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Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser review: Is the budget brand worth the hype?
Often spoken about in the same hallowed terms as Zoflora, Fabulosa has a loyal following on Mumsnet thanks to its lush range of fragrances. But is the budget brand’s laundry cleanser any good? Mumsnet put it to the test.
By Laura Cooke | Last updated Sep 7, 2023
Price on writing: From £22.99 (six pack) | Buy now from Amazon | £2 (1 litre) | Buy now from Savers
What we like
Wide range of gorgeous fragrances
Budget-friendly prices
Range of laundry and cleaning products with the same fragrance
Vegan-friendly
Cruelty-free
Works well on a cold wash
Safe to use on pet bedding
What we don’t like
Difficult to get six capfuls in the machine without spillage
Range changes frequently - so you may find your favourite suddenly disappears from the shelves
What Mumsnet users say
“I use fabulosa. From aldi. I don't use as much as it says, just 2 caps in with a neutral fabric softener, smells nice and has got rid of the horrid teen boy smell on his tops!” Tried and tested by Mumsnetter InvisibleToEveryone
“Fabulosa lemon lavender is nice, and they sometimes do a baby powder scent one that is lovely but only seems to be on sale a couple of times a year.” Recommended by Mumsnet user FionnulaTheCooler
“I use fabulosa laundry sanitiser for smelly gym kit. They have some nice fragrances.” Tried and tested by Mumsnetter dementedpixie
“Fabulosa Pure opulence is a dead ringer for Marc jacobs decadence [...] I use Electrify for cleaning, it's pretty fresh smelling. The grapefruit one is lovely too.” Brand recommended by Mumsnetter sleighbellsjiggling
Our verdict
“Multiple choregasms inside” screamed the writing on the box sent from Fabulosa. Although the budget-brand’s laundry cleanser was perhaps more of a quick knee-trembler, it was nonetheless rather satisfying. Our clothes came out of the washing machine smelling delicious, and Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser worked its magic on whiffy sports kits and smelly pet bedding. The cleanser also managed to get rid of difficult stains, even in a quick 30°C wash. Scent-wise, we liked the strong, but seductive, smell of Scarlet Rose, which we have added to our list of Mumsnet’s best laundry detergents.
The only real downside to Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser is the lid design makes it impossible to measure out six capfuls without wasting liquid. Although whether user clumsiness played a role in this is up for debate.
What’s in the box?
Pink Zebra Laundry Cleanser (1 litre)
Scarlet Rose Laundry Cleanser (500ml)
Belissima Laundry Cleanser (500ml)
La Dolce Vita Washing Machine Cleaner
What does Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser smell like?
There is no easy answer to this…but as Fabulosa has launched more than 150 fragrances to date, you can rest assured that there is something for everyone.
My personal favourite from the selection we tested, Scarlet Rose, is described as ‘a strong sweet fruity floral scent that begins with top notes of lemon, apple and pear. The heart is a blend of rose, geranium, jasmine, strawberry, berry and clove. At the base, musk, sugar and vanilla complete the profile.’ So, a lot of bases covered there.
Bellissima is from the D&G-inspired Milano collection, and is a fruity floral fragrance with soft spices. The fragrance wasn’t my favourite and it didn’t leave the washing smelling as fresh as Pink Zebra or Scarlet Rose, but it would be great for someone seeking something a bit more subtle.
Also from the Milano collection is the Fabulosa Washing Machine Cleaner, La Dolce Vita, a heady mix of rhubarb and red fruits enwrapped in a heart of cyclamen and sweet watermelon, with a blend of subtle musks and sandalwood. Unfortunately, this didn’t really make a great deal of difference to my washing machine, but I am choosing to chalk this up to having a machine that has seen better days. It was a real shame as La Dolce Vita was my favourite fragrance of the lot and I would buy it as a laundry cleanser in a heartbeat.
As Fabulosa is forever discontinuing, reissuing and bringing out new fragrances, it may not pay to get too attached to your favourite, but Mumsnetters’ current fave fragrances include Electrify and Baby Powder.
How do you use Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser?
Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser can be used instead of fabric softener, alongside laundry detergent. It’s just a case of pouring six capfuls into the fabric softener drawer, which sounds simple enough, but I found it impossible to pour the required six capfuls without slopping it on my hands, feet, countertop or floor, not to mention the inevitable drops of liquid running down the side of the bottle when the cap was replaced. If anyone can let me in on the secret of decanting this with considerably less mess, it would be very much appreciated.
I used Fabulosa on a 30°C, 40°C and 60°C wash, with the laundry cleanser producing excellent results each time. The manufacturer says that the product is still effective when used on a 20°C wash.
For soaking, add three capfuls to 2.5 litres of water and leave to soak for 15 minutes.
Can you use Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser on pet bedding?
Yes, Fabulosa is safe to use on pet bedding.
I have two gorgeous, but fussy and rather stinky, guinea pigs. Rather than try and wash all their bedding with Fabulosa, I decided to test it on their little fleecy sleeping pouch, just in case they found the smell too overwhelming.
Pink Zebra felt the most appropriate choice for animal bedding. The fleece pouch came out clean and smelling fresh, without being overpowering. After drying outside on the rotary airer, it was put back into the cleaned-out guinea pig house and luckily they were snuggled back inside within no time at all. Pink Zebra is definitely guinea pig approved.
How well does Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser tackle stains and odours?
Scarlet Rose really did the business when it came to my husband’s sweaty running gear and it also left our towels with an invigorating freshness that was lacking with our supermarket own brand fabric conditioner.
The laundry cleansers removed an eclectic rainbow of stains from the kids’ clothes and Belissima did manage to shift the pink hair dye stains from one of my daughter’s favourite t-shirts (a remnant of the school’s ‘Rock Star Hair Day’). So I’m eternally grateful for that.
Does Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser offer value for money?
Fabulosa is a budget brand, costing around £1 or £2 a bottle, depending on where you shop. A 500ml bottle will provide up to 10 washes, while a 1 litre bottle will provide up to 20 washes. At 10p a wash, this puts Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser on a par with supermarket-own brands in terms of value for money - as long as you don’t lose too much of it when pouring into the cap.
Amazon sells six-packs of Fabulosa Laundry Cleaners, so if you find your favourite, it may be worthwhile stocking up. The site currently has multipacks of Fabulosa in Electrify, Precious Gold and Fresh Breeze.
If you still haven’t had your fill of the fun and fruity Fabulosa, the company makes a truly mind-boggling range of cleaning products - from interior car cleaner to bathroom mousse - and even the odd personal care product too. Raspberry and Frangipani Toilet Tissue, anyone?
How we tested
Reviewer Laura lives with her husband and two kids, aged four and five. The Fabulosa Laundry Cleanser was tested on bath towels, pet bedding, school uniform, running clothing and assorted children’s and adults’ clothing. After washing, these were dried outside on a rotary airer or on an indoor airer.