Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Cleaner household cleaners

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Jul 9, 2020 · , sent to the company Jul 17, 2020 · , published by CPSC Jul 31, 2020

   The product, in the report: Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Odor Remover for Dog Urine Model p-98125/17-31280 UPC 1806598125

   As a dog owner, I have accepted that in-home “accidents” can occur. As such, I have been a fairly loyal customer of the Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Cleaner [dog version] for a while. It is usually a satisfactory product, but my most recent purchase has been far, far from. The most-recent bottle I purchased [bought from Target--Winston-Salem, NC] has caused many issues in my household.

   I used this product a few times to clean up various accidents over the last 4-5 months, and initially thought it worked well. However, a day or two later I would smell something very off in the rooms in which I cleaned with this product--I assumed the urine just hadn’t been fully removed, so I used the product on the same spot(s). Again, I initially thought the product removed the smell, but a day or two later the horrible smell [and I mean it is FOUL] still lingered in those places. After a week or so, the odor seemed to fill the entire rooms (living room, guest bedroom) to the point where both myself and guests found it noticeable immediately upon entering these rooms.

   I had no idea what was happening, so I purchased a wet-vacuum and treated all rugs in my home. Smell still there. Over a month or so, anyone who came into my house would notice the smell and either 1) tell me they think the dog peed somewhere, or 2) whisper to other friends that the house had a terrible smell. It was so embarrassing. Eventually, the smell became so persistent that it would give me nausea--yes it was that bad. At one point, my mother spent the weekend with me and repeatedly complained about this issue. I decided to have my rugs professionally cleaned, but it did not work. The cleaning company even tried four times on one rug and three times on another in order to satisfy me, but the smell wasn’t going anywhere [mind you, the cleaning cost me $440 and ultimately did nothing].

   Fast forwarding to now [7/9/20], this odor, caused by Nature’s Miracle, lingers. I had never actually opened the bottle I had, so myself and the carpet cleaner technician did it together and were horrified at what was inside; the liquid literally looked like and smelled like pure, yellow-brown urine. That is not an exaggeration. I couldn’t believe it, so I went to Target and purchased another bottle to verify, but to my surprise the new bottle smelled and looked absolutely fine, just like other bottles I had purchased in the past. I couldn’t believe it.

   What was wrong with that one specific bottle? Contamination? Some chemical change during potentially hot temperature transport? Accidental formulation error? Something had to happen. I looked at online [REDACTED] reviews--nearly all positive, but found in the 1-star ratings that numerous consumers have had this same problem, similarly reported nausea, similarly reported that the smell would not come out, regardless of what they did to remedy the issue. One person even said that she had to replace the entire carpet in one room of her home. I, too, am going to have to replace about $1200 worth of rugs, even after spending $440 to have them cleaned.

   I called Spectrum Brands, the parent company of this product, to file a complaint/claim. Upon telling the representative of the foul smell issue, he mentioned nearly immediately [emphasis on immediately] that maybe I should go to the website [REDACTED] to find a cleaning professional in my area. Hmm...who in the world knows right off the top of their head the exact website of a professional cleaning search tool--and it isn’t for regular cleaning, it is ozonation cleaning specifically, which is pretty much a last resort option to remove smells, and even this still may not work. That was extremely fishy to me, and every person I have mentioned it to today completely agreed that it was not just a coincidence. I asked the representative how he randomly knew of this type of cleaning and how he knew the specific website and could repeat it so quickly. He said, “I just knew.” He also maintained that neither he nor the company had never heard of this issue until now--a blatant lie. I know this is a lie as Nature’s Miracle brand managers routinely comment back to consumers in response to their negative [REDACTED] reviews, AND I had already called and emailed in the past. There is no way that this problem was not known about until today. Absolutely false on behalf of Spectrum Brands.

   One thing I should note is that I am literally a sensory scientist and actively work as a taste and smell researcher for a consumer goods company...my undergraduate background is in food science with an emphasis on quality control...so of one thing I am certain: this odor is foul and this product is the culprit.

   Model

   p-98125/17-31280

   UPC

   1806598125

   Serial number

   17-31013

   Bought from

   Target Stores

   Bought

   Apr 15, 2020, about then

   Where

   Winston Salem, North Carolina: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 27, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Nature’s Miracle Enzymatic Cleaner, made or sold by UNITED PET GROUP INC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources