Consumer advocacy group Choice conducted a product test on laundry stain removal products, identifying the cheapest option from a major Australian supermarket as one of the best performers.
The test involved 23 stain remover powders and 20 pre-treater sprays. Stains included sweat, grass, mud, cooking oil, chocolate ice-cream, tomato, baby food, blood, and makeup.
Pre-Treater Sprays Performance
Aldi Di-San Pro Ultra Degreaser With Enzymes scored 78% overall, tying for first place with Sard Super Power Stain Remover Toughest Stains. Both products performed similarly on stains such as sweat, olive oil, baby food, and collar grime, though the Sard spray showed better results on blood stains.
The Aldi product is significantly more affordable, costing 28¢ per 100ml ($2.09 per bottle), compared to the Sard spray at $1.90 per 100ml ($8 per bottle). Choice senior product officer Chris Barnes noted the difficulty in justifying the higher cost of Sard given Aldi's comparable performance.
Other budget-friendly supermarket sprays also performed well:
- Aldi Di-San Pro Oxy With Enzymes scored 75% ($2.09 per bottle).
- Coles Ultra Pre-wash Stain Remover scored 73% ($2.10 per bottle).
- Woolworths Clean Ultimate Oil & Grime With Enzymes Pre-wash Stain Remover scored 72% ($2.10 per bottle).
Only one other brand-name spray, White King Fabric Stain Lift Colour Safe Pre-Treatment, exceeded 70% with a score of 73% ($5 per bottle, or $1 per 100ml).
Stain Remover Powders Performance
In the stain remover powder category, brand-name products generally outperformed cheaper supermarket brands, a deviation from previous findings. The top-performing pre-soak powders were dominated by Sard and Vanish:
- Sard Super Power Stain Remover Toughest Stains Antibacterial Soaker ranked first with 76% ($1.22 per 100g).
- Sard Whiter & Brighter Stain Remover Major Stain Types Antibacterial Soaker followed with 75% ($1.10 per 100g).
- Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action Gold Advanced Crystal White Stain Remover scored 73% ($1.70 per 100g).
Testing Methodology
Choice's testing involved spraying and soaking pre-stained fabric swatches. These swatches are manufactured to ensure consistent stain color and darkness. After treatment according to product directions, a spectrometer measured the whiteness of the swatches to quantify stain removal.
Usage Recommendations
Chris Barnes advised that pre-soaker powders are suitable for treating heavily soiled garments, such as sports jerseys. Sprays are recommended for spot cleaning smaller, localized stains like grimy collars or accidental spills.