Buying a BISSELL carpet cleaner solution can get confusing surprisingly fast.
One bottle says OXY. Another says pet stain and odor. Some are made for urine, some use enzyme action, some are pretreatments, and several Woolite products look like they do almost the same job.
Then there are carpet foams, sanitizing formulas and instant stain removers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Match your carpet solution to the exact type of mess: everyday spills, set-in stains, organic pet urine, or high-traffic areas.
- Sprays, foams, and pretreatments are NOT automatically safe to pour into machine water tanks.
- Enzyme cleaners target organic odors/urine, while OXY formulas excel at breaking down tough visible stains.
- Always check carpet and upholstery material compatibility before applying sanitizing formulas.
The easiest way to choose is not by looking at the bottle design or trying to decide which formula sounds strongest. Start with what you actually need to clean.
This guide sorts 19 BISSELL and Woolite carpet-care products by their main job: everyday stains, quick pet messes, pet urine, lingering odors, enzyme cleaning, sanitizing, foam cleaning and pretreating before a deeper carpet clean.
Quick note: Many products below are sprays, spot cleaners, pretreatments or foams. That does not automatically mean they can be poured into a carpet shampooer or deep-cleaner tank. Use a product in a machine only when its label specifically says it is compatible with that type of carpet cleaner.
BISSELL Carpet Cleaner Solutions Overview
| Product | Type | Main Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1. PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer | OXY pretreat / spot cleaner | Pet stains and odors |
| 2. Woolite INSTAClean – Pet Stain Remover | Instant pet stain remover | Fresh pet messes |
| 3. Oxy Pet Stain & Stink Remover | OXY pet cleaner | Pet stains, urine, vomit and colored stains |
| 4. Cat Stain & Stink Remover | Cat stain remover | Cat urine, vomit and other stains |
| 5. OXY Stain Pretreat for Carpet & Upholstery | OXY pretreat / spot cleaner | Set-in household stains |
| 6. Woolite INSTAclean Stain Remover | Instant stain remover | Everyday carpet and upholstery stains |
| 7. Professional Pet Stain and Odor Removing Formula | Pet stain and odor cleaner | General pet messes |
| 8. Pet Stain & Stink Remover with Enzyme Action for Carpet | Enzyme cleaner | Organic pet stains and odors |
| 9. Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize Pretreat | Sanitizing pretreat | Pet messes plus sanitizing |
| 10. Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator + Enzyme | Enzyme urine cleaner | Pet urine and recurring odor |
| 11. Woolite Advantage Carpet & Upholstery Foam Cleaner | Foam cleaner | Carpet and upholstery stains |
| 12. Woolite Free & Clear Pet Stain & Odor Remover | Free & Clear cleaner | Pet stains without added fragrance or dyes |
| 13. Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator | Enzyme urine cleaner | Tough urine stains and odors |
| 14. Woolite Carpet Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Oxy Spray | OXY pet spray | Visible pet stains and odors |
| 15. Woolite Advanced Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize | Sanitizing cleaner | General stains and odors |
| 16. Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize | Sanitizing pet cleaner | Pet messes plus sanitizing |
| 17. Febreze Gain Original Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam | Carpet foam | High-traffic carpet areas |
| 18. Woolite Carpet & Upholstery Foam Cleaner | Foam cleaner | New and set-in stains |
| 19. Stain & Stink Instant Stain Remover | Instant spot cleaner | Fast carpet and upholstery stain removal |
For Everyday Carpet Stains
Coffee, food, dirt, makeup and small household spills do not necessarily need a pet formula or enzyme cleaner.
For ordinary stains, start with a general spot cleaner.
1. Woolite INSTAClean Stain Remover
Woolite INSTAclean Stain Remover is designed for quick treatment of stubborn stains and odors on carpets, rugs, upholstery and car interiors.
That makes it one of the simpler options when the problem is an isolated spill rather than a pet accident or an entire dirty carpet.
WOOLITE INSTACLEAN AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: everyday spills, food stains, dirt and general spot cleaning.
- ✓ Choose it when: you want a quick carpet stain remover that can also be used on other suitable soft surfaces.
2. Stain & Stink Instant Stain Remover
This product has an even clearer job: fast spot treatment.
It is positioned for removing stains from carpet and upholstery within about 30 seconds, making it useful when you catch a spill and want to treat it immediately.
STAIN & STINK INSTANT AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: fresh stains and small problem areas.
- ✓ Choose it when: speed is more important than a specialized pet, urine or enzyme formula.
