Laundry Powders Compared

ALDI Almat washes up best in laundry powder ratings

While doing the laundry comes with risks – such as shrinking clothes or accidently turning your favourite white shirt a different colour – it is a necessary chore to keep us looking and feeling fresh. For some, the washing machine is a mystery, with many of us sticking to the tried and true method of the regular wash for everything, while others venture out to different wash settings for a more appropriate clean. Even if you’re a washing veteran, choosing the best laundry detergent for your needs can feel like guesswork.

Choosing between laundry liquid and powder is the first hurdle to get over, and for those who stand by powder as their favoured laundry weapon of choice, there are plenty of options to narrow down when it comes to finding the best brand for your needs and budget.

In our latest survey on the subject, 54% of respondents said they always buy the same brand of laundry powder, while 48% simply stock up on whichever is on special or happens to be cheapest when they go shopping. One in ten Aussies (9%) have even tried to make their own laundry detergent, indicating that some are looking to save money, or looking for a better clean.

With 31% of respondents stating that washing is done every day of the week in their household, finding a washing powder that does the job the first time, every time, can cut down on the washing frequency, as well as helping to reduce electricity bills. So which brand cleans up best in Aussie homes? To find out, we’ve surveyed more than 1,200 adults and asked them for their feedback on their brand of choice. In 2019, ALDI Almat was rated best for overall satisfaction.

Best-Rated Laundry Powder

Canstar Blue’s 2019 review of laundry powders saw 11 brands compared, rated in the following order for overall customer satisfaction:

• 1^st ALDI Almat
• 2^nd ALDI Laundrite
• 3^rd Radiant
• 4^th Coles Ultra
• 5^th ALDI Trimat
• 6^th Cold Power
• 7^th Biozet Attack
• 8^th Fab
• 9^th Surf
• 10^th Earth Choice
• 11^th Omo

While ALDI Almat took out top spot, ALDI Laundrite, Radiant, Coles Ultra, ALDI Trimat, Cold Power and Biozet Attack all received four stars for overall satisfaction, with Fab, Surf, Earth Choice and Omo rated three stars apiece.

ALDI Almat was rated best on quality of clean, followed by Radiant and ALDI Laundrite. Earth Choice was rated best for environmental friendliness, while Surf was rated best on scent, followed by ALDI Almat. In addition, ALDI Laundrite was rated best on value for money, with ALDI Almat coming close behind.

If you’re not sure what’s on offer in terms of scent, detergents for sensitive skin or those that will whip white shirts back into looking brand new, read on to find out which brand may be the best fit for your home.

Top Laundry Powders

ALDI Almat

With ALDI now a popular option for the household grocery shop, the German chain offers a range of laundry powders for you to pack your trolley with. Almat laundry powder is one of the cheaper options in comparison to other ALDI brands, with a 2kg pack priced under $5, while a 4kg value pack will set you back less than $10.

Suitable for top and front loaders, plus high efficiency top loader machines, Almat is also available in a number of scents, including Spicy Temptations, Soft Sensation and Tropical Escape, making your clothes and fabrics feel and smell fresh. Containing triple enzyme action for greater stain removal, Almat is said to be phosphate-free for increased environmental sustainability.

• In our 2019 results, ALDI Almat was rated five stars for overall satisfaction, quality of clean, value for money, feel of clothes after washing, scent and packaging design, with a four-star rating for environmental friendliness.

ALDI Laundrite

Coming close behind its counterpart, ALDI Laundrite powder also has a few budget friendly options within its line-up. Available for under $4 for a 4kg pack, and coming in a lemon scent, ALDI Laundrite powder is said to be phosphate free and can be used in either hot or cold water.

While there aren’t many fragrance options on offer, if you’re looking for a simple laundry powder, then you might like to give this one a try. For a laundry liquid option, ALDI Laundrite liquid also comes in an apple blossom fragrance, which will set you back less than $2 for a 2L bottle.

