Skout's Honor Urine Destroyer review: the non-enzyme second move

Dog pee that keeps announcing itself? This is a four-ingredient urine odor remover with a plant-based surfactant, not an enzyme cleaner, and it works on carpet, rugs, upholstery and bedding.

Our verdict: the pick when the smell outlasted an enzyme soak. For a fresh puddle, blot first and start with an enzyme cleaner like Biokleen Bac-Out.

Who it suits

• A smell that outlasted an enzyme soak.
• Carpet, rugs, upholstery, bedding and tile. Laminate, clothing and sealed hardwood are on the list too.
• Potty-training puppies, senior and incontinent dogs.
• Households that want a short, named ingredient list.

What the label shows

• Four ingredients: deionized water, Bio-Kore (a plant-based surfactant), a biodegradable molecular complex (mineral-based deodorizer) and a plant-based fragrance.
• Not enzymatic: no enzymes, no pretreatment.
• Old or new: works on old and new urine stains.
• Not for: wool, leather, silk, unsealed wood or untreated hardwood.

How to use it

1. Test a small, hidden patch for colorfastness first.
2. Use it in a well-ventilated room.
3. Apply to the spot so it reaches the fabric, not just the surface.
4. Let it dry, then smell-check it up close.
5. Stubborn spot? Apply again, then lift the moisture with an absorbent cloth or a wet vac.

Test a hidden patch, apply, dry, smell-check. Still there? Go again.

The catch, in full

• Not an enzyme cleaner, so it is not the first move on a fresh puddle.
• It has a plant-based fragrance, so judge the spot once it is dry.
• Off limits for wool, leather, silk and unsealed wood.

Cats too

There is a cat version, Skout's Honor Cat Urine & Odor Destroyer, made for cat urine, marking scent and spray stains. Same four-ingredient list, same not-enzymatic catch. See the cat pick. If your cat has a sudden change in habits, call your vet first.

Skout's Honor vs the rest

• Enzyme cleaners: Bac-Out, Naturally It's Clean and Rocco & Roxie break the mess down. See our enzyme head-to-head.
• Skout's Honor is the switch when the enzyme route did not finish the job. Why odors return: pet odor comes back.

All the picks: dog odor cleanup, cat odor cleanup, or the dog pick page.