For Tough and Set-In Household Stains
Older stains need a slightly different approach from a fresh spill.
1. OXY Stain Pretreat for Carpet & Upholstery
BISSELL positions OXY Stain Pretreat for stains such as coffee, jelly and makeup, including stains that have already set into carpet, area rugs or upholstery.
Despite the word Pretreat in its name, it does not have to be used only before a deep clean. BISSELL says it can also be used as a standalone spot and stain treatment.
OXY STAIN PRETREAT AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: old or stubborn household stains.
- ✓ Choose it when: an instant cleaner is not enough or you want to treat difficult spots before using a deep cleaner.
This distinction matters because a pretreat does not necessarily replace the cleaning formula used inside a carpet-cleaning machine.
For Quick Pet Stain Cleanup
Fresh pet messes are not always the same problem as old urine odor.
When the accident is new and the stain itself is the main issue, these products make more sense than jumping immediately to a dedicated urine treatment.
1. Woolite INSTAClean Pet Stain Remover
This is the pet-focused INSTAclean option.
It is intended for messes including urine, feces, vomit, dirt, mud, food grease, sauces, coffee and red wine.
That broad range makes it useful in a home where a “pet stain” might actually be a mixture of pet accidents and ordinary household messes.
WOOLITE INSTACLEAN PET AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: fresh pet accidents and common household stains.
- ✓ Choose it when: you want one fast cleaner that can handle more than urine alone.
2. PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer
PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer focuses on pet spots, stains and odors on carpet, area rugs and upholstery.
BISSELL also says using it as a pretreatment before deep cleaning can improve deep-cleaning performance by up to 3X.
PET PRO OXY AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: visible pet stains, pet odors and spots that may later receive a deeper carpet cleaning.
- ✓ Choose it when: both the visible stain and pet odor matter.
3. Oxy Pet Stain & Stink Remover
Oxy is another stain-and-odor product, but its useful range includes pet urine and vomit as well as highly visible stains such as coffee.
OXY STAIN & STINK AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: pet accidents plus dark or noticeable stains.
- ✓ Choose it when: you want an OXY-style cleaner that is not limited to one kind of pet mess.
4. Professional Pet Stain and Odor Removing Formula
This is the more general pet-focused option in the group.
Its purpose is straightforward: cleaning pet stains and dealing with odors on carpets, area rugs and upholstery.
PROFESSIONAL PET FORMULA AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: general pet mess cleanup.
- ✓ Choose it when: you need a broad pet odor remover and stain cleaner rather than a urine-specific or sanitizing product.
5. Woolite Carpet Pet Stain & Odor + Oxy Spray
This Woolite spray combines pet stain treatment with odor removal and OXY cleaning.
WOOLITE PET + OXY AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: visible pet stains on carpets, rugs and upholstery.
- ✓ Choose it when: stubborn staining is a major part of the pet mess.
For Cat Urine, Vomit and Cat-Related Stains
1. Cat Stain & Stink Remover
Cat messes are not limited to urine.
This formula is intended for problems including cat urine, vomit and other colored stains.
That makes it a more general cat-mess cleaner than a product made specifically around urine alone.
CAT STAIN & STINK AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: cat urine, vomit and visible cat-related stains.
- ✓ Choose it when: you want one cat-focused cleaner instead of a urine-only product.
For a persistent urine odor, however, it is also worth comparing the dedicated enzyme and urine eliminators below.
For Pet Urine and Enzyme Cleaning
This is the group to look at when the visible stain is only part of the problem.
Urine can leave odor behind even after the surface appears clean, which is why BISSELL also sells formulas built around enzyme cleaning action.
1. Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator + Enzyme with Brush Head Cleaner
This is one of the clearest matches when pet urine is the main problem.
The formula uses enzyme cleaning action and comes with an integrated scrubbing brush, so the product can be applied and worked into the affected area without needing a separate brush.
BISSELL also positions it for odor elimination and helping prevent resoiling and remarking.
PET URINE ELIMINATOR + ENZYME AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: urine stains, lingering urine odor and spots a pet may return to.
- ✓ Choose it when: you want a pet urine enzyme cleaner with a built-in brush.
2. Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator + Enzyme
The similarly named Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator should not be treated as a non-enzyme alternative.
It also uses enzyme cleaning action and is intended for tough pet urine stains and odors.
WOOLITE PET URINE ELIMINATOR AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: pet urine stains and odor on carpet.
- ✓ Choose it when: you want a dedicated urine treatment but do not specifically need the brush-head version.
3. Pet Stain & Stink Remover with Enzyme Action for Carpet
This is the broader enzyme product.
Rather than focusing only on urine, it is designed around enzyme-based treatment of pet stains and odors more generally.
PET STAIN & STINK ENZYME AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: organic pet messes where both staining and odor are concerns.
- ✓ Choose it when: you want an enzyme cleaner for urine and other pet messes, rather than a urine-only product.
Enzyme Cleaner or OXY Cleaner?
PROS
- ✓ Best for strong, dark, or set-in visible stains
- ✓ Formulated around oxygen-action lifting stain particles
- ✓ Ideal for coffee, wine, juice, and dark pet marks
CONS
- ✕ Best for organic pet messes and lingering odors
- ✕ Breaks down uric acid and organic compounds at a molecular level
- ✕ Prevents pets from returning to remark the same spot
There is some overlap, so this does not need to become complicated.
If the main problem is persistent urine or an organic pet odor, start by comparing a urine-specific or enzyme cleaner.
If the biggest problem is a strong visible stain, an OXY product may be the more obvious place to start.
If you have both, choose a product specifically designed for both stains and odors rather than assuming every stain remover works the same way.
For Pet Stains Without Added Fragrance or Dyes
1. Woolite Free & Clear Pet Stain & Odor Remover
The Free & Clear version has a more specific purpose than simply being another pet cleaner.
BISSELL says the formula is free from artificial fragrance, dyes, phosphates and optical brighteners. It is intended for stains including pet urine, vomit, blood, red wine, grape juice and food sauces on suitable carpet, rugs and upholstery.
WOOLITE FREE & CLEAR AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: pet stains and general tough stains.
- ✓ Choose it when: you specifically prefer a formula without added fragrance or dyes.
For Sanitizing Carpet & Upholstery Stains
Some formulas combine stain and odor treatment with a sanitizing step.
1. Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize Pretreat
This product is designed to loosen pet stains while sanitizing suitable carpet and upholstery.
BISSELL says it kills 99.9% of the specified bacteria when used according to the label.
PET STAIN & ODOR + SANITIZE AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: pet stains where sanitizing is also part of the cleaning goal.
- ✓ Choose it when: you plan to pretreat the area before additional cleaning.
2. Woolite Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize
This is another pet-focused option combining stain removal, odor treatment and sanitizing.
WOOLITE ADVANCED PET SANITIZE AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: tough pet messes on suitable soft surfaces.
- ✓ Choose it when: pet cleanup is the primary job and you also want a sanitizing formula.
3. Woolite Advanced Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize (For Soft Surface)
This version removes the pet-specific focus.
It is better suited to general stains and odors when you also want to sanitize an appropriate soft surface.
WOOLITE ADVANCED GENERAL SANITIZE AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: everyday stains, odors and sanitizing.
- ✓ Choose it when: the mess is not necessarily pet-related.
Surface note: BISSELL states that its sanitizing pretreat is not suitable for polypropylene/olefin or wool fibers. Check the individual product label and the care instructions for your carpet or upholstery before use.
For Foam-Based Carpet Cleaning
Foam cleaners deserve their own group because they are neither ordinary trigger sprays nor machine-tank formulas.
1. Woolite Advantage Carpet & Upholstery Foam Cleaner
This is a foam-based cleaner for carpet and upholstery stains and odors.
WOOLITE ADVANTAGE FOAM AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: carpet, stairs, upholstery and targeted stained areas.
- ✓ Choose it when: you prefer a foam cleaner rather than a liquid spot spray.
2. Woolite Carpet & Upholstery Foam Cleaner
This is another foam option designed for both newer and set-in stains.
Its job is general carpet and upholstery stain cleaning rather than urine-specific treatment.
WOOLITE CARPET & UPHOLSTERY FOAM AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: general stains on carpet and upholstered furniture.
- ✓ Choose it when: you need a multipurpose foam cleaner.
For High-Traffic Carpet Areas
1. Febreze Gain Original Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam
This one has a very different use case from most products in the list.
It is aimed at carpet areas that collect dirt and odor through repeated foot traffic.
Think hallways, frequently used pathways through a living room, carpet near entrances and other spots that become dingy faster than the rest of the room.
FEBREZE HEAVY TRAFFIC AT A GLANCE
- ✓ Use it for: larger high-traffic carpet areas.
