Not only the washing machine decides whether the laundry is clean, but also the right detergent. Stiftung Warentest examined a total of 24 heavy-duty detergents. Particularly surprising: the cheap products in particular do well.
You don’t need colorful liquids or fancy gel pads, caps and the like to get laundry clean gently. Normal washing powder does the job too – and even scores best in the Stiftung Warentest. 24 heavy-duty detergents, including 14 powder, 6 liquid and 4 combination products were tested (“test” issue 11/2021).
The result: The powders win in washing performance and price. Clean laundry is available for as little as 13 cents per wash. The liquid and combination detergents received a rating of “satisfactory” at most.
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Detergents at Stiftung Warentest: winners and losers
test winner with a grade of 1.8 (“good”) it was Aldi washing powder Tandil Ultra Plus (just under 3.85 euros per 2.025 kilograms) ahead of Denkmit powder detergent from dm (about 2.55 euros for 1.350 kilograms) and Shetlan Supercompact detergent from Penny (3.85 for 2.025 kilograms).
Other low-cost retailers also did “well” in the test:
- Rossmann Domol heavy duty detergent
- Edeka Good & Cheap Ultra Heavy Duty Detergent
- Lidl Formil Ultra Plus
- Net Priva heavy-duty detergent Ultra
- Rewe yes full detergent super compact
Although the powder generally performs better than the liquid detergent, two powders only score “sufficient”: Spee Megaperls Multi Aktiv and Megaperls from Weißer Riese.
To the big ones losers The liquid heavy-duty detergents and caps include Lenor 2in1 detergent, Ariel Universal + Actilift + Power, Spee Aktiv Gel, Edeka Gut & Billig Aktiv 3in1 detergent caps, Netto Priva 3in1 active detergent caps and the Persil 4in1 universal discs. In the test, you only get “sufficient”. This is due to the lack of washing effect and gentle treatment of textiles. Some of the detergents are difficult to remove stains and dirt or cannot protect clothing from graying.
Powder better than liquid detergent
But why are liquid detergents and gel pads, discs and the like weakening? The main reason is the meager washing performance, says Stiftung Warentest. While the powders are good at removing dirt from the laundry and preventing gray haze, the competitors failed in the endurance test. Even against tougher challenges such as dried ketchup or jam, the powder washed more dirt out of the fibers – thanks to bleach.
According to the Stiftung Warentest, bleaching agents cannot be incorporated into liquid detergents in a chemically stable manner. Therefore, only the surfactants and washing enzymes have to be used here – a clear disadvantage compared to the powders, especially at low temperatures.
What can be a disadvantage in the washing effect is an advantage elsewhere. Stiftung Warentest criticizes, among other things, that many of the good powders are not immediately recognizable as heavy-duty detergents. Because with their bleaching agents and optical brighteners, they are not so well suited for colored laundry. Here colors can fade after a few washes. With the liquid products, there is no such danger.
The right dosage is crucial
In terms of dosing, Stiftung Warentest still sees room for improvement. Positive: The well-tested powders reliably clean normally soiled laundry in the suggested amount. Negative: The dosage instructions are often difficult to read. Exact dosing 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 measuring cups from the manufacturers, which can often be ordered free of charge, can help here. To avoid plastic waste, they are no longer in the packaging.
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. In addition to the poor washing performance, another reason for the testers not to use them.
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The best washing machines
For clean laundry, not only the detergent is crucial, but also the right washing machine. The right washing machine can also save a lot of money, for example by using water sparingly. We show you the best four models here in a quick overview. You can find more information in our detailed purchase advice.