On par with plain water: testing reveals Australia’s best and worst laundry detergents

Omo blew the competition out of the water in a test of 70 detergents by Choice, but to get value for money the watchdog says using less is best

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Dazzling whites, or about as effective as plain water? A consumer watchdog has put laundry detergents to the test, and what came out in the wash was not as bright as some major retailers might claim.

Research by consumer advocacy group Choice found that of 70 laundry detergents tested on dirt and stains including grass, makeup, chocolate ice-cream, blood and baby food, five performed on par with plain water.