A recent test by a consumer journalist compared the cheapest and most expensive laundry detergents available at Sainsbury's to see if price makes a difference. The cheapest option was Sainsbury's own non-bio laundry capsules for sensitive skin, priced at £3.28 for 25 washes. The priciest was Persil's 3-in-1 non-bio capsules, costing £8.50 for 36 washes.
The Sainsbury's capsules left clothes clean but completely odourless, despite the pods themselves having a fresh scent. The journalist found the pods too small for typical laundry loads, even though the supermarket claims a more concentrated formula. Opening the cardboard packaging also proved tricky.
In contrast, the Persil capsules impressed with a pleasant fragrance and powerful cleaning, handling heavily stained garments with just one pod. Clothes came out residue-free, whites remained bright, and no fabric softener was needed. The packaging is fully recyclable, though the lid was slightly awkward to replace.
Despite the higher price, the journalist concluded that Persil's pods are worth every penny, calling them the best they have used. The Sainsbury's capsules, while affordable, failed to deliver on fragrance and required more pods per load, making them less economical in practice.
