You may remember way back in July I decided to start some enzyme cleaner. A homemade enzyme cleaner that's supposed to have the magical properties of a thousand unicorns.
Basically it's a combination of water, old citrus peels and some brown sugar. You can see my original post on how to make it here. It's supposed to replace regular toxic household cleaners and do an even better job. The catch? It takes 3 months to make. It needs that time to develop and ferment.
What happens is the citrus peels produce a small amount of yeast, which in turns eats up the sugar which somehow turns into enzymes. I have no idea how. I don't really care either. Enzymes are known to be great cleaners and any products that are used for getting rid of pet urine stink are usually made of enzymes. So homemade enzyme cleaner is good.
Of course I had to try making it because why wouldn't I? It's what I do. Try things. And this was looking especially appealing for some reason. The 3 months was a pain in the ass but I've waited much longer for far less so I figured I could tough it out.
Besides. If this enzyme cleaner was as good as the people of the Internet were professing 3 months of waiting was a minuscule price to pay. According to the tribe of enzyme Internet people, once it's done, this stuff will clean bathtubs, mirrors, toilets, food, pet urine, remove brown spots from your skin and of course, warts. Yes. That is what they say.
The last thing to get people this worked up was snake oil.
Here's how it all turned out for me ...
July 6th I started my batch of enzyme cleaner. 3 months later it hadn't done a thing. No fermenting, no gassing up, no nothin. All instructions for making this stuff warned you about the fact that so much gas will be produced in the bottle while it's working it's magic that the lid might explode off. No exploding. 3 months later it was the same as it was from day one, with a little extra colour and stink.
I also knew the enzyme cleaner wasn't ready because it was incredibly sticky. Any of the sugar I put in there was still there. If the enzyme cleaner had properly fermented there wouldn't be any sugar left in it.
So after 3 months of nothing happening I added a teaspoon of yeast to my concoction. This did the trick and within a few days the bottle was bubbling and fermenting and producing more gas than Honey Boo Boo at a chili eating contest.
About 2 weeks later it stopped producing gas and wasn't sticky at all, so I knew it was done.
I measured out the recommended ratio of Enzyme Cleaner to water. All the sites that extoll the virtues of this cleaner say to use it straight for pet accidents, one part enzyme to 5 parts water for cleaning glass, and 1 part enzyme to 10 parts water for general cleaning, like in bathrooms and kitchens.
And then I started cleaning. And what did I think?
DIY Enzyme Cleaner is stupid.
I started off by cleaning some sticky windows. It didn't work. Windex did.
Then I moved onto a mirror. It worked. So did Windex and so did plain water.
Then into the bathroom I went. It did a fine job on the sink and bathtub. Just like my regular cleaner only not as good.
Off to the kitchen. Again it did a fine job on the counters and windowsills but a terrible job on the baseboards (which had some kind of grease on them).
That's where I stopped my experiment. It seemed pointless to continue because I knew ... I was never going to make this again.
It wasn't that it was completely terrible, it just wasn't worth the effort and really didn't clean nearly as well as commercial cleaners. Yes, I know ... if you lick it though, you won't die! You won't die if you lick Windex either so don't worry about it. Neither will your baby.
If you're worried about that sort of thing there's a myriad of products out there that are safe for you and your baby and your curious licking problem.
I don't know if was just me, or my particular batch but after reading what other bloggers had to say about this stuff I was expecting rays of sunshine to come exploding out of my toilet after I cleaned with it. They did not.
I'm kind of suspicous about these other bloggers and what they normally use for cleaning products if they're so impressed with this. I suspect prior to making enzyme cleaner they'd been trying to clean their homes with roadkill.
And that's basically my assessment of this DIY Enzyme Cleaner. It's better than roadkill.
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I was researching a related issue when I came across your article. Unfortunately, what you made was nothing more than citrus wine. The small amount of alcohol might make the mix a bit better than water but that's about it.
If you want an enzyme product that works extremely well to remove "pet stains" and their odour, we have it. It's called Envirozyme and has been used by Ontario vets for about 20 years. It's non-toxic, safe and most importantly, it works.
By the way the best way to find "old" stains is with a black-light. Urea Salts fluoresce yellow under a black light.
