NOW CLOSED: Tesco’s Naturally Powered (antibacterial spray or non-bio washing powder) product testers review thread

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 1000 Mumsnetters who are trying out the Naturally Powered range of cleaning products by Tesco.

If you don't know about these products, here's what Tesco has to say:

"In the past, green cleaning products have been let down by their performance. Working closely with a team of chemists, scientists and environmental experts, we have created the Naturally Powered range of eco cleaning products - specially formulated to have a reduced impact on the environment than other leading products and with the cleaning performance you'd expect."

Mumsnetters have been testing either the antibacterial spray or the non-bio washing powder. In addition, all testers received a trial-sized sachet of washing up liquid.

If you are a tester, please state which product you were testing and answer the questions below - feel free to also add any other comments you may have.

Everyone who adds their comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw, where one person will win £200 of Tesco vouchers.

Questions:

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

Should have added, we have incredibly soft water so I used the minimum amount and it still didn't dissolve, though no residue in the drawer like others have mentioned

Washing powder test here:

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
Hadn't heard of them

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?
Laundry seemed fresh and clean. White wash appeared brighter than when washed with my usual non bio (? more bleaching agents / brighteners) Smell was fresh and not too overpowering. I used approx 1/3 of the recommended amount (as I always do with washing detergent) and whilst laundry appeared clean there was a significant amount (?1/3) of undissolved powder left in the dispensing drawer

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?
Worked well, white wash appeared brighter, no discernible difference in dark wash. Powder didn't dissolve as well as my usual brand.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?
I'm unsure of the 'green-ess' of the green credentials of the range, no details on box to explain.
Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?
Would depend on price comparison with other non bio options.
Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?
Increased solubility of powder.
Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, if competitively priced, not specifically on 'green credentials' as I remain unsure of the exact nature of these.

Testing the anti-bac spray

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

That they were a bit of a gimmick. I was interested to see if they worked

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

The washing up liquid worked really well. It managed a bowl fu and then a grill pan easily which was more than I expected and easier than I expected with the grill pan. The anti-bac spray unfortunately just left things I'd cleaned a bit smeary and didn't get the gas hob clean really at all.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

Washing up liquid, better.
Anti-bac spray, far less effective

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

It would have made me feel better if I had bought them. But I would only buy them if they were as good, or better, than my usual products.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

I may get the washing up liquid, I won't buy the spray

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

More effective cleaning power in the anti-bac spray

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Not really, not enough of a difference to evangelise the washing up liquid. If asked, I would say not to get the anti-bac spray.

I used the antibacterial spray.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

I had seen them in the supermarket but had always stuck with Ecover in the past.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

I felt it did a good job but the strong was very strong and quite chemically smelling and it seemed to linger on my worktops, and in particular on the wooden kitchen table. DP sliced a loaf of bread directly onto the table afterwards (as he always does, despite my nagging asking him not to) and complained that he could taste it on the bread, which doesn't happen when I use my usual Method spray.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

Personally I am not as impressed with it as the Ecover and Method products I use. However it would be the smell that would put me off the most as I am hugely fussy about smells and can't abide anything that smells chemically/synthetic.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

My main criteria when selecting products, hence using Ecover, Method and good old fashioned soda crystals and vinegar for cleaning.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

Yes, if the smell changed. No, if the smell didn't change.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

The smell - far too synthetic.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, but I would mention the smell. Although I am aware that not everyone is as fussy as I am.

1. keen to test. Looked appealing.
2. trigger leaked when spraying (also leaked in transit), however overall impressed on first use. Smelt fresh and clean
3. seemed to work as well as previous brands. Without doing lab/swab testing it is impossible to say if it kills bacteria it claims.
4. my choice depends on cost/offers - not always environment friendly I'm sorry to say
5. will buy again if price is as competitive as other brands
6. trigger doesn't leak
7. yes, I would recommend. Overall I liked this exciting new product.

