A quick search for "how to remove pet urine smell" turns up no shortage of home remedies — vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, even vodka. Some of these do have a genuine basis in chemistry. Others are more myth than method. Here's an honest look at how the popular DIY options stack up against a purpose-built enzyme cleaner.

Vinegar

The theory: Vinegar is acidic, and acids can neutralise some of the alkaline compounds in dried urine, which is why it's a commonly recommended home remedy.

The reality: Vinegar can help with fresh, surface-level odour to some degree, but it doesn't break down uric acid crystals — the compound primarily responsible for long-term, recurring smell. It also carries its own strong scent, which can end up simply layering one smell over another rather than eliminating anything. On some surfaces, particularly natural stone or certain timber finishes, vinegar's acidity can also cause damage over time.

Verdict: Mild, temporary help at best. Not a real solution for established odours.

Baking Soda

The theory: Baking soda is a well-known odour absorber, commonly used in fridges and shoes for this exact reason.

The reality: Baking soda can absorb some airborne odour molecules, which is why sprinkling it on a carpet and vacuuming it up later can offer short-term relief. But it does nothing to address the uric acid crystals embedded in the fibres or surface below — it's masking, not eliminating.

Verdict: Useful as a light, temporary deodoriser. Doesn't solve the underlying problem.

Hydrogen Peroxide (and Homemade Mixes)

The theory: Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidiser and can break down some organic compounds, which is why it appears in a lot of "DIY enzyme cleaner" recipes online, often mixed with dish soap and baking soda.

The reality: While hydrogen peroxide can have some effect, homemade mixes are inconsistent, can bleach or discolour carpets and fabrics (especially darker colours), and don't offer anything close to the targeted, tested enzyme action of a purpose-built product. There's also no way to verify the concentration or effectiveness of a DIY mix the way you can with a formulated product.

Verdict: Risky for fabric colour, inconsistent results, not recommended for regular use.

Purpose-Built Enzyme Cleaners

The theory: Enzyme cleaners use plant-based enzymes specifically selected to target and break down the uric acid, proteins and fats found in pet urine, faeces and vomit.

The reality: This is the only category on this list actually designed to eliminate the source of pet odour, rather than mask or partially neutralise it. Because the enzymes break uric acid down at a molecular level, there's nothing left to reactivate later — which is why odour doesn't reappear on hot or humid days the way it does after a DIY treatment.

smellBgone PLUS+, for example, is certified organic, plant-based, pH neutral and safe for repeated use on carpets, furniture, tiles, timber and turf — without the risk of discolouration or damage that comes with some DIY approaches.

Verdict: The only approach that reliably deals with the actual cause of pet odour, not just the symptoms.

Side-by-Side Summary

The Bottom Line

Home remedies aren't useless — vinegar and baking soda can genuinely help with light, everyday odours. But for anything beyond a very fresh, minor spot, they're treating a symptom rather than a cause. If you want a result that actually lasts, particularly for set-in stains, an enzyme-based product built specifically for the job is worth having on hand.

Skip the guesswork. Shop smellBgone PLUS+ for a solution that's actually designed to eliminate pet odour, not just cover it up.