Testing three supermarket washing up liquids I was surprised to find out just how effective they were compared to more expensive brands
Washing up is undoubtedly my least favourite household task. Without a dishwasher, it can feel like an endless chore and I’m certainly guilty of delaying longer than I should when it comes to my most dreaded domestic duty.
One thing that makes this intimidating job slightly less agonising is having a washing up liquid that performs well. As someone who cooks frequently, I understand how annoying it can be trying to clean greasy oven trays and frying pans with a washing up liquid that just doesn’t cut the mustard (figuratively speaking).
So, as my pans were “soaking” on the side this week, I decided to put my time to good use by testing out three different supermarket washing up liquids.
I compared Aldi, Lidl and M&S versions against Fairy Liquid to see if the brand name made any difference, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Here’s what I discovered:
Aldi – 65p for 500ml
Having always been convinced that Fairy Liquid was the only option, I didn’t hold much hope for this cheaper alternative. However, I was pleasantly surprised.
The formula wasn’t thin or watery at all and frothed up nicely when I poured a drop onto my sponge.
A little went a long way, and soap suds were definitely plentiful with this washing-up liquid. The scent was classic and simple, though there was also a blue liquid available if that suits your kitchen aesthetic better.
A few items required a second rinse, but overall, this was a fantastic washing up liquid for the price.
8/10
Lidl – 69p for 500ml
Lidl’s product was nearly identical to Aldi’s and offered equally great value. Contrary to my expectations, I ended up with a sink full of thoroughly soapy dishes.
They might have needed a bit more attention with my sponge, but overall, I’m not sure I would have noticed the difference from Fairy Liquid.
However, with a couple of stains requiring more of a scrub, I’m not sure how it would have coped with a greasier load of dishes, hence knocking it down by two points.
8/10
M&S – 75p for 500ml
Marks and Spencers’ washing up liquid was 10p pricier than the other two supermarkets. Although still significantly cheaper than Fairy Liquid, which is rarely found for less than a £1 (its current price in Tesco for a much smaller 320ml bottle), I’m not convinced the extra 10p was worth it.
The washing up liquid definitely earns points for its scent, which far outperformed the other two products. While being a similar classic option (there were no additional lemon or other scents available) this did just nicely and was super fresh and almost slightly fruity.
Unfortunately, it loses points for struggling with some stubborn coffee cup stains even though they were only a day old. The smell and packaging were lovely, but I’d like to think Fairy could have successfully cleaned my cups on the first go, whereas this didn’t.
7/10