Please recommend me a good, reasonably priced laundry detergent!

[Twicelittledragon]

I'm getting through the Persil at an alarming rate now we've got a baby. I prefer liquid as powder always seems to clog up in the dispenser drawer.

Unless it's on a really good offer, all the good detergents I've used seem to be expensive. I don't want to be paying upwards of £6 unless it's a giant bottle!

Criteria:

• Must be non bio
  
• Must smell nice
  
• Must not be a powder
  
• Must get things actually clean
  
• Must not be extortionately priced
  

Please give me some recommendations! I'm guessing Lidl or Aldi? (Haven't got an Aldi where we live but we do have a Lidl)

[TaurielTest]

I use Lidl Formil super concentrated liquid - "bio" and "colour" depending on the load - give it a try...

[TaurielTest]

... comes in a non bio too (just read OP properly).

[CountingThePennies]

Your not going to get non bio that actually cleans.

Its bio that shifts stains and sweat out of your clothes

[BeCool]

I use Method - which might seem expensive but it really isn't.

It ticks all your boxes, plus you only use 4 pumps so I can often do "reduced time" washes as less rinsing is required. I do chuck a spoon of soda crystals in too, as I live in a hard water area.

I buy the refill packs @ £14 each, but I stock up when they come on to a 3 for 2 offer so about £9 per pack. I've dated each pack as I open it and doing approx 25 washed a month, each refill pack lasts me at least 3 months which I think is great value.

Laundry product fragrances are my pet peeve - this is fragrenced but it is very nice and not at all overpowering.

check out the reviews here: www.biggreensmile.com/products/method-laundry-refill/mlaundrefill.aspx?productid=mlaundrefill

[Twicelittledragon]

CountingThePennies I normally get bio, but I've been using non-bio as we've got a young baby. Although I am not sure if I read somewhere that it doesn't actually make much of a difference? He doesn't seem to have extremely sensitive skin but I don't want him to get eczema or something I must admit it's one thing I haven't really looked into.

[Twicelittledragon]

BeCool Where do you usually buy that from?

[mausmaus]

bio powder is best, they are more or less all the same bar the perfume.

to prevent white streaks

• use less powder (I use less than half, still gets clothes clean)
  
• don't overfill mashine
  
• don't use the short cycles, they often safe time by omitting a rinse cycle
  

if you are worried about sensitive skin use an extra rinse/spin

[mausmaus]

oh and put the powder directly into drum. no more cloggy drawer.

[BeCool]

//www.biggreensmile.com - I buy the refills from here when they have an offer on I stock up. As it's so concentrated it's not a problem to store it. I last brought 3 refills in January and although I have opened the last one it's still half full. Amazing.

You can also get it from Waitrose, some Tesco's though they don't always have the refills unless you do an online shop.

I would suggest you buy a bottle to try it out (about £6 and you need this for the pump/measurer) and then if you like it you can buy the refills.

[VeryPunny]

I went through a phase of using only Fairy Non Bio with PFB but it doesn't actually get things clean. Now use Aldi Almat bio powder and it's great. If DC have no history of skin problems, I'd give it a go.

If your drawer is gunging up, use less powder. I use about half the recommended amount.

[BeCool]

I've only ever used non-bio or eco laundry liquid/powders with a bit of soap rubbed on for stains.

Believe me I'm really not walking around in dirty clothes for the last 15 or more years!

[rabbit123]

Non bio isn't sold anywhere in the world other than the UK.

The myth that bio causes irritation is just that. A myth caused by 1970's housewives panicking that enzymes would eat their skin.

Irritation caused by laundry detergent is nearly always caused by using heavily perfumed detergents packed full of chemical scent agents (like Surf or Bold), overdosing detergent or poor rinsing in the machine caused by overloading, not using the correct cycle for the load or using quick wash .

In answer to the original question, powders tend to be better value because the boxes can be bought in big bulk boxes for much more reasonable costs. Some of the store brands are very good and cheap. Aldi's Almat and Lidl Formil are both good performers and very reasonably priced. For £2.69 a box for Almat, surely it's worth a try? If you're worried about irritation, try using the extra rinse option on the washer. Might take a bit longer to wash but you'd be saving on buying expensive detergent.

[BeCool]

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the electricity, and water in that extra long wash/rinse cycle too and cheap/er detergent may be a false economy.

[mausmaus]

becool the longer cycles tend to use less water and electricity.
what uses a lot if energy is heating up a lot of water.
check the manual.

[ouryve]

We changed from persil non bio to ariel gel when we realised that the persil wasn't rinsing very well and was leaving clothes crunchy and scratchy. I've actually had less skin irritation and everything gets much cleaner. I also use method occasionally, but find it better on light colours than darker ones, as it doesn't do a very good job of removing the greasy stains that DS2 leaves when he wipes his hands on his legs, when eating.

[TeacupDrama]

ALDI almost is great, won good housekeeping award

[ouryve]

Our washer has an eco cycle that takes about 4 hours. I tried it a couple of times, but everything came out smelling exactly as you'd expect it to after sitting in mucky water for several hours, so I no longer bother.

Also forgot to say that the really big bottles of Ariel are often on offer for £4 or less and the scent is actually less strong on the clothes than when I use method.

[didiimaginethis]

Aldi and lidl powder both very good, I use bio on baby clothes and nappies and my DHs stuff and he has excema. The bio has made no difference at all to his skin (central heating has though)

[spottymoo]

Another one for method we pay £14 for the refill ones and only have to buy one every 10 weeks and we do a wash everyday sometimes 2/3 so an outlay at the start but it really lasts

[handcream]

If you look carefully you wil find Ariel and Persil at half price. When you do grab it. I agree with other posters, non bio is rubbish. Use extra rinse and bio will be fine!

[Sunnyshores]

Aldi almat is great, me and the children are quite sensitive to strong smells as well as I guess the ingredients which make soaps etc itchy, using now for a year and no problems. Also use their fabric conditioner.

[dottyaboutstripes]

I use Essential Waitrose laundry gel (but bio), smells great, gets clothes clean and doesn't cost much

[rabbit123]

mausmaus, absolutely spot on.

Quick washes use more energy than full cottons/synthetics cycles. The motor in the washer uses very little energy, it's the heat element that guzzles the leccie. Quick washes use more water to compensate for the shorter wash time, which means more water to heat up in less time and more electricity used.