- ✓ Choose it when: your problem is general grime and odor rather than one isolated pet stain.
Which BISSELL Carpet Cleaner Should You Use?
If 19 products are still too many to compare, start here:
| Your Cleaning Problem | Product Type to Look At |
|---|---|
| Fresh everyday spill | INSTAclean Stain Remover |
| Set-in household stain | OXY Stain Pretreat |
| Quick fresh pet accident | INSTAclean Pet Stain Remover |
| Visible pet stain + odor | PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer |
| Pet urine + enzyme cleaning | Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator |
| Pet urine + enzyme + built-in brush | Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator + Enzyme |
| General pet stain + enzyme action | Pet Stain & Stink Remover with Enzyme Action |
| Cat urine, vomit or colored stain | Cat Stain & Stink Remover |
| Fragrance- and dye-free pet cleaning | Woolite Free & Clear |
| Pet stain + sanitizing | Advanced Pet Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize |
| General stain + sanitizing | Advanced Stain & Odor Remover + Sanitize |
| General carpet/upholstery foam | Woolite Carpet & Upholstery Foam Cleaner |
| Foam + targeted carpet/upholstery cleaning | Woolite Advantage Foam Cleaner |
| High-traffic carpet | Febreze Gain Heavy Traffic Carpet Foam |
Can You Use These Solutions in a BISSELL Carpet Shampooer?
Do not assume that every BISSELL or Woolite carpet product can go inside a carpet-cleaning machine.
Several products in this guide are specifically sold as:
- spot cleaners
- sprays
- pretreatments
- enzyme treatments
- sanitizing pretreatments
- carpet foams
Those products may be used before, after or separately from a machine-cleaning step depending on their instructions.
For example, BISSELL describes OXY Stain Pretreat as a standalone stain treatment or something that can be sprayed before deep cleaning. PET PRO OXY Stain Destroyer is also positioned as a pretreatment rather than simply being poured into a machine tank.
If you own one of BISSELL’s carpet shampooers or deep cleaners, use a cleaning formula specifically approved for that machine in its solution tank.
FAQs
Which BISSELL carpet cleaner is for pet urine?
Start with the Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator products if urine is the main problem. Both are aimed at pet urine and use enzyme cleaning action, while the + Enzyme brush-head version adds an integrated scrubbing brush.
Which enzyme cleaner is good for dog urine?
Among the products covered here, Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator + Enzyme is one of the most direct matches because it specifically combines urine treatment with enzyme cleaning. The standard Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator is also an enzyme-based urine product.
Which enzyme cleaner can be used for cat urine?
A urine-specific enzyme product such as Woolite Carpet Pet Urine Eliminator can be considered when urine and lingering odor are the main problems. If the cat mess also includes vomit or another visible stain, Cat Stain & Stink Remover is another product to compare.
What is the difference between a pet odor remover and an enzyme cleaner?
A general pet stain and odor remover is designed to deal with the visible mess and accompanying smell. An enzyme-labeled formula is more specifically positioned around breaking down organic pet messes and is especially relevant when urine or another pet odor continues to be a problem.
What is the difference between OXY and enzyme carpet cleaners?
OXY products are commonly positioned around stain removal, particularly visible or set-in stains. Enzyme products are especially useful to compare when the problem involves organic pet messes such as urine and lingering odor.
Can I use BISSELL carpet cleaner on upholstery?
Several products in this guide are specifically listed for carpet and upholstery, but not every carpet-cleaning product is suitable for every fabric. Always check the individual product label and your upholstery manufacturer’s care instructions before treating the surface.
Is carpet foam the same as carpet shampoo?
No. A carpet foam is applied directly to the surface according to the product instructions. A carpet shampoo or machine cleaning formula is designed for compatible carpet shampooers or deep cleaners. Do not pour a foam or trigger-spray cleaner into a machine tank unless the manufacturer specifically instructs you to do so.
The Bottom Line
There is no need to memorize the entire BISSELL carpet cleaner lineup.
Start with the mess.
For a fresh everyday spill, use an instant spot cleaner. For an old visible stain, look toward an OXY stain product. For pet urine and recurring odor, compare the enzyme and urine-eliminating formulas. If sanitizing matters, BISSELL and Woolite have separate sanitize products. And if you prefer foam or need to work on a high-traffic carpet area, those products have their own category too.
Once the products are separated by what they actually do, the lineup becomes much easier to navigate.
And that is more useful than staring at twenty similar bottles and trying to guess which one belongs on your carpet.
