Not only a good washing machine, the right detergent also determines how clean the laundry will be. Stiftung Warentest examined a total of 24 heavy-duty detergents. Particularly surprising: The inexpensive products in particular do well.
You don’t need colored liquids or fancy gel cushions, caps, etc. to get gently clean laundry. Normal washing powder does the same – and even scores best at Stiftung Warentest. 24 heavy-duty detergents, including 14 powders, 6 liquids and 4 combination products, were put to the test (“test” issue 11/2021).
The result: The powders win in terms of washing performance and price. You can get clean laundry for as little as 13 cents per wash. The liquids and combination detergents were rated “satisfactory” at most.
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Laundry detergents at Stiftung Warentest: winners and losers
Test winner with a grade of 1.8 (“good”) that was Aldi washing powder Tandil Ultra Plus (just under 3.85 euros per 2.025 kilograms) ahead of Denkwith heavy-duty detergent powder from dm (around 2.55 euros for 1.350 kilograms) and Shetlan heavy-duty detergent Supercompakt from Penny (3.85 for 2.025 kilograms).
Other inexpensive retailers also score “good” in the test:
- Rossmann Domol heavy duty detergent
- Edeka good & cheap ultra heavy duty detergent
- Lidl Formil Ultra Plus
- Netto Priva heavy duty detergent Ultra
- Rewe ja heavy duty detergent super compact
Although the powder generally performs better than the liquid detergents, two powders only do “sufficient”: The Spee Megaperls Multi Active and the Megaperls from Weißer Riese.
To the big ones Losers The liquid heavy-duty detergents and caps include Lenor 2in1 detergents, Ariel Universal + Actilift + Power, Spee Aktiv Gel, Edeka Gut & Favorable Aktiv Vollwaschmittel 3in1 Caps, Netto Priva Vollwaschmittel 3in1 Aktiv Caps and the Persil 4in1 Discs Universal. In the test you only get “sufficient”. This is due to the inadequate washing effect and textile protection. Some of the detergents are difficult to remove stains and dirt or they cannot protect clothing from graying.
Powder better than liquid detergent
But why are liquid detergents and gel pillows, discs and the like weak? The main reason is the poor washing performance, says Stiftung Warentest. While the powders remove dirt from the laundry and prevent gray haze, the competitors failed in the endurance test. Even against tougher challenges such as dried ketchup or jam, the powders – thanks to bleach – washed more dirt out of the fibers.
According to Stiftung Warentest, bleaching agents cannot be incorporated into liquid detergents in a chemically stable manner. Therefore, only the surfactants and washing enzymes have to deal with this – a clear disadvantage compared to the powders, especially at low temperatures.
What can be a disadvantage in terms of washing performance is an advantage elsewhere. Stiftung Warentest criticizes, among other things, that many of the good powders are not recognizable as heavy-duty detergents at first glance. Because with their bleaches and optical brighteners, they are not so well suited for colored laundry. Here colors can fade after a few washes. This danger does not arise with the liquid products.
The right dosage is crucial
In terms of dosage, Stiftung Warentest sees room for improvement. Positive: The well-tested powders reliably wash normally soiled laundry clean in the recommended amount. Cons: The dosage instructions are often difficult to read. Exact dosage is important. On the one hand, because detergents also soften the water and thus prevent the machine from calcifying. On the other hand, it avoids wasting detergent.
One tip: The manufacturers’ measuring cups, which can often be ordered free of charge, help here. To avoid plastic waste, they are no longer in the packaging.
The liquid detergents have it easier here. Their lids are often used as measuring cups. There is criticism for caps, pods and discs. They are difficult to dose. For the testers, in addition to the poor washing performance, another reason not to use them.
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The best washing machines
For clean laundry, it is not only the detergent that is decisive, it also depends on the right washing machine. The right washing machine can also save a lot of money, for example by using water sparingly. We show you a quick overview of the four best models here. You can find more information in our detailed purchase advice.