There is more information to consider when making enzyme cleaners.
As with other fermented projects, you may need some trial and error to get this one right, including storing it in the right conditions and sometimes adding yeast, if the fermentation appears to be going poorly. It’s also IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT CITRUS ENZYMES AREN’T UNIVERSAL CLEANERS, so this product will only work on some household stains!
While enzymatic cleaners won’t replace all your cleaning needs, they can be a great choice for a non-toxic, all-natural cleaning tool that’s especially useful for instant odor relief. When used in combination with other eco-friendly cleaning practices and attentive maintenance, they can keep your home looking and smelling fresh.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/getting-to-know-enzymatic-cleaners.html#ixzz3h1pDEoB8
Awwww what a bummer! I was really hoping for some good reports, as I run a doggy daycare. I'm glad this was so well written, because after reading both blogs about this only to come up empty handed, at least I got a good laugh. Thanks for saving me 3 months. :)
hi there ! so i think this is why ot didnt work.... it didnt ferment properly
what gas up at the end was yeast not your fruit , so they never fermented and it was yeast which ate the sugar not fruit enzyme itself
try this if you ever wanna give it a try again
1 part sugar
3 part fruit
10 part water
needs ti be shaken everyday so fruit get sugar evenly. if you dont wanna wait three months add yeast in beginning. if it stinks u need to add more sugar.
hooe it helpe and hope u dont loose faith yet !
by adding yeast it should cut.time from 3 months to two weeks btw
Thanks Minnie! I've actually taken to using and loving another cleaning product that does the same thing. Hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda and dish soap. Works great! ~ karen
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the objective input on the enzyme cleaner. So far the information I gathered from Chinese websites, blogs, and Youtubers are positively gleaming with joy over this product.
I chanced upon enzyme cleaners while researching for more info on this commercial product called ETL 9 which has very similar claims to an enzyme cleaner, and one thing led to another and before I know it I'm jumping from sites to sites looking for more info.
Thanks again, and I'll review the ETL 9 cleaner when I get a bottle of it~
Hi Kevin! You may find it works for you and you love it but it I did not, lol. For pet stains I really find hydrogen peroxide, dish detergent and baking soda is best. Great results with that. ~ karen!
I enjoyed reading your test and your comical way of writing. I'm the owner of a dog kennel and we currently use Industrial enzyme cleaner which is very effective but costly currently $40 a gallon. I would have attempted to try DIY enzyme cleaner if it wasn't for your investment of effort and time thank you so much for saving me the inconvenience.
You can always give it a shot John. Other people claim it works great, but for me? No. It did not. For ME the best thing to use (works just as great as store bought enzyme cleaner) is this … 16 0z Hydrogen Peroxide, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, 1 Tablespoon of Baking Soda. Mix, soak, let dry. You'd need to mix up a bigger batch but this is one DIY I'd definitely recommend. ~ karen!
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I know of a product that REALLY WORKS!! but it is expensive. I use it for my basement when my drain occasionally decides to back up. Usually after excessive heavy rains and the local storm drains back up. It is just rain run-off, but by the time it all gets into my basement, once it goes down it leaves a smelly slimy residue. The ONLY product I have ever found that cuts it like crazy, is a commercial product named 'D-Molish', sold by 'Neutron Industries' in Arizona. I don't know if I am allowed to 'advertise' on this site, as it is my first visit here. I found you by doing a search on the internet for 'enzyme cleansers'. Thank you for the 'test lab' results on the home made version. I hope I have been able to assist someone in some way with this information. By the way, it Does Work on Pet .. you know. It is normally sold to institutions for, well, similar cleansing issues. Thank you again! ~ Carolyn
To ferment anything properly, the ingredients need to be organic. The sprays, waxes, and chemicals killed the naturally occurring enzymes on your peels, so there was nothing to fed and nurture. The fermentation failed, not the recipe for a beautiful enzymatic cleaner.
Hi Domi. Thanks for your input. Not necessarily true though. For one thing, just because something is natural doesn't always make it better or more beautiful. Poison Ivy for instance. ~ karen
Haha. You are funny.
I like the way you describe your experiment.
