Aldi / Lidl detergents - any good?

Rusty_Shackleton

sevenhills wrote: »

If you put your clothes on a shorter program you could cut the cost of washing your clothes.

Sorry, but what absolute rubbish. It's like claiming a shorter (quicker) drive is cheaper - but which costs less over the same distance, driving at 70 or 50?

The time a programme takes isn't enough information to make a judgement of how economical it is. I'm not sure how washing machines 'eco' programme is more economical, but dishwashers for example use more time on eco mode because they use the heat already generated in the wash to dry, so the last hour+ of the cycle are actually the dishwasher sat doing nothing.

As for the actual topic, we've used Aldi Almat super concentrated liquid for a couple of years, no complaints and it's cheaper than any brand (including offers) from main supermarkets and Costco.

Aylesbury_Duck

sevenhills wrote: »

If you put your clothes on a shorter program you could cut the cost of washing your clothes.


A washing cycle will take around 20p per hour, the powder about 20p


I put my clothes on a cycle that takes around an hour, there is also a 30m quick wash.

Thanks. I recall (although I'm not home to check) that the 40C economy wash on my machine (a JL branded machine) is the most economical full cycle. There are shorter programs but I've not tried those to see how effective they are. I play a lot of sport so there's some stinky kit to wash several times a week...:D

cattie

I've been using Lidl liquid detergents for a couple of years now, both the bio & non bio. I've been more than happy with them & for stain removal that a spin in the washing machine can't quite remove, Ace liquid stain remover is my best friend.

GT60

I use Aldi washing gel and their posh own brand Conditioner
I did try Lidl own brands but I got Black mould in my detergent draw all the time and I hardly get any with Aldi's

sevenhills

poppellerant wrote: »

Now while I agree that it might be cheaper to run a shorter cycle, I would have to say it is less economical as you are only getting the full cleaning performance from your detergent when it is being used on longer cycles.

Most washing machines have numerous different programs. Do all of your clothes require a full 'cleaning performance'?


The programs range from around 30 minutes to 3 hours and 30 degree to boiling point.

poppellerant

sevenhills wrote: »

Most washing machines have numerous different programs. Do all of your clothes require a full 'cleaning performance'?


The programs range from around 30 minutes to 3 hours and 30 degree to boiling point.

A standard cottons 30 sees to all my needs. If my machine decides to reduce the program time according to the load size, then sobeit. If I'm in a rush I will just tap the SpeedPerfect button which reduces the total program time to one hour.

ashe

“ Years ago I remember when temping on a production line. After a while, the foreman would shut the line, then proceed to change the labels and the plastic moulded packaging to a competitor brand, and then we would continue as if nothing happened.”

Well they are all made by “suppliers”, and yes quite often different suppliers rather than all coming from the same factory. The suppliers may even use similar chemicals as they know what works, but they’re clearly not all the same product as they perform differently. You can’t seriously tell me being ketchup tastes like asda’s for example, or aldi’s, but they will both contain tomato, vinegar and sugar. The latter two could even be from the same supplier (although unlikely) but to a different recipe.

These convenient anecdotes aren’t bourne out in my experience of trying multiple brands out. It will happen in some cases but the exception, not the rule.

stragglebod

Not quite the same thing comparing food products to detergents.

If doing a production run of an own brand ketchup invlolves swapping out e.g. a lower cost vinegar from the brand version, then yes there'll be a taste difference.

But with detergents, hydrogen peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.

BananaRepublic

cool_dude_2000 wrote: »

Branding is one of the biggest marketing trucks of the modern age.

Think about it. Where do you think all these products are manufactured?

Is there a factory for Tesco own brand soap, and a separate one for Sainburys, and a separate one for Lidl. Where do the big housebrands like Glaxo and P&G make their products?

Years ago I remember when temping on a production line. After a while, the foreman would shut the line, then proceed to change the labels and the plastic moulded packaging to a competitor brand, and then we would continue as if nothing happened.

Apparently M&S, Waitrose, Sainsburys etc often use the exact same supplier for own brand products. However, they do have different recipes. M&S might have a more premium product than Asda for example. As for washing powders, the key ingredients will be the same, but cheap brands might use less of the expensive enzymes. Testing would be the only sure way to know.

Debran

This is what "Which?" rated best buy detergents:

Highest score is Formil Biological Powder at 77%.
Second comes Arial Original Bio Powder at 73%

Three detergents take equal third place, all scoring 72%:
Sainsbury's Bio Powder
Aldi Almat Bio Super Concentrated Liquid
Arial Original Bio Liquid

No capsules nor non-bio detergents scored highly enough to be rated as a best buy.

Note - powder detergents tend to fade colours more than liquids.