Omo and Aldi have emerged as the standout performers in the latest round of independent consumer testing of laundry detergents, with powder detergents consistently outperforming liquids and capsules across multiple machine types in assessments of 40 products.
Front loaders and top loaders: powder takes the top spots
In tests conducted on front loader washing machines, powders from Omo and Aldi's Trimat brand tied for first place with an identical performance score of 82 per cent. The key distinction between the two came down to cost: Omo Ultimate costs $1.16 per wash and Omo Active Clean 71 cents per wash, while Aldi Trimat delivered the same cleaning performance for just 44 cents per load — a significant saving for budget-conscious households.
For top loader machines, powder again proved dominant. Aldi Trimat led the field with a score of 66 per cent, followed by Omo Ultimate at 62 per cent. Consumer testing experts noted the lower overall scores for top loaders reflect a mechanical reality: these machines use more water, which dilutes the detergent and reduces its cleaning power.
At the other end of the scale, a liquid detergent from Earthwise scored just 47 per cent in top loader testing — only marginally better than washing clothes in plain water, which recorded a score of 43 per cent.
Capsules, liquids and what the best laundry detergent results mean for shoppers
Among the increasingly popular capsule format, Omo claimed the top ranking with a score of 76 per cent, with Dynamo close behind on 74 per cent and Cold Power rounding out the top three at 71 per cent.
The testing covered a broad range of stain types to assess real-world cleaning performance across all 40 products evaluated.
The results carry a practical message for Australian shoppers: choosing powder over liquid or capsule formats, and opting for a store-brand product, can deliver equivalent cleaning results at a fraction of the cost. Aldi Trimat in particular stands out as an exceptional value option, matching premium-priced competitors despite costing considerably less per wash.
Full rankings and detailed scores for all tested products are available on the Choice website.
