Norwex Enzyme Cleaners: What Is the Difference & Do They Work?

Updated September 2026

One of my FAVORITE things about Norwex is that we can clean so much of our homes with simply Norwex microfiber + WATER. That’s still where I start for the majority of everyday cleaning around our home. But what happens when the problem isn’t something you can simply wipe away? Think baked-on food in your oven, a stain in the carpet, odors embedded in athletic shoes, or all the stuff that ends up in a mattress that obviously isn’t going into the washing machine. ? Sometimes we need a little something extra—and that’s where Norwex enzyme cleaners can be incredibly helpful.

I’ve been using Norwex since 2009, and for years I’ve described enzymes to my customers as my little “PacMan cleaners.” That’s obviously not the scientific term, but it gives you a pretty good mental picture! Different enzymes are particularly good at breaking down different types of organic soils, which is why an enzyme-based cleaner can be so helpful for certain stains, odors and messes.

And THAT is what we’re talking about today.

Looking for ALL the Norwex Specialty Cleaners? I’ve created a much more comprehensive guide covering 22 different Norwex cleaners—from Bathroom Cleaner and Descaler to laundry, kitchen, pet, stain and odor products—and when and where I would use each one.

? Norwex Specialty Cleaners Comprehensive Guide: Which Cleaner to Use + How to Use It

What Are Norwex Enzyme Cleaners?

Enzymes help accelerate the breakdown of certain materials, but here’s the important part: different enzymes work on different types of soils. That’s why I like my PacMan analogy. Don’t picture one little PacMan running around eating everything in sight. ? Think of different PacMen that are particularly good at different jobs.

That’s also why I don’t look for one bottle of cleaner that’s supposed to clean absolutely EVERYTHING in my house. If my problem is hard-water mineral buildup, I’m reaching for something like Descaler (which utilizes natural acids that excel at breaking down mineral residue). If I’m dealing with something organic—certain food soils, body-related odors or stains, for example—an enzyme-based product may make much more sense.

Over the years, some of my favorite Norwex specialty products have used enzymes or related biological cleaning technologies to tackle exactly those kinds of jobs.

Which Norwex Enzyme Cleaner Should I Use?

If I’m dealing with…	I’d look at…
Mattress, dog bed, upholstery, soft surfaces	Mattress Cleaner
Athletic shoes & sports gear	Sportzyme
Household odors	Odour Eliminator
Carpet stains	Carpet Stain Remover Concentrate
Oven & grill messes	Oven & Grill Cleaner
Everyday hard-surface messes needing more than water	Multipurpose Everyday Cleaner

NOTE: Norwex formulas and instructions can change over time, so always follow the directions on your current product label. If you’re looking for specific current instructions for these products—or wondering about one of the many Norwex cleaners that isn’t enzyme-based—head over to my complete Norwex Specialty Cleaners Guide.

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Norwex Oven & Grill Cleaner

First up is one I really didn’t think I’d need: Oven & Grill Cleaner.

I was SUPER skeptical about this product when I first tried it. I remember looking at my burnt-on, dirty oven and thinking, There is NO WAY this little bottle is going to clean THAT. ?

But this became one of the products that really helped me understand why specialized cleaners can make such a difference. Instead of assuming I needed the strongest-smelling cleaner I could find, I could use a product actually designed for the greasy, baked-on mess I was trying to remove.

And then Willie had to test it. My husband was a nonbeliever even after I told him it would work, so naturally he had to try it himself on our outdoor grill. And JUST LIKE I TOLD HIM… it worked. ? I also loved being able to tackle the greasy oven door with the same product. Depending on the surface, I’ve historically paired Oven & Grill Cleaner with an appropriate Norwex scrubbing tool. And I’ll repeat something I said even in my original article: this can still require some elbow grease! Specialty cleaner does not equal magical fairy dust. Let the product work according to the current directions and then use a cleaning tool that’s safe for the surface. For current use instructions, click here.

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Norwex Mattress Cleaner

Keeping with my PacMan-cleaner theme, let’s talk about Mattress Cleaner. We wash our sheets. We wash our pillowcases. We wash our blankets. But… when was the last time you put your mattress in the washing machine? ?

Exactly.

That’s what originally made Mattress Cleaner so intriguing to me. It gives us an option for mattresses and other compatible soft surfaces that obviously can’t be tossed into a normal laundry load.

