$10.49 supermarket laundry detergent ties with big name brand for top spot in Choice review
Testing of more than 40 laundry detergents has found a bargain supermarket brand performs just as well as a pricier big name label. The Choice review tested the detergents on a range of stains as well as in both front loaders and top loaders.
Omo was a standout in the review, with its Omo active clean powder and ultimate powder front loader detergents both scoring 82 per cent, and the Omo ultimate liquid rating 81 per cent.
Powder laundry detergents scored better in Choice’s testing, as did front loader detergents. iStockphoto
Aldi’s Trimate Advanced laundry powder concentrate front loader also scored 82 per cent in the test, which means it tied for first place with the Omo powder detergents.
However, the Aldi detergent is $10.49 for a 2kg box, while Omo active clean is $30 and the Omo ultimate powder is $36, also at 2kg per box. This means the Aldi buy costs $0.44 a wash, compared to the Omo detergents which cost $0.71 and $1.16 per wash.
In third place for the front loader detergents was Cold Power advanced clean laundry powder, which scored 80 per cent and costs $0.65 cents a wash.
Choice also picked out the top-performing front loader budget buys; to get this tick of approval the detergents have to cost less than $0.30 a wash and score at least 70 per cent when tested.
Independent supermarket brand Active Expert, which can be found at stores like IGA and FoodWorks, scored two mentions. The Active Expert laundry powder scored 78 per cent and costs just $0.16 a wash and the Active Expert laundry liquid scored 71 per cent and costs $0.12 per wash.
Aldi made the list too, with the Trimat Advanced laundry liquid concentrate scoring 74 per cent and costing just $0.20 a wash.
In the top loader washing machine tests Aldi’s Trimat Advanced powder was a top-scorer again with 66 per cent. Omo ultimate powder scored 62 per cent and Cold Power advanced clean laundry powder scored 60 per cent.
Choice recommends top loader owners use a detergent that rates at least 60 per cent.
“Top loaders and front loaders perform quite differently: front-loading machines generally give you a better wash, so the detergents score higher in front loaders,” said Chris Barnes, Choice expert.
“We test detergents in both top and front loaders so you can see which detergent will work best in your washing machine.”
Laundry capsules were also included in the review, with Choice finding they were hit-and-miss.
Omo three in one capsules active scored 76 per cent and cost $1.07 per wash, Dynamo professional discs seven in one scored 74 per cent and cost $1 per wash, and Cold Power advanced clean scored 71 per cent and cost $0.90 per wash.
The best scoring budget buy was Aldi’s Almat laundry capsules scored 70 per cent and cost just $0.26 per wash.
Choice noted capsules can be more expensive per wash than powder and liquid detergents.
The consumer advocate also warned that the laundry capsule detergent dosage can’t be adjusted for each load. Adjusting the amount of detergent is useful because half the recommended amount of detergent has been found to get just as good results, which can also save you money per wash.
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