Laundry powders vs liquids review

Liquid or powder? CHOICE determines which detergents give you the best clean.
 
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02.What to buy

We've listed the top performing powders and liquids for both front loaders and top loaders.

However a general detergency of 60% and above is likely to do a good job on lightly soiled or for freshening clothes, so review all products in the compare table before choosing.

 

 

16 CHOICE buys

Drive Powder Front Loader

Scored 85/100 | $10.5285%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Very good on tomato stains.
• Good on grass stains.
• 48 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Not good for waste water recycling.
 

Omo Small and Mighty Powder Front Loader

Scored 85/100 | $11.5785%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Very good on tomato stains.
• Good on grass stains.
• Good overall performance at half dose and better for the environment at the lower dose.
• 53 cents per wash (28 cents per wash at half dose).

Bad points:

• Could be better for waste water recycling, greywater use on the garden, and solubility.
 

Omo Ultimate Powder Front Loader

Scored 85/100 | $16.3185%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Very good on tomato and grass stains.

Bad points:

• Expensive at 74 cents per wash.
• Not good for waste water recycling.
 

Cold Power Powder Front Loader

Scored 84/100 | $7.9984%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Excellent on tomato stains.
• Good on grass stains.
• 42 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Poor for total suspended solids - means it's more likely to leave detergent residue on clothes - particularly with high efficiency machines.
 

Surf Powder Essential Oils Tropical Flowers Ylang Ylang Front Loader

Scored 84/100 | $6.2984%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Excellent on tomato stains.
• Good on grass stains.
• Maximum stars for total suspended solids - good for high efficiency machines.
• 29 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Not good for waste water recycling.
 

Radiant Micro Max Powder Front Loader

Scored 83/100 | $10.4983%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Excellent on tomato stains.
• Good on grass stains.
• Maximum stars for total suspended solids - good for high efficiency machines.
• 42 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Not good for greywater use on the garden.
 

Biozet Attack Powder Front Loader

Scored 81/100 | $5.9981%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Excellent on tomato stains.
• 4 out of 5 stars for waste water recycling, and 2 out of 3 stars for use on the garden.
• 24 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Only OK on grass stains.
 

Spree Lavender Powder Front Loader

Scored 81/100 | $7.9981%

Good points:

• Very good overall.
• Excellent on tomato stains.
• Good on grass stains.
• 22 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Poor for total suspended solids - means it's more likely to leave detergent residue on clothes - particularly with high efficiency machines.
 

Trimat Powder Top loader

Scored 79/100 | $6.0079%

Good points:

• Good overall.
• Very good for general soil removal.
• Very good on tomato stains.
• Good for general soil removal at half dose (and better for the environment).
• 29 cents per wash (14 cents per wash at half dose).

Bad points:

• Only OK on grass stains.
• Not good for use on the garden or for waste water recycling - but OK for these at half dose.
 

Omo Ultimate Powder Top loader

Scored 72/100 | $16.3172%

Good points:

• Good overall.
• Very good for general soil removal.

Bad points:

• Expensive at 78 cents per wash.• Only OK on grass and tomato stains.
• Not good for waste water recycling.• Poor for total suspended solids - means it's more likely to leave detergent residue on clothes - particularly with high efficiency machines.
 

Dynamo Liquid Front Loader

Scored 68/100 | $7.0068%

Good points:

• Best performing liquid for front loaders.• Good on tomato stains.
• Maximum stars for total suspended solids - good for high efficiency machines.
• 35 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Only OK overall.
• Only OK for general soil removal and grass stains.
• Not good for greywater use on the garden.
 

Seventh Generation Liquid Front Loader

Scored 67/100 | $7.6067%

Good points:

• Second best performing liquid for front loaders.• Good for general soil removal.
• Maximum stars for total suspended solids - good for high efficiency machines.• Maximum stars for waste water recycling and greywater reuse.
• 22 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Only OK overall.
• Only OK on tomato and grass stains.
 

Biozet Attack Airburst Powder Top loader

Scored 65/100 | $14.9965%

Good points:

• Very good for general soil removal.
• 3 out of 5 stars for waste water recycling, and 2 out of 3 stars for use on the garden.
30 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Only OK overall.
• Only OK on tomato stains.
• Poor on grass stains.• Poor for total suspended solids - means it's more likely to leave detergent residue on clothes - particularly with high efficiency machines.
 

Dynamo Liquid Top loader

Scored 61/100 | $7.2961%

Good points:

• Best performing liquid for top loaders.• Very good on tomato stains.• 3 out of 5 stars for waste water recycling.
• Maximum stars for total suspended solids - good for high efficiency machines.
• 36 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Only OK overall and for general soil removal.
• Poor on grass stains.• Not good for greywater use on the garden - but good for this at half dose.
 

Cold Power Liquid Top loader

Scored 60/100 | $8.9960%

Good points:

• Equal second best performing liquid for top loaders.• Very good on tomato stains.• 3 out of 5 stars for waste water recycling.
• 2 out of 3 stars for total suspended solids - OK for high efficiency machines.
• 45 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Only OK overall and for general soil removal.
• Poor on grass stains.• Not good for greywater use on the garden.
 

Cold Power Sensitive Liquid Top loader

Scored 60/100 | $9.9960%

Good points:

• Equal second best performing liquid for top loaders.• Very good on tomato stains.• 3 out of 5 stars for waste water recycling.
• Maximum stars for total suspended solids - good for high efficiency machines.
• 48 cents per wash.

Bad points:

• Only OK overall and for general soil removal.
• Poor on grass stains.• Not good for greywater use on the garden.
 
 
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