About ACTIVE
ACTIVE is a Minneapolis, Minnesota cleaning-products company, founded in 2018 to build a better laundry detergent for athletic wear. The founders developed an enzyme-based formula aimed at the stubborn odors that collect in workout gear, and once that formula proved effective on synthetic fabrics, the company carried the same enzyme technology into a wider line: appliance cleaners, additional laundry detergents, stain and odor removers, and waste-treatment products for septic tanks and RV holding tanks.
The brand sells direct to consumers through its own site, alongside listings on Amazon, rather than through traditional retail. Its pet-care laundry line, including the ACTIVE Pet Laundry Detergent, applies that same enzyme approach to pet messes: a powder detergent meant to replace a household's regular detergent rather than add to it, formulated with no added fragrance and labeled for use at any water temperature, including cold.
Brand website: useactive.com
What ACTIVE makes
ACTIVE's range runs wider than the products we review. The lines we know best from our own testing are marked with a star:
ACTIVE Pet Laundry Detergent
bio-based enzyme powder detergent for pet stains and odor, fragrance-free and rated for all water temperatures including cold, the product in our featured pick — featured on House of Mittens
ACTIVE Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator Spray
spray paired with the brand's enzyme laundry detergent for spot treatment outside the wash
ACTIVE Washing Machine Cleaner for Pet Owners
cleaning tablets aimed at pet hair and residue buildup inside the washing machine drum
ACTIVE Activewear Detergent
the brand's original enzyme-based formula, developed for odor in athletic and synthetic fabrics
ACTIVE Appliance Cleaners
dishwasher, disposal, ice machine, and coffee maker cleaners using the same enzyme-based approach
ACTIVE Septic Tank & RV Holding Tank Treatments
waste-treatment line extending the brand's cleaning formulas beyond the laundry room
Why we recognized ACTIVE
The House of Mittens Top Brand recognition isn't paid for and can't be applied for. We award it to the brands whose products consistently stand out in our vet-reviewed category guides. ACTIVE earned it on the strength of the products below, evaluated the same way every product on this site is: assessed against feline-health criteria, used with real cats, and judged on merit.
ACTIVE products we rated highly
ACTIVE Pet Laundry Detergent Odor Remover, Enzyme Based Powder, HE Compatible, 64 Loads
A full enzyme detergent in powder form, meant to replace a regular detergent rather than sit alongside it, so every load carries bio-based enzymes with no extra step. It is fragrance-free, which keeps washed cat bedding from coming back into the house carrying a new scent, and the listing states effectiveness at all water temperatures including cold, the gentler wash for urine-soaked fabric. It is HE compatible and sold in a 2 lb bag rated for 64 loads.
Read the 8 Best Enzyme Cleaners for Cat Urine Laundry of 2026, Vet-Reviewed guide →What earned ACTIVE the recognition
- ACTIVE's enzyme laundry detergent is a full detergent rather than a booster, so a household's regular detergent is replaced outright and every load carries bio-based enzymes without an extra step.
- The formula is fragrance-free, which matters for cat households, since fabric washed in a scented product can carry a new scent back into the home that encourages a cat to mark it again.
- The listing states effectiveness at all water temperatures including cold, letting owners wash on the cooler setting that is gentler on fabric and avoids setting urine residue with heat.
- The product is HE compatible and sold in a 2 lb bag rated for 64 loads.
- ACTIVE built its enzyme-based cleaning technology first for athletic wear in Minneapolis in 2018, then extended the same approach into laundry, appliance, and pet-care lines.