In a recent evaluation of 46 laundry detergents available in New Zealand, three brands were found to clean no better than water. The assessment, which included powders, tablets, and sheets, rated products based on their effectiveness in removing common stains such as grass, olive oil, and ice cream. These ratings were combined to give a final score out of 100, categorizing the detergents as poor, average, or good.
Two products, Shotz Laundry Liquid and EcoLiving Laundry Detergent Sheets with lavender, scored only 27 out of 100, equating their performance to washing with water. The Warehouse, owner of the Shotz brand, expressed surprise at these findings and is reconsidering the product’s formula.
Re.Stor Laundry Detergent Sheets, priced at $11.99, scored even lower with 24 out of 100, struggling with most stains except baby food. Consumer NZ’s head of testing noted that the sheets’ minimal weight might limit their cleaning ability compared to liquid or powder detergents. Despite their current performance, laundry sheets may improve as they develop further.
On the other hand, Persil dominated the top spots, with Persil Ultimate Powder achieving the highest score of 94 out of 100, excelling in all stain categories. Persil Active Clean Powder and Persil 3 in 1 Ultimate Capsules followed closely behind.
Overall, ten products received Consumer NZ’s approval, encouraging consumers to reconsider their detergent choices for better performance and value.
