Laundry

Lieja

Despite having left home 8 years ago, and having sorted my shopping to be as money saving as possible, I'm only now having to start shopping for detergent/softener for my laundry.

Before anybody thinks I've not washed my clothes for 8 years - my mam always bought me odds and ends in return for me paying for her home internet, which has recently stopped.

I have a few drops of Persil left, and no idea where to go for the best/cheapest option! My mam isn't money savingly minded, so I doubt that's what everybody here will be recommending!

I'm happy to shop around, and currently go between Home Bargains, Poundstretcher and Lidl for my household stuff. Laundry products always seem so expensive though!

I want my clothes clean and smelling nice - what do you all use?

richardw

Try the Lidl stuff and see how you get on with it.

NoGoodNamesLeft

Aldi's own brand Almat washing powder and liquid is one of the best (and cheapest) I've tried if you are near a shop. I like their softener too. Lidl's Formil is good, but not as good as Aldi's on cooler washes I've found.

BitterAndTwisted

There really isn't that much difference between most of the brands, bar the scent they use.

If you have access to an Ald! or L!dl then try their own-brands and use half of the manufacturer's recommended dosage. The Asd@ Smart Price cheapie is also as good as anything else I've used.

Cheapest of all is home-made laundry soap (gloop) but that might be a step too far for the indolent. I made about a year's supply for less than two quiddlies.

For fabric conditioner a good dose of vinegar in the final rinse is cheap and effective for deodorising and softening, but if you like perfumed clothes try L!dl's Doussy and use half dosage.

AnnieO1234

Makro every day for brands like Ariel, Lenor. Absolutely no contest IMHO.

Xx

holgate79

I have a household where clothes can get very dirty, dogs, mud, welding, engine oil, sweaty running gear etc. I find that persil and fairy both clean the clothes 100% but aldi and lidl powders (plus asdas own and morissons own ect) do not. In fact I can often end up washing a load more than once if I use these brands. I've tried them many times over the years.

I am an aldi convert for anything else. I'm thinking of trying Costco washing powder next time I'm there because I'm sure it'll be made by a reputable brand. Does anyone know which one?

Oh, and I guess it depends where abouts in the country you are ... We have particularly hard water round here.

richardw

GH seems to like Almat http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/tried-tested/good-housekeeping-institute-approved-products-2013?click=main_sr

turtlemoose

After a similar thread on here a few years ago I started buying my washing powder ebay, in bulk. I buy a huge 10kg sack, for around £10 - it's factory seconds of branded tablets that have been crushed in to powder as they are the rejects. My first 10kg lasted me through the first 16 months of having a baby and i did a LOT of washing! My second 10kg we are getting through a bit slower now he's less pukey

I use Mr Suds Soap Factory (they have a website) but a quick google/ebay search will show you there's plenty of sellers out there.

cattie

I always used to use one of the big brands, but had noticed how popular Lidl's Formil laundry range was. So I started to give their powder a go & was very happy with the results.

Although I eventually switched from powder to the bottles of liquid, I continue to be satisfied with both the results & the price per wash.