I've been testing the antibacterial spray for the last couple of weeks.

Q1
I wasn't aware of the products before testing so had no opinion.

Q2
I loved the spray. I was very happy with the cleaning performance (obviously don't know how well it kills bugs though), and thought the smell was great.

Q3
The spray worked as well as my usual brand, but smelled better.

Q4
The green credentials are fairly important to me, but if push came to shove, price will always be the decider.

Q5
Yes, if the price is right.

Q6
The spray trigger felt flimsy so perhaps a better bottle?

Q7
Yes, as it works well, smells great, and is green.

Testing nonbio powder

1. wasn't aware of tge brand however use ecover so looking to see if it matches up

2. I used the powder on a cold and a 30 wash and tge clothes came out well on both. They smelt nice and were clean. However they did live up to my reservations about using powder, my two month old manchine broke its powder cherry and was defo scared by tge experience, tge powder just did not fully leave tge draw, I had to flush with cups of water. Thankfully it didn't leave powder in the clothes. Not sure if this was due to tge powder or tge washer though.

3. from a cleaning side it was tge same (am currently using tesco gel bio ) however the powder tgat was left in tge draw would put me off.
   4)It doesn't really factor high on my list, price, performance are more important. Although I am rather taken by tge paper cup...simple things.

4. unlikely due to tge powder left in tge draw, might try a liquid if they do it.

5. dissolve or be able to add to the drum

6. yes if they were looking for a product like this, it might not do the powder thing in their machine?

packaging - the nozzle for the spray seemed flimsy and cheap in my opinion. The design on the bottle looked like some kind of chemical molecule and did not make me think eco-friendly.
I had never heard of this brand before testing.
The product smelled really nice and worked well. I normally use dettol spray which i love. I would not switch because the tesco bottle appeared cheap and did not feel as nice.
Eco-credentials not inportant to me.
Would not recommend to a friend

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
Nicely packaged and liked idea of the spray/stream feature.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products? Smelt lovely and cleaned up the kitchen a treat :)

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use? Worked a little better than Asda spray, which I usually buy. Better smell too.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not? Quite important. I buy green products if and when I can afford it.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not? If it were as cheap as other sprays on the market, yes.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing? None.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not? Yes.

I am testing the anti bac spray
Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
Didn't really have one/not heard of them

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?
Worked same as usual spray (Sainsburies own). I liked the choice of spray or stream tho this is a very useful feature. Smelt nice

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use? Didn't work quite as well at cleaning but smelt a lot better!

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?
Would if I could get green product for same price as normal product.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?
Would depend on the price - as above

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?
None

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?
Not realy, but only because I tend only to recommend stuff I LOVE! Wouldn't tell them not to buy it.

I had the surfacte cleaner and washing up liguid

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
The spray head of the cleaner was a bit leaky, the packaging was ordinary - I couldn't see any strongly ecopositive selling points as compared to the packaging info on ecover or clearspring products

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?
The smell of the washing up liquid was fine..not my 'favourite' but can't complain about it! It did the job well enough.
I liked the smell and performance of the surface spray, though the head did leak.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?
I prefer Clearspring washing up liquid, it seemed to last longer after a big, greasy wash up e.g family dinner of spag bol/roast etc.
I think the spray is better than the ecover one

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?
The green credentials are very important - the info supplied on the packaging has not convinced me that the Tesco product goes 'head to head' with the current 'eco' top brands so I don't think I would but again on the current info

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?
see q4

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?
More validated 'green claims', change to sprayer head of surface cleaner, fresher/lemony smell of washing up liquid

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, but in the context of cleaning generally, I wouldn't be evangelistic about the products!

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

I loved them fresh smelling makes my clothes soft and have the just washed look. I have used several different washing powders and liquids but this by far the best. I have never used eco products before.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Loved the smell and feel of the clothes

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products ?

