crystals. These need specialized enzymes to be broken down completely.
Q: Are enzyme detergents safe for my washing machine?
A: Yes. Most modern enzyme formulas are safe for all standard and HE washing machines. They work best in warm or cool water, which protects the enzymes.
Q: Should I use powder or liquid for pet odors?
A: Liquid formulas usually mix into the wash water faster and are often better at delivering enzymes directly to the stain. However, high-quality enzyme powders are also very effective.
Q: Can I use this detergent on my own clothes?
A: Yes, if the detergent is labeled as safe for general laundry use. If you are concerned about sensitive skin, test a small load first.
Q: How much detergent should I use?
A: Always follow the directions on the bottle. If the odor is very strong, you might use a little more, but avoid using too much, as excess soap leaves residue.
Q: Do I need to pre-soak items before washing?
A: For old, set-in pet stains, pre-soaking for 30 minutes to a few hours in water mixed with an enzyme cleaner or a scoop of oxygen booster helps loosen the odor molecules before the main wash cycle.
Q: Will these detergents remove the yellow stains from urine?
A: Many enzyme detergents also contain oxygen boosters that help lift yellowing stains, but for very old stains, you might need a dedicated stain remover first.
Q: Are scented detergents better at hiding smells?
A: Scented detergents only mask smells temporarily. The best products focus on *eliminating* the source of the odor using enzymes, leaving a naturally clean scent behind.
Q: What is the best temperature to wash pet bedding?
A: Check the care tag first. If possible, use the warmest water safe for the fabric, as heat helps activate the cleaning agents, but remember that extremely hot water can sometimes set protein stains permanently.
Q: How long does the odor-fighting power last after washing?
A: When the odor-causing compounds are fully broken down, the clean smell lasts until the item gets dirty again. If the smell returns quickly, the original cleaning was not thorough enough.