I really am looking for a way to get cat pee stench out of a Lazy Boy chair that I really don't want to throw out because of a hopefully resolvable odor challenge.
I wouldn't dream of using such a cleaner on anything other than pet excretions!
I can't wait 3 months, though. I need the chair ready before the baby comes!
I might just have to go out and buy some Nok Out.
Hi Eve! I'd recommend "Nature's Miracle" for that. It's a store bought enzyme cleaner specific for cat urine. I've tried it and it works. Hope that helps. Good look with the pee and the baby! And the baby's pee for that matter. ~ karen!
Thanks for this. Was going to try. Now, I am thinking, maybe not. However, I am the fool who will try it even when I think it won't work just to say "I did." LOL
As for cleaning the tub and sink. Dry baking soda and a terry wash cloth. Nothing is easier, cheaper or healthier. The key - Don't get it wet. The rag and the baking soda just wipes the soap scum and crud right off the tub. If you get it wet, it doesn't work without a bit of elbow grease. The day my daughter and I discovered this, we felt kinda stupid and awed by the ease of it. We had tried everything else (Scrubber bubbles, vinegar and BS, Simple green, scrubbing with comet until our arms fell off, brushes, etc.--Hadn't heard of the Dawn/vinegar stuff yet.)
I use the vinegar citrus peels as a homemade "Fabreeze" and disenfector.
Norwex cloth and water for the windows and mirrors.
You have to shake the containers every day. I put my containers in a spot where I would see them to remember. This is the same enzyme cleaner used for cat and dog urine. By three months, and if you shook the containers daily, there is very little left to strain - it is mostly liquid by then. I wouldn't do this again. Too much trouble, but I did save about $100. bucks!
I realize this is an old post,(found it while googling for my recipe for enzymes) but I figured I would write and share my experience. I make this all the time but I do the two week method with the yeast. I have never had any issues, and I have found it cleans grout like nothing else I have ever used. I use it on my cloth diapers, carpet stains, mopped with it, cleaned the bath tub. I have experimented with different citrus blends. I personally like using pineapple. I am not sure what you did wrong but it should smell like the citrus you used. If done correctly, it works very well. Just my two cents. I am sorry it did not work for you.
I have been making and using the 2-week yeast added version for six months now. I love it. I use less of other detergents when usingh the enzyme, e.g., I tsp laundry soap plus 1/2 to 1 cup of enzyme for a big load of hardcore laundry, and it gets cleaner than anything else I've used, including Oxy wash products, bleaches, etc. It has been a godsend for our incontinent dog and carpets and we sprayed for ants with the citrus enzyme three weeks ago. Nothing has worked against the damned ants, but we haven't seen one in three weeks. I also like to put some in a bath twice a week. feels like a micromassage with gentle exfoliation. Sorry yours didn't work out.
I have just made my enzyme cleaner. I did not wait 3 months. I did mine in two weeks. Followed instructions. And whola.
I have tested it and it has made a world of difference to my daily chores.
An update a few months later - I made your concoction, but didn't use it until just recently. I filtered out all the chunky bits with a coffee filter, and put it in a spray bottle. Just the other day my cat had an accident on my carpet. I blotted it up with paper towels, soaked it with the enzyme for half hour, then blotted up the enzyeme. Absolutely *no* smell. I am so grateful!!!!
That's great! You had much better luck than I did then, LOL. ~ karen!
I made the two week version recently and it works better in my kitchen than any cleanser I've ever used as far as greasy and food stains. One wipe on my stove and it's clean. I've tried plain vinegar before and there's no comparison. It works great on kids handprints on doorfranes as well. I've to try in on windows or bathrooms though and wouldn't want to mix it with comet or bleach. Mixed with water it doesn't smell as strong as store bought sprays and slightly like vinegar. This will be ongong use in my kitchen.
Finally, the voice of reasoned restraint! THANK YOU. My suspicions confirmed about this magical cleaner. Now, about that licking problem... LOL
Forgive me a mini-vent, please? It's disturbing that powwow (people of world-wide web) don't take the time to discover whether the concoction the are making & using is safe. "Natural" does not equal safe. Scorpions are natural and I don't consider them safe.
Thanks for saving me time and aggravation.
Debi