Yes great much better than others.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

Never really thought about eco pruducts but very interested now.l

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

Yes I will now try more products

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

Nothing I really liked everything about it

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I would recommend the products as they smell great and work really well i will be telling me friends and family.x

Q1. I hadn't noticed them at all, but tend to shop online so won't have visited the aisle in the supermarket.

Q2. Yes I was happy, in that the clothes came out clean and smelt fresh!

Q3. I think the product worked just as well as my usual brand. However, my daughter's eczema has flared up a little since I used this washing powder, so it is possible that the washing powder is the cause, in which case I would consider it not to be as good as my usual brand!

Q4. The green credentials are important, but so are other considerations, such as whether it irritates my family's skin.

Q5. If I can rule out it being a factor in my daughter's ezcema, then possibly, yes.

Q6. I prefer to use a tablet to powder as it's less messy

Q7. Yes, although to be honest I can't think when I've ever had a conversation about washing powder!!

Hi guys thank you for including me as a tester unfortunetly I never received my product! Have had no card through the door or anything! Don't worry I do not expect to be entered into the prize draw as I don't feel this would be fair to the testers who have actually received and reviewed the products.
Just thought I would bring it to your attention. Thanks again :)

I tested the antibacterial spray...

Q1. Did not really know about them or hadn't noticed them.

Q2. Impressed. Spray was great for wiping down kitchen surfaces, got rid of grease/pawprints etc easily. Also used it for cleaning shower screen - came up quite sparkly with minimal effort. Smell was pleasant, no issues with the feel of the product. However, not having the product in front of me at this time, I am hard pressed to know what makes it ecofriendly.

Q3. Worked just as well as the product I normally use, but smelled fresher.

Q4. I try to be eco-friendly where possible without compromising quality, so would be happy to purchase this product again for the right price.

Q5. I will finish the bottle I have then see what the price is...

Q6. Nil to actual cleaning product, but the spray head leaks if you squeeze it when the nozzle is open. Also, not sure what the point of the 'stream' as opposed to spray function is.

Q7. Yes to my friends interested in eco products that actually work!

am testing the washing powder.
1 - Wasn't aware of the Naturally Power brand previously.
2- The powder seems to be doing as good a job if not better than the eco-friendly liquid I normally use. The smell is acceptable on our baby's clothes but I don't like it on our bigger ones. Also found the measuring pot annoying as it only just fits in the packet & doesn't have the measurement for the standard measurement for a normally soiled wash in a medium hard/soft water area.
3 - Much prefer the fact that my normal liquid doesn't have any scent added. In terms of performance I think the Tesco brand is probably better.
3 - Green credentials are very important to me
4 - So probably wouldn't buy the Tesco's brand as we don't normally shop at Tesco's because of it's credentials or lack of them.
5 - A better measuring device with more measurements on it
6 - I would recommend it to a friend who normally shops at Tesco's and isn't normally eco-conscious as it does a good job

Cheers

I tested the washing powder.

Q1. I hadn't really noticed them to be honest. I mostly buy my eco products online.

Q2. Initially I liked the small box (no excessive packaging) and the cute measuring cup. The first couple times I washed my son's nappies they didn't smell particularly clean (faint ammonia smell) so I wasn't initially impressed. However it has washed clothes well and the last load of nappies smell much fresher. I think I didn't use enough powder previously. I would be nicer if the powder left a scent on the washing, but happy enough without. Some products are over scented.

Q3. Initially not well, but with the correct dosage the washing powder performed as well as my usual eco-brand of laundry detergent.

Q4. Green credentials of any cleaning products are very important to me and would affect my decision to buy. I would like to see that the product wasn't tested on animals too though.

Q5. Possibly - although I tend to buy in bulk. I guess it depends if I am shopping in Tesco and need some, if it competitively priced.

Q6. Improvements - not tested on animals and possibly a slight fragrance.

Q7. Yes I would recommend it.

Thank you for the sample!

