Several popular brands of laundry detergent sheets are little more effective than plain water in top-loading washing machines, according to testing by consumer group Choice. In one case, a sheet detergent performed worse than water alone.
Choice tested more than 50 laundry detergents, including powders, liquids, capsules and sheets. For top loaders, Skipper's laundry detergent sheets scored 46%, Lucent Globe's scored 45%, and Restor's Fresh Linen sheets scored 44%. Water alone scored 45%. Restor scored 2% lower than water on blood stains.
Chris Barnes, who manages product testing at Choice, said: 'I suspect they're not actually delivering as much actual detergent in each dose.' A Restor spokesperson said the company deliberately avoids harsh chemicals needed for blood stains. A Skipper spokesperson said the testing focused on stain removal, not overall hygiene.
For the second year running, Omo products topped the rankings for front loaders, with Omo powder scoring 81%, Omo Ultimate 3 in 1 capsules 77%, and Omo Ultimate 3 in 1 Sensitive capsules 76%. Capsules were hit or miss, with the lowest scoring just 52%.
Aldi's Green Action laundry liquid concentrate scored 45% for front loaders, but its Trimat Advanced powder concentrate was the top performer for top loaders at 66%. Barnes noted that a typical load is not very dirty, so mild detergents can suffice, but advised checking cost per wash.
