Biokleen Bac-Out is an enzyme cleaner built around live enzyme-producing cultures, and people often reach for it after a pet accident, a spilled glass of wine or a muddy carpet. The maker says it works on fabrics, laundry, carpets and furniture, and it names several fabrics it is not recommended for. The product is sold in several versions, so the details below follow the maker's directions for the Carpet Stain + Odor Remover.
Check the material before you start and read the maker's notes on it. Apply the product to the spot, let it sit for at least 5 minutes, then blot gently with a clean, damp cloth. Keep it away from velvet, silk, wool, linen, suede and leather.
What it is
Bac-Out is an enzyme cleaner and stain and odor remover built around a viable culture of live enzyme-producing bacteria. Its listed ingredients include water, glycerin, phenoxyethanol, C12-16 pareth-7, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, disodium citrate and citrus species leaf oil. The Carpet Stain + Odor Remover comes in 32 oz pour and 128 oz sizes, and the lineup also includes a foaming spray and a free and clear version.
According to the maker
What to use it on
Pet stains and odors
Pet urine and odor are among the stains the maker says Bac-Out targets. For a spot on carpet or fabric, apply the product to the area, let it sit for at least 5 minutes, and blot gently with a clean, damp cloth. The maker says the foaming spray is suited to vertical surfaces, so it is the form to look at for a stain on a wall or the side of a cushion.
Wine, food and beverage spills
Wine and food or beverage stains are on the maker's list of targets. Treat the spill the same way as a pet stain: apply the product, wait at least 5 minutes, then blot gently with a clean, damp cloth. Blot rather than scrub, since the directions call for gentle blotting.
Mud on carpets and fabrics
Mud is listed among the stains Bac-Out is made for. Apply the product to the muddy area, let it sit for at least 5 minutes, and blot gently with a clean, damp cloth. The directions do not give an amount, so follow the label on the bottle for how much to use.
Laundry
The maker lists laundry among the things Bac-Out is for, but the directions available for this product cover spot treatment only. For laundry, read the full label for the method and amounts before you use it. Check the fabric first, since the maker says to check manufacturer's cleaning recommendations before use.
Carpets and furniture
Carpets and furniture are both on the maker's list of surfaces. Start with the material check, then apply the product to the spot, let it sit for at least 5 minutes, and blot gently with a clean, damp cloth. Upholstery in velvet, silk, wool, linen, suede or leather is one case where the maker advises against use.
5 steps
How to use it
- 1
Check the material first
The maker says to check the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations before use. Bac-Out is not recommended for velvet, silk, wool, linen, suede or leather, so confirm your fabric is not one of those before you start.
- 2
Pick the right form
The foaming spray in the lineup is suited to vertical surfaces. Use it when the stain is on a wall or the side of a cushion, and use the pour version for the other surfaces the maker lists.
- 3
Apply to the affected area
Apply Bac-Out to the affected area. The directions do not give an amount, so follow the label on the bottle for how much to use.
- 4
Let it sit at least five minutes
Leave the product on the spot for at least 5 minutes. Five minutes is the minimum the maker gives, so do not wipe it off early.
- 5
Blot gently with a damp cloth
Blot the area gently with a clean, damp cloth. Use a clean section of the cloth rather than one that has already picked up the stain, and avoid scrubbing the spot.
Where not to use it
The maker says Bac-Out is not recommended for velvet, silk, wool, linen, suede or leather. It also says to check the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations before use on any fabric. For those materials, follow the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations for the item instead of trying the product on it.
Safety
The safety data sheet says Bac-Out is not classified as hazardous and has no GHS label elements, but it may cause eye, skin or respiratory irritation and may be harmful if swallowed. If it gets in your eyes, rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. The maker doesn't list products it should never be mixed with, so read the full label before combining it with another cleaner.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or other acids, ammonia or rubbing alcohol. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
Versions the maker sells
Where to buy
Biokleen Bac-Out Enzyme Cleaner Spray and Stain & Odor Remover
Sponsored links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product facts come from the maker's own instructions and labels.
Questions
Are there reviews of Biokleen Bac-Out?
Bac-Out is not rated or reviewed here. The answers below explain what the maker says the product is for, how its directions work, and which surfaces the maker says to avoid. Those maker statements are the only source used for this product.
Is Biokleen Bac-Out safe for wool?
The maker says Bac-Out is not recommended for wool, along with velvet, silk, linen, suede and leather. Check the manufacturer's cleaning recommendations for the item before using any product on it. Wool is one of the materials to skip with this product.
How long should Bac-Out sit on a stain?
The maker's directions say to let it sit at least 5 minutes. After that, blot gently with a clean, damp cloth. Five minutes is the stated minimum, so do not blot it up before that time is up.
Can I use Bac-Out in the laundry?
The maker lists laundry among the things Bac-Out is for, but the directions available here only describe spot treatment. Read the full label for laundry use, and check the fabric first. The maker says to check manufacturer's cleaning recommendations before use.
Does Bac-Out work on pet urine and odor?
Pet stains, urine and odors are among the stains the maker says Bac-Out targets. Use the spot method: apply it, let it sit at least 5 minutes, then blot gently with a clean, damp cloth. For a stain on a vertical surface, the maker says the foaming spray is suited to that use.
How does Bac-Out compare to Nature's Miracle?
Both are bacteria-based cleaners that their makers say target pet stains and odors. Nature's Miracle is aimed at dog and cat urine, feces, vomit and drool, while Bac-Out also lists wine, mud and food stains. Both makers say to avoid leather, suede, silk and wool, and Nature's Miracle also says not to apply it directly on pets.
How does Bac-Out compare to OxiClean?
OxiClean is an oxygen bleach powder, while Bac-Out is an enzyme cleaner, so they are different types of product. OxiClean's maker says its powder is for washable, colorfast laundry, carpets, tile and more, and says to avoid painted surfaces, jewelry and rubber. Bac-Out's maker lists fabrics, laundry, carpets and furniture, and says to avoid velvet, silk, wool, linen, suede and leather.
Which Bac-Out version should I check on the label?
The lineup includes the Carpet Stain + Odor Remover in 32 oz pour and 128 oz sizes, a 32 oz Foaming Action Spray, and a 128 oz Free and Clear Stain + Odor Remover. The directions above are for the Carpet Stain + Odor Remover. Read the label of the version you buy before using it.
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How we know this
Every use, amount and warning here comes from the maker's product pages, labels and safety data sheets.