OdoBan is a concentrate made for odors, not for stains, and it also carries disinfectant claims. Its label covers air freshening, laundry, pet areas, carpets and sanitizing, and each use has its own dilution ratio. Most of the questions people ask come down to which dilution to use and where it is safe.
Start with the dilution that matches your job, since the ratios range from 1:5 to 1:31. Test a hidden area before you treat upholstery, carpet or bedding. Keep the product away from your eyes and out of reach of small children.
What it is
OdoBan is an odor eliminator and EPA-registered disinfectant-sanitizer built on a quaternary ammonium compound, not a dedicated stain remover. The concentrate contains alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride at 2.0 percent, with the remaining 98.0 percent made up of other ingredients. It is sold as a 1 gallon concentrate in scents such as Original Eucalyptus, Lavender and Fresh Linen, and as a ready-to-use disinfectant and fabric and air freshener.
According to the maker
What to use it on
Air freshening
To freshen the air, mix 22 oz of concentrate per gallon of water, which is a 1:5 ratio. The ready-to-use version comes as a trigger spray and a 360 continuous spray if you want a product that is already mixed. Scents such as Lavender and Fresh Linen are sold in the concentrate.
Laundry
Add 8 oz of concentrate per load during the final rinse. For smoke-damaged items, use a 1:3 ratio, soak overnight, rinse, repeat, and launder. The maker lists laundry as one of its uses, alongside bedding, drapes and carpets.
Pet odors
For urine, feces or vomit on carpet or upholstery, clean the spot first. Mix 32 oz per gallon (1:3), spray the affected area, and test a hidden area for colorfastness.
Let it sit for 10 minutes, blot with a clean cloth, and let it dry. The maker also lists pet bedding and litter boxes as surfaces for use.
Carpets
For carpets, mix 8 oz per gallon (1:15) and allow the area to dry. Test a hidden area for colorfastness before you treat a visible spot. On porous surfaces such as carpet, upholstery and bedding, the maker only claims deodorizing, not disinfecting.
Hard surfaces
For sanitizing, mix 5 oz per gallon (1:25) and use it on cleaned nonfood-contact surfaces, leaving it 60 seconds before you wipe. For disinfecting, use 5 oz per gallon on cleaned hard, nonporous surfaces and keep them wet for 10 minutes. The maker limits both claims to surfaces that were cleaned first.
7 steps
How to use it
- 1
Protect your eyes and skin first
Put on protective eyewear such as goggles, a face shield or safety glasses before you mix or spray. Avoid skin contact and keep the product off your clothing. Do not breathe the spray.
- 2
Choose the ratio for the job
Find your use in the maker's directions and mix the matching amount of concentrate per gallon of water. The ratios run from 1:3 for pet odors and smoke damage to 1:31 for general cleaning.
- 3
Clean the surface before disinfecting
Remove heavy soil and clean the surface first, since the maker's disinfecting and sanitizing claims depend on it. Then mix 5 oz per gallon for hard, nonporous surfaces.
- 4
Test a hidden area first
The maker says to test a hidden area for colorfastness before treating visible spots on fabric and carpet. This matters most for pet odor work.
- 5
Spray on a coarse setting
Set the sprayer to coarse and hold it 6 to 8 inches from the surface. Allow the contact time listed for your use, such as 10 minutes for pet odors or 60 seconds for sanitizing.
- 6
Mix fresh solution regularly
Prepare a fresh use-solution daily, or sooner when the surface looks visibly soiled. For mold and mildew control, use 5 oz per gallon on wet surfaces, let them air dry, and repeat every 7 days.
- 7
Ventilate during restoration work
For sewage backup, water damage or fire restoration, use 16 oz per gallon (1:7) with 10 minutes of contact time. Ventilate the room while you work.
Where not to use it
The maker does not list excluded materials, but it limits disinfecting and sanitizing claims to cleaned, hard, nonporous surfaces. Upholstery, carpet and bedding are porous, so there the product is for deodorizing only. For stains, the maker does not offer a stain-removal use, so choose a product labeled for that stain and surface.
Safety
The label carries a DANGER signal word for irreversible eye damage. Wear protective eyewear such as goggles, a face shield or safety glasses, avoid skin and clothing contact, and do not breathe the spray. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling, store it out of reach of small children, and check with the maker before combining it with any other product, since the label does not state a never-mix warning.
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
Sponsored links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product facts come from the maker's own instructions and labels.
Questions
Is OdoBan a stain remover?
No. The maker describes OdoBan as an odor eliminator and disinfectant-sanitizer, and its use on odors such as pet urine, smoke and mildew is different from stain removal. For a stain, choose a product labeled for that stain and surface.
Are there reviews of OdoBan?
Public feedback and personal test results aren't on the maker's label, so none are reported. What the maker says OdoBan is for is listed in the uses section, along with the surfaces it does not claim to disinfect.
What dilution should I use for OdoBan?
The dilution depends on the job: 1:5 for air freshening, 1:3 for pet odors and smoke damage, 1:7 for restoration work, 1:15 for carpets, and 1:31 for general cleaning. Each ratio is per gallon of water, and the directions list the exact ounces.
Can I use OdoBan in the washing machine?
Yes, the maker lists laundry as a use, with 8 oz per load added during the final rinse. For smoke-damaged items, use a 1:3 ratio, soak overnight, rinse, repeat, and launder.
How long should OdoBan stay on pet odors?
Keep the treated area wet for 10 minutes, then blot with a clean cloth and let it dry. Clean the area first, and test a hidden spot for colorfastness before you spray the visible stain.
Can OdoBan be used on mattresses and upholstery?
The maker lists mattresses and upholstery among the materials it can be used on, with the dilution set by the use. Those are porous surfaces, so the disinfecting claims do not extend to them and the product is for deodorizing there.
How often should I repeat mold or mildew treatment?
The maker says to use 5 oz per gallon on wet surfaces, let them air dry, and repeat every 7 days. Mold and mildew control is listed for pre-cleaned hard, nonporous surfaces only.
What should I do if OdoBan gets in my eyes?
Hold the eyes open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15 to 20 minutes, removing contact lenses after the first 5 minutes. Call a poison control center or doctor and have the container or label at hand.
Where it shows up in our guides
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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.