I’ve used Mattress Cleaner for years! Because product directions can change, I always recommend following the instructions on your current bottle. And if Mattress Cleaner is the specific product you’re researching, I’ve actually created an entire article devoted to it: Norwex Mattress Cleaner: My Review + How to Use It

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Norwex Carpet Stain Remover Concentrate

Having raised four boys and had pets, you can probably imagine that I appreciate a good Carpet Stain Remover. ?

I’ve used Norwex Carpet Stain Remover on some VERY real-life messes over the years, including red wine and pet accidents, and apparently I was already making bad cleaning puns when I originally wrote this article because I said:

“I am FLOORED every time I use it.”

I’m keeping it. ?

The reason a targeted product makes sense here is that carpet stains aren’t something I want to attack randomly with whatever cleaner happens to be closest. Carpet fibers, dyes and stain-resistant treatments can vary tremendously, so I always recommend following the current directions and testing an inconspicuous area first.

And remember: blotting and treating a stain appropriately is very different from aggressively scrubbing it deeper into the carpet.

Click here for the current label dilution and use directions.

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Norwex Sportzyme

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had TEENAGE BOYS!??! ???????????? I DO!!! I DO!!! I DO!!!! We are blessed with four wonderful boys, and I am so thankful for them. What did NOT always feel like a blessing was… stinky teenage-boy smell. ? Sneakers, sporting equipment—all the things.

This is where Sportzyme earned its keep in our house. Sportzyme is one of those products I originally wasn’t sure I needed—right alongside Oven & Grill Cleaner—and then real life happened. I’ve used it on things like sneakers and sports gear when body-related odors become embedded in something you can’t simply throw into a normal wash cycle.

This is also where my PacMan analogy really clicked with people. Rather than simply spraying something heavily fragranced over the top and hoping nobody notices what’s underneath, we’re using a product specifically intended for the odor problem we’re trying to solve.

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Norwex Odour Eliminator Concentrate

Then we have the mystery odors. Bathrooms. Garbage areas. Laundry rooms. Teenager rooms.

You know—the occasional “WHAT IS THAT SMELL?” situation. ? Odour Eliminator Concentrate has been one of those products that I didn’t realize how often I’d reach for until I had it. Over the years I’ve kept diluted Odour Eliminator in bathrooms and used the concentrate in the laundry room as well.

Do you know what a phthalate is? I couldn’t even say that word properly when I first learned about them! ? Phthalates are a group of chemicals used for a variety of purposes, including in some fragranced products. One thing I appreciate about Norwex Odour Eliminator Concentrate is that Norwex identifies the formula as phthalate-free.

Click here for the current bottle directions for dilution and use.

Here’s why I like having a dedicated odor product: sometimes the problem isn’t dirt that needs to be wiped from a counter. It’s an odor problem, and I want a product intended for that job.

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Are All Norwex Specialty Cleaners Enzyme Cleaners?

No—and this is an important distinction.

Norwex has many Specialty Cleaners that work in completely different ways because they’re solving completely different cleaning problems.

For example, Descaler tackles hard-water and mineral buildup. Power Cleaning Paste provides extra cleaning and scrubbing power for appropriate surfaces. Bathroom, laundry, dishwashing, pet and other cleaners each have their own jobs.

Looking for a Norwex Cleaner for a Specific Job?

I’ve now put together my complete Norwex Specialty Cleaners Guide, covering 22 different cleaners and answering the question I hear ALL the time:

“Sonya, which Norwex cleaner do I use for THIS?”

Whether you’re dealing with a bathroom, dishwasher, hard water, mattress, carpet, laundry stain, oven, grease, pet mess, mold or mildew staining, produce, sports gear—or just about anything else—I walk you through which product I’d reach for and why.

? READ MY COMPLETE GUIDE: Norwex Specialty Cleaners: Which Cleaner to Use + How to Use It I’ve done my best to make it the resource I wish I’d had when I first started using Norwex back in 2009!

A quick note about my video: This is one of my older Norwex Specialty Cleaner videos and some products, formulas and instructions have changed since I recorded it. I’m working on an updated 2026 version now! For the most current information, please refer to my complete Specialty Cleaners Guide above and the directions on your current product.

Norwex Enzyme Cleaners for the WIN!

After all these years, I still love the same basic philosophy: start simple. I use Norwex microfiber and water for so much of our everyday cleaning, and then I bring in a targeted cleaner when the JOB calls for it. You do NOT need every cleaner Norwex makes. You need the products that solve the actual cleaning challenges in your home.

Happy cleaning!

Specialty Norwex Cleaners for the WIN!

Shop Norwex Online at www.DetoxOurHomes.com.