I tested the washing powder.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them? - Never heard of them previously

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products? - Product worked. Smelt quite strong to start off with but faded. Powder did not always dissolve. Did remove a tea stain from a white sheet that has been there for 6 months. Clothes were not as soft as normal.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use? - My sheets were nowhere near as soft as they normally are, but it did shift a stain that my normal liquitabs have been unable to shift.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not? - Am keen to use products with green credentials as long as the price is ok.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not? - Would buy if on special offer, but prefer liquitabs as they are less messy.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing? - Packaging is not completely environmental with the plastic, but do not see how else you can keep the powder dry.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not? - Would definitely recommend if someone had a stain they were struggling to shift.

Thanks!

One more thing to add on the anti-bac spray: the nozzle has developed a leak so it drips everywhere.

Mine too. Drip drip

Mine too! And had leaked in the box - the smell was very strong and chemical -y and put me off a bit.

I Tested the washing powder
Q1. Hadn't heard of them. In general I think eco products are more expensive and less effective. They can be kinder on the skin.

Q2. The powder smelt very strong but the clothes didn;t have any smell at all after the wash. It washed very dirty clothe very well. DS, who has very sensitive skin didn't have a reaction to it. I love the little dispensing cup but the plastic bag in the box made it difficult to get out. I ended up tipping the contents straight into the box, I wonder what use the bag has.

Q3. I think it worked better than other eco detergents I've used and probably as well as regular washing powder.

Q4. Green credentials are fairly important to me but I'm slightly dubious about the green credentials of this product and wonder if it really is much better for the environment than other products. Price, effectiveness and whether DS gets a reaction to it are much more important to me.

Q5. I probably would but only if the price was comparable to to the usual detergent I use.

Q6. I would have liked the clothes to smell fresh after being used. I'd get rid of the bag in the box.

Q7. I probably would.

One more thing - I'm getting to the bottom of the box now, and it's getting increasingly difficult and fiddly getting the measuring cup into the powder. The plastic bag keeps slumping down, and it takes several goes to scoop up enough powder to fill to the measuring line.

Only a small thing, but irritating, nevertheless. Why not make the measuring cup a tad smaller?

I tested the antibac spray.

Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?

I'd never heard of them before reading about them on Mumsnet, but on first impression they sounded like an own-brand version of Ecover.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?

I mainly use antibac spray for wiping out the potty after each use. It's not so much about dirt as germs so it's hard to judge whether it worked as well. I didn't really like the lemony smell as much as the normal antibac sprays I use (either Dettol or own-brand versions, all virtually unscented). It seemed a bit artificial / overpowering.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?

As above, hard to judge how well it worked but I didn't like the smell as much.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would only buy the Naturally Powered range if I believed the green credentials were genuine. I was interested in the idea of a 'green' antibac spray because I know antibac sprays are rather harsh and potentially harmful. I assumed that the Naturally Powered version would be slightly less effective but more environmentally friendly. I was surprised to see on the label that it kills 99.9% of germs the same as normal antibac spray, which made me suspicious as to how 'green' it really is. Looking at the ingredients it looks very much as if it contains all the usual disinfectants and just has a few natural ingredients added. There also appear to be no claims on the label about how environmentally friendly it is, which makes me think it probably isn't!!

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?

No - don't believe it is genuinely environmentally friendly in which case why change from my usual brand?

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?

Make it more environmentally friendly and explain this on the label.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?

No, for reasons above.

I tested the antibacterial spray
Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
I hadn't heard of them so no opinion.

Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?
I was very impressed with the cleanig power of the spray. I don't like the smell as it is very strong.

Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?
I usually use Method and it works better I need to use less however Mthod smells better.

Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?
I couln't really tell why Naturally Powered has green credentials. I wouldn't select a cleaning product on the green credentials apart from I prefer the packing to be recyclable.

Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?
I don't like the smell.

Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?
Change the smell and I would buy it.

Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes apart from the smell.