In an era of tightening household budgets, every penny counts at the supermarket checkout. Yet, when it comes to essential items like laundry detergent, is it always wise to opt for the cheapest option? Lifestyle reporter Sophie Harris decided to find out by putting her local Sainsbury's offerings to the ultimate test on 10 January 2026.
The Budget vs Premium Detergent Showdown
Faced with a dizzying array of choices from powders to liquids and pods, Harris made a simple yet revealing selection. She picked up the absolute cheapest and the most expensive laundry detergent capsules she could find on the Sainsbury's shelf. The contenders were Sainsbury's own-brand non-bio laundry capsules for sensitive skin, priced at a mere £3.28 for 25 washes, and Persil's 3-in-1 non-bio capsules, costing a hefty £8.50 for 36 washes.
The goal was clear: to see if the significant price gap translated into a tangible difference in cleaning performance, scent, and overall value for money.
Sainsbury's Own-Brand: Affordable but Underwhelming
Harris began with the budget-friendly Sainsbury's pods, which have recently moved to a new concentrated formula housed in eco-friendly cardboard packaging. While the environmental effort was noted, the reporter found the box tricky to open.
After running approximately five loads of laundry, the results were mixed. Clothes emerged looking and feeling clean, but they carried no discernible fragrance, despite the pods themselves having a fresh scent. A more practical concern was the capsule's small size. Despite Sainsbury's claims of increased concentration, Harris felt one pod was insufficient for her typical laundry loads, casting doubt on the stated number of washes per box.
Persil's Premium Pods: A Clear Performance Winner
The experience with the pricier Persil option was markedly different. Harris reported that these capsules were excellent in every key aspect. Just one capsule effectively tackled heavily stained garments, even in a cool 30°C wash.
The results spoke for themselves: clothes were left with a pleasant scent, whites remained bright, and there was no sticky residue. The 3-in-1 formula also eliminated the need for a separate fabric softener. Although the fully recyclable packaging also had a minor lid issue, the performance far outweighed this small inconvenience.
The Verdict: You Get What You Pay For
The differences between the two detergents were, in Harris's words, huge. While the Sainsbury's own-brand offers a basic, fragrance-free clean at a very low cost, it may require using more than one pod per load for satisfactory results.
In contrast, the Persil capsules delivered a superior, multi-benefit wash that justified their premium price tag for the reporter. Harris concluded that you genuinely get what you pay for in this instance, stating she was "extremely impressed" and would be repurchasing the Persil pods.
This test serves as a valuable lesson for cost-conscious shoppers: the cheapest upfront cost doesn't always equate to the best value or performance, especially for a household staple used as frequently as laundry detergent.
