A German consumer association tested 24 detergents. That of a famous hard discount brand turns out to be much better than the big classic brands. And it’s also the cheapest!
“Omo washes whiter than white”laughed Coluche in one of his most famous sketches. For decades, laundry detergent advertisements have constantly touted the magical powers of these industrial detergents, which are ever more powerful and more environmentally friendly. And with advertising helping, when you choose a detergent, you might think that the most expensive brands are the most effective. However, according to Stiftung Warentest, a German consumer organization similar to UFC-Que Choisir and 60 million consumers, this belief is unfounded. On the contrary, after testing 24 products in a large test, it revealed that cheap detergents can be as effective as, or even better than, their more expensive counterparts.
In fact, it is a hard discount detergent that stood out during the tests, although very rigorous, ahead of the big traditional brands. A surprising result for many, but which proves once again that quality and low price are not incompatible. Moreover, it is also this same detergent that came first in a similar comparison conducted by UFC-Que Choisir, proof that the effectiveness of this inexpensive detergent goes beyond borders!
It was Aldi’s Tandil Ultra Plus laundry detergent which won first place in the Stiftung Warentest test ahead of products from prestigious brands such as Persil Universal or Ariel Compact, which were also considered very good in terms of cleaning, but which lost points on the display of their composition and the protection of textiles. And with a price of 9.99 euros for a pack of 4.225 kg – or 2.36 euros per kilo – the detergent is much more accessible than those from Persil, the most expensive in the comparison!
Another important finding from the test is that, in general, powder detergents are more effective than liquid or gel capsule detergents. Although practical in use, the latter did not obtain as good marks in cleaning with only satisfactory results. And liquids like gels are much more expensive than powders; a shame when we think that these products are made from powder, with simply added water…
This study, which joins the tests regularly carried out by UFC-Que Choisir and 60 million consumers, does not only show that powder detergents are better than liquid or gel detergents, particularly for intensive washing: it also proves, and above all, that the products of distributors like Aldi or Lidl can be as good and even better than those of big brands. And for a much lower price since these brands do not spend as much on advertising. An excellent reason to go against prejudices and judge them for yourself, especially in this period of generalized inflation where prices have sometimes risen for the wrong reasons…