Washing clothes with these 3 NZ detergents is like using water, consumer NZ finds, see the best performers

If you think your laundry detergent is doing the job, think again. A new test by Consumer NZ found that some popular brands are no more effective than a rinse with plain water, leaving Kiwi households paying for little more than fragrance. In a recent test of 46 laundry detergents, liquids, powders, tablets, and sheets, three brands scored below 30 out of 100.

The organisation tested each detergent on 10 common stains such as grass, olive oil, and ice cream. The products were then scored based on how well they worked in a front-load washing machine.

Two products, Shotz Laundry Liquid and EcoLiving Laundry Detergent Sheets (lavender), scored just 27/100. Restor Laundry Detergent Sheets (fresh linen) did even worse, with a score of 24.


For comparison, water alone also earned low scores for stain removal but matched or outperformed these products on some stains, such as mud stains, baby food, and grass.

Consumers left disappointed

The Warehouse, which sells Shotz, said it was “surprised” by the result. “We regularly hear positive feedback from our customers about Shotz,” said Ryan Murphy, general manager of groceries. He added that the company will review its formula in response.

Restor, which also performed poorly, said Consumer NZ tested an older version of its product. The company claimed it had recently launched a new formula with added bio-enzymes, but it wasn’t included in the test. It also criticised Consumer NZ for using half a sheet in the test, less than their recommended dose.

Laundry sheets fall short

James le Page, head of testing at Consumer NZ, said it wasn’t surprising that laundry sheets performed badly. “They only weigh a few grams. Compared to a capful of liquid or a scoop of powder, they just don’t contain enough cleaning agents,” he said.

However, he acknowledged laundry sheets are still new in the market and could improve over time.

The top performers

At the other end of the scale, Persil stood out as the most effective brand. Its Ultimate Powder topped the list with a score of 94/100, the only product to get good ratings across all stain types.

Other high scorers included:

• Persil Active Clean Powder – 92
  
  
  
• Persil 3 in 1 Ultimate Capsules – 89
  
  
  
• Ariel Original Liquid – 86
  
  
  
• Ariel Allin1 Pods – 79
  
  
  
• Laundromate (powder and liquid variants) – 77–79
  
  
  
• Ecostore Ultrapower Citrus Fresh Powder – 77
  
  

In total, 10 detergents received a Consumer NZ “tick” for good performance.

With the cost of living rising, consumers are being urged to check if they’re getting value from their detergent. Some low-scoring products cost as much as $10–12 per litre, comparable to top brands but with far worse results.

“You might find something that will do a better job for a better price,” said le Page.