• ALDI Laundrite was rated joint top for quality of clean as well as value for money. It was rated four stars on overall satisfaction and most other categories except for scent, where it received three stars.

Radiant

Owned by British company PZ Cussons, Radiant has been around for more than 25 years now, offering a wide range of laundry products, including liquids and powders. Available at all supermarkets, as well as other retailers such as Big W and Target, Radiant has a variety of powders for all clothes types, and is available in up to 9kg packages.

Suitable for top and front load washing machines, Radiant offers a number of powder types for different washes. With a range that includes a Sports Wash for any grass stains, Brilliant White’s wash for fresher whites, No Sort powder for those who chuck all their clothes in the one wash, as well as a Sensitive wash for those with allergies and sensitive skin, Radiant has most washing needs covered.

• In this year’s results, Radiant was rated five stars for quality of cleaning, along with four stars for overall satisfaction, value for money, feel of clothes after washing, scent and packaging design, with three stars on environmental friendliness.

Coles Ultra

With a couple of laundry detergents available, supermarket giant Coles has a few options for shoppers as they cruise down the aisle. Available in a 1kg package, Coles Ultra laundry powder will set you back around $4, making it a worthwhile look for households on a budget.

Coles Ultra laundry powders are said to be suitable for both front and top loader washing machines, providing up to 22 washes with the 1kg pack. While it doesn’t focus on different fragrances, it offers concentrated and sensitive varieties with the sensitive option said to be tough on stains but gentle on the skin.

• In 2019, Coles Ultra was rated four stars for overall satisfaction, quality of clean and value for money with three stars in all other areas, including scent.

ALDI Trimat

Another option for those who visit ALDI to do their grocery shopping, Trimat laundry powder would likely be the most expensive option in comparison to Almat or Laundrite. Offering the Trimat range in both liquid and powder forms, ALDI has a number of choices for consumers to look through, including Regular Concentrate, Colour Care and Sensitive, all retailing for around $6 per 1.5kg box.

Suitable for both front and top loader models, ALDI Trimat contains pre-treaters to help boost whites and colours, with no phosphates for a more environmentally sustainable wash. Its sensitive variant is said to be dermatologically tested, making it an option to consider for those with sensitive skin.

• ALDI Trimat was a bit of a mixed bag in this year’s review, scoring four stars for overall satisfaction, scent, value for money and quality of clean, while scoring three stars in all categories.

Cold Power

Owned by German company Henkel, Cold Power began life in the United States in the 1960s before its global expansion. In today’s Aussie supermarkets, Cold Power is available in 900g, 2kg and 4kg packages, depending on the variety you’re after. Cold Power comes in ‘Sensitive’, ‘2in1’ and ‘Complete Action’ powders, along with special products that contain fabric softener for a more complete wash.

On the higher end of the price spectrum, Cold Power is suitable for both front and top loader machines. Expect to pay around $16 for its 2kg box and around $20 for the 4kg option. Its sensitive powder is said to be perfume free and contain no added phosphate or dyes, and has been dermatologically tested, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.

• Cold Power achieved four stars for overall satisfaction and quality of clean, while scoring three stars in all other areas, including value for money.

Biozet Attack

Biozet Attack offers multiple laundry powders, including Regular for general washing, Rapid for those who often use the quick wash setting, as well as Plus Softener to help make those blankets and jumpers comfier. Its powders are also said to contain patented microcapsules (called AirBurst Technology) which contain an air bubble, designed to dissolve quickly when in contact with water.

Available at most supermarkets and general retailers, Biozet Attack is available in 1kg, 2kg, 4kg and 6kg packages, depending on which variety you go for. Most products are suitable for both front and top load machines, but it’s best to check the packaging before you put it in your shopping basket.

• Biozet Attack earned four stars for overall satisfaction, quality of clean and packaging design, but was rated three stars for all other variables.

Fab

For many, Fab would be one of the first brands to come to mind when it comes to doing the laundry, operating around the globe for decades. Owned by German company Henkel, Fab delivers a range of powders and liquids to take care of all your washing needs.

