That trusty bottle of stain remover sitting under your sink might need a second look. More than 1.5 million bottles of Angry Orange Enzyme Stain Remover have been pulled from shelves because they could contain harmful bacteria. The products were sold at major stores like Walmart, Target, and Amazon over several years. If you own one of these bottles, here’s everything you need to know about the recall and what to do next.
Which Angry Orange products are affected by this recall
If you’ve ever dealt with pet stains or stubborn odors, you might have picked up a bottle of Angry Orange. This popular enzyme-based cleaner has been a go-to for many households. But now, certain versions of this product are under recall. The affected items include the Angry Orange Enzyme Stain Removers in two scents: Fresh Clean and Orange Twist. These came in three sizes: 24-ounce, 32-ounce, and 1-gallon bottles. The bottles are orange and white with “Angry Orange” and “Stain & Odor Remover” printed on the front.
The recall notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission states that roughly 1.5 million units are affected in the United States. Another 43,700 units were sold in Canada. Some of these products were even sold as bundles that included a UV light attachment for the spray bottle. Only the stain remover liquid itself is part of the recall. The UV light attachment is still considered safe to use and doesn’t need to be returned or thrown away.
The bacteria found in these bottles can be dangerous
The reason behind this recall is a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This might sound like something from a science fiction movie, but it’s actually pretty common in the environment. You can find it naturally in soil and water all around us. However, when it shows up in a household cleaning product, things get more complicated. The bacteria can enter your body through your eyes, through breaks in your skin, or if you breathe it in while spraying.
For most people with strong immune systems, this bacteria probably won’t cause problems. The real concern is for people who might be more vulnerable. According to Health Canada, those with weakened immune systems, people using external medical devices, or anyone with underlying lung conditions face a higher risk. For these individuals, exposure could lead to serious infections that require medical treatment. The good news is that no injuries or illnesses have been reported so far.
Where and when these products were sold matters
These recalled stain removers weren’t sold at just one or two stores. They were available at many of the biggest retailers in the country. You could have picked one up at Walmart, Target, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Staples, or Meijer. Online shoppers weren’t immune either. The products were also sold through Amazon, Chewy, Walmart.com, Target.com, and the company’s own website at AngryOrange.com. This wide distribution means the affected bottles could be in millions of homes right now.
The time frame for these sales stretches back quite a bit. The recalled products were sold between March 2019 and December 2025. That’s nearly seven years of products on store shelves and in people’s homes. The prices ranged from as low as $4 for smaller bottles to $60 for larger sizes or bundled products. If you’re not sure when you bought yours, don’t worry. There’s an easy way to check if your specific bottle is affected, which we’ll cover next.
How to check if your bottle is part of the recall
Got a bottle of Angry Orange at home and wondering if it’s one of the bad ones? There are a few things you can check to find out. First, look at the back of the bottle for the UPC code. The recalled products have specific UPC numbers: 850039953002 for the Orange Twist scent and 850039953033 for the Fresh Clean scent. These numbers will help you identify if your product matches the recall specifications exactly.
Next, check the expiration date on the back neck of the bottle. Recalled products have an expiration date before October 7, 2027. If your bottle has this UPC and an expiration date that falls before that cutoff, your product is affected. Even if you’ve already used some of the product without any issues, you should still stop using it immediately. The contamination might not affect every use, but it’s not worth the risk of continued exposure to potentially harmful bacteria.
You can get a full refund but there’s a catch
Here’s some good news if you own one of these recalled bottles. The company is offering full refunds to customers who purchased affected products. But you can’t just bring the bottle back to the store where you bought it. Thrasio, the Boston-based distributor behind Angry Orange, has set up a specific process for getting your money back. It involves a little bit of work on your end, but it’s straightforward once you know the steps.
To claim your refund, you’ll need to grab a permanent marker and write the word “recalled” along with your initials directly on the bottle. Then take a clear photo of the marked bottle. Email that photo to productrecall@angryorange.com. That’s all you need to do for the refund portion. You don’t need to mail the bottle back or provide a receipt. The company will process your refund based on the photo you send. If you have questions, you can also call Angry Orange customer service at 877-873-5402.
Disposing of the product requires following specific rules
Once you’ve taken your photo for the refund, you might think you can just dump the liquid down the drain and toss the bottle in recycling. Not so fast. The disposal instructions for this product are very specific, and there are good reasons for that. Pouring the contaminated liquid down your sink or toilet could introduce the bacteria into the water system. That’s a problem nobody wants to create in their community.
The correct way to dispose of this product is to keep it in its original container and throw it away with your regular household trash. Do not empty the liquid out first. The container helps keep the bacteria contained during disposal. Also, do not try to recycle the plastic bottle, even if it looks like it should go in the recycling bin. The contamination makes the bottle unsuitable for recycling. Just put the whole thing in the garbage and let it go to the landfill.
The company behind this recall is Thrasio LLC
So who’s actually responsible for this recall? The distributor is Thrasio LLC, a company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Thrasio is known for acquiring and managing various consumer brands, especially those that sell well on Amazon. The actual manufacturing of the product was done by Chempace Corp., located in Toledo, Ohio. Both companies are working together to address this recall and get refunds to affected customers.
It’s worth noting that this is a joint recall effort. The recall involves cooperation between Health Canada, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Thrasio itself. This kind of coordinated effort helps ensure that consumers in both countries get the same information and the same opportunity for refunds. The company is required to handle refund requests promptly, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have an affected product sitting at home.
What to use instead for pet stains and odors
Now that your go-to stain remover might be heading to the trash, what should you use instead? Pet owners and anyone dealing with tough stains still need a solution. There are plenty of enzyme-based cleaners on the market that work similarly to Angry Orange. Many of these products are specifically designed to break down organic stains from pets, food, or other biological sources. Your local grocery store or pet supply shop will have several options.
According to Consumer Reports, OxiClean Max Force Remover Spray is currently rated as one of the best laundry stain removers available. For carpet and upholstery stains, brands like Nature’s Miracle, Rocco & Roxie, and Bissell offer enzyme cleaners that tackle pet messes. Just make sure to check any product you buy against current recall lists before using it. Nobody wants to replace one recalled product with another problematic one.
How to stay informed about product recalls in general
This recall is a good reminder that the products we use every day sometimes have problems we don’t know about. The Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains a website where they post all current recalls. You can sign up for email alerts to get notifications whenever a new recall is announced. This way, you’ll hear about issues before you accidentally use a contaminated or dangerous product for weeks or months.
It’s also smart to occasionally check the cleaning supplies and other household items you already own. Recalls happen all the time, and not everyone hears about them through news coverage. Taking five minutes to look up the products in your home could save you from unknowingly exposing yourself or your family to something harmful. Save your receipts for major purchases too. It makes the refund process much easier if you need to prove you actually bought the recalled item.
If you have a bottle of Angry Orange Enzyme Stain Remover at home, take a moment to check the UPC and expiration date right now. Getting your refund is simple, and proper disposal only takes a minute. While no injuries have been reported from this recall, staying proactive about product safety is always the smart move. Your cleaning cabinet deserves products you can trust to do the job without any hidden risks lurking inside the bottle.
