Discover which dishwashing liquid cleaned up the competition in CHOICE’s 2024 review!
- Replies 4
In the quest for sparkling clean dishes, it's easy to be swayed by the promise of high-end dishwashing liquids.
However, according to the latest findings from consumer advocacy group CHOICE, you might be pouring money down the drain.
Their 2024 test results have revealed that some of Australia's most budget-friendly dishwashing liquids are also the best performers, proving that you don't need to spend big to get your dishes spotless.
CHOICE's rigorous testing process put 50 different dishwashing liquids through their paces over a three-week period.
Remarkably, the top three spots were all claimed by products from the same brand: ALDI's Tandil range.
The Tandil Ultra Power Soak, Ultra Quick Dry, and Ultra Odour Neutralising variants not only outperformed their competitors, but did so at a fraction of the cost, coming in at just 40 cents per 100mL.
This price point is particularly striking when compared to other high-scoring products from well-known brands like Palmolive and Morning Fresh, which can cost up to four times as much.
Matthew Steen, CHOICE’s Director of Reviews and Testing, expressed his surprise at the dominance of a single brand in the top spots, noting that finding the perfect dishwashing liquid is ‘almost unobtainable… because you’re looking for something that is just going to touch the plate and dissolve everything’.
‘I feel like you need an acid for that,’ he said.
Steen mentioned that dishwashing liquids were evaluated based on their capacity to ‘remove stains with the least amount of effort’.
The ALDI detergents impressed by removing an impressive 85-90 per cent of soils during testing.
Steen explained that the liquids were judged based on their stain removal efficiency, with the goal of minimising the time consumers spend at the kitchen sink.
And while no 'magic bullet' of dishwashing liquids exists, those that score highly are the ones that will make your dishwashing experience quicker and less laborious.
It's worth noting that the dishwashing liquid market is subject to frequent changes, with brands often reformulating their products.
‘I can guarantee every year you’re going to get ALDI, Palmolive, Morning Fresh… somewhere near the top, but you can’t rely on [a particular product] being the best every year,’ Steen said.
Interestingly, not all products in the ALDI Tandil line performed well.
The Tandil Ultra Antibacterial variant found itself at the bottom of the rankings, tied with several other underperforming detergents from Coles, Fairy, and Earth Choice.
The Fairy Ultra Concentrate Antibacterial Dishwashing liquid was also among the most expensive tested at $1.58 per 100mL—second only to Koala Eco Natural Dish Soap, which cost a hefty $2.60 per 100mL.
Despite the mixed results within the ALDI range, this year's lowest-scoring dishwashing liquids still managed to remove 60 per cent of stains, showing an improvement from the previous year's worst performer—Morning Fresh Ultimate Power Clean Spray Citrus Fresh—scoring only 45 per cent.
Steen also pointed out the curious trend of dishwashing liquids being marketed as antibacterial despite the fact that surfactants, the primary cleaning agents in these products, are already effective at removing bacteria.
CHOICE's meticulous testing involved soaking 15cm square tiles soiled with common kitchen stains such as egg yolk, bolognese sauce, and rice starch—in diluted detergent solutions—and then scrubbing them with a mechanical apparatus.
The degree of stain removal was measured using a spectrophotometer, providing a quantitative assessment of each product's cleaning power.
You can find CHOICE’s full list of dishwashing liquid reviews here.
CHOICE also did a similar product test on another cleaning product last year to determine the best and the worst among them.
Is your dishwashing liquid among the best or the worst on the list? Which products would you like to see CHOICE review and rank next? Let us know in the comments below!
However, according to the latest findings from consumer advocacy group CHOICE, you might be pouring money down the drain.
Their 2024 test results have revealed that some of Australia's most budget-friendly dishwashing liquids are also the best performers, proving that you don't need to spend big to get your dishes spotless.
CHOICE's rigorous testing process put 50 different dishwashing liquids through their paces over a three-week period.
Remarkably, the top three spots were all claimed by products from the same brand: ALDI's Tandil range.
The Tandil Ultra Power Soak, Ultra Quick Dry, and Ultra Odour Neutralising variants not only outperformed their competitors, but did so at a fraction of the cost, coming in at just 40 cents per 100mL.
This price point is particularly striking when compared to other high-scoring products from well-known brands like Palmolive and Morning Fresh, which can cost up to four times as much.
CHOICE tested 50 different dishwashing liquids to determine which are the best and the worst among them. Credits: Shutterstock
Matthew Steen, CHOICE’s Director of Reviews and Testing, expressed his surprise at the dominance of a single brand in the top spots, noting that finding the perfect dishwashing liquid is ‘almost unobtainable… because you’re looking for something that is just going to touch the plate and dissolve everything’.
‘I feel like you need an acid for that,’ he said.
Steen mentioned that dishwashing liquids were evaluated based on their capacity to ‘remove stains with the least amount of effort’.
The ALDI detergents impressed by removing an impressive 85-90 per cent of soils during testing.
Steen explained that the liquids were judged based on their stain removal efficiency, with the goal of minimising the time consumers spend at the kitchen sink.
And while no 'magic bullet' of dishwashing liquids exists, those that score highly are the ones that will make your dishwashing experience quicker and less laborious.
It's worth noting that the dishwashing liquid market is subject to frequent changes, with brands often reformulating their products.
‘I can guarantee every year you’re going to get ALDI, Palmolive, Morning Fresh… somewhere near the top, but you can’t rely on [a particular product] being the best every year,’ Steen said.
Interestingly, not all products in the ALDI Tandil line performed well.
The Tandil Ultra Antibacterial variant found itself at the bottom of the rankings, tied with several other underperforming detergents from Coles, Fairy, and Earth Choice.
The Fairy Ultra Concentrate Antibacterial Dishwashing liquid was also among the most expensive tested at $1.58 per 100mL—second only to Koala Eco Natural Dish Soap, which cost a hefty $2.60 per 100mL.
Despite the mixed results within the ALDI range, this year's lowest-scoring dishwashing liquids still managed to remove 60 per cent of stains, showing an improvement from the previous year's worst performer—Morning Fresh Ultimate Power Clean Spray Citrus Fresh—scoring only 45 per cent.
Steen also pointed out the curious trend of dishwashing liquids being marketed as antibacterial despite the fact that surfactants, the primary cleaning agents in these products, are already effective at removing bacteria.
CHOICE's meticulous testing involved soaking 15cm square tiles soiled with common kitchen stains such as egg yolk, bolognese sauce, and rice starch—in diluted detergent solutions—and then scrubbing them with a mechanical apparatus.
The degree of stain removal was measured using a spectrophotometer, providing a quantitative assessment of each product's cleaning power.
You can find CHOICE’s full list of dishwashing liquid reviews here.
CHOICE also did a similar product test on another cleaning product last year to determine the best and the worst among them.
Is your dishwashing liquid among the best or the worst on the list? Which products would you like to see CHOICE review and rank next? Let us know in the comments below!
.png){kind=icon}