Split into the Core Range and Fragrance Temptations, Fab offers a number of powder types for different washes. Available in 1kg, 1.8kg, 2kg and 4kg value packs, Fab laundry powders are suitable for both front and top load machines. It offers a range of different aromas for you to try, including Frangipani, Sublime Velvet and Sunshine Fresh.

• While it was rated best for its laundry liquids this year, Fab’s powder range received three stars for overall satisfaction, feel of clothes after washing, environmental friendliness and packaging design, with four stars for all remaining categories.

Surf

Owned by consumer goods giant Unilever, Surf has been on the market since the early 1950s, offering a large number of liquids and powders for all of your washing needs. Today’s range, aptly named the 2in1, contains a built-in fabric softener and is available in a range of different scents including Herbal Extracts, Lavender, Lemons & Oranges, as well as Tropical to suit your personal preferences.

The range is said to help remove bad odours and provide long-lasting freshness. Available for purchase in 1kg, 2kg and 4kg boxes, all detergents are compatible for both front and top loaders. A 2kg box will set you back around $7 while its 4kg retails for around $13.

• With a range of decadent fragrances on offer, Surf was the only brand besides this year’s winner to get five stars for its scent, with four stars for packaging design, value for money and quality of clean. However, it received three stars for overall satisfaction, feel of clothes after washing and environmental friendliness.

Earth Choice

Earth Choice produces an extensive range of household cleaners, and whether it’s for the washing machine, dishwasher or the bathroom, the brand is a common feature on supermarket shelves, with parent company Nature’s Organics starting back in the 1950s. It’s based on plant-based ingredients, biodegradable surfactants and sustainable packaging, with Earth Choice the only brand to score five stars for environmental friendliness.

Designed for both front and top loaders, Earth Choice laundry powder comes in a concentrated formula. Available in store in 1kg and 2kg boxes, that cost between $5 and $10, Earth Choice’s laundry powder is stated to be grey water safe as it’s phosphate free and low in sodium.

• Earth Choice was rated best on environmental friendliness, but got only three stars for overall satisfaction and a mix of four and three stars in all other categories.

Omo

Like Surf, Omo is owned by global consumer goods company Unilever. Omo’s current range contains the traditional Omo powder, Omo Sensitive and Omo Ultimate for tough stains. Its sensitive laundry powder is said to be dermatologically tested and contain no dyes or perfumes. In addition, Omo’s Ultimate range is claimed to tackle 48 hour dried-in stains with built in pre-treaters.

Available in 1kg, 2kg and 5kg boxes, Omo may be one of the more expensive powders on the market, with the 1kg option setting you back close to $10 depending on where you shop. The range is suitable for all types of washing machines.

• Omo received four stars for quality of clean, but just three stars for overall satisfaction and all other areas.

Which laundry powder should I buy?

While for some of us, the only factor that influences which laundry powder we buy is the price tag, for others, picking a laundry detergent is crucial to feeling and smelling fresh. With brands offering a range of powders to tackle any workload, households can also breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to things like skin allergies and sensitivity, with plenty of brands offering allergen-free powders for extra comfort and peace of mind.

With most laundry powders now developed to work with both front and top loader washing machines, which product you decide to buy will be determined by factors such as price, scent, and your particular stance on environmental sustainability. Most brands will have ingredients information on their websites, so it doesn’t hurt to do your own research before your next grocery shop.

Our ratings are based on the real-world experiences of Aussie consumers who have bought and used the brands in our 2019 review. The supermarket cleaning aisle can be a tough one to navigate, with so many laundry detergents on sale, so we hope our review proves helpful in narrowing your search.

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Lead, Megan Birot. She’s an expert on household appliances, health & beauty products, as well as all things grocery and shopping. When she’s not writing up our research-based ratings reports, Megan spends her time helping consumers make better purchase decisions, whether it’s at the supermarket, other retailers, or online, highlighting the best deals and flagging anything you need to be aware of.

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