Stiftung Warentest: Discount brands outperform major detergent labels

Recent testing by Stiftung Warentest reveals that discount retailer private labels are frequently outperforming major established brands in quality and value. In laundry detergent evaluations, Aldi’s Tandil brand and Lidl’s Formil achieved top ratings, often costing significantly less per wash than premium brands like Persil.

Specifically, Tandil Ultra Plus received a ‘good’ rating, while dm’s Denkmit and Lidl’s Formil shared top marks for powder detergents. In contrast, some premium liquid detergents, such as Lenor Aprilfrisch, received poor ratings for cleaning performance. The cost difference is substantial; for a typical family performing 250 washes per year, using a discount brand like Tandil can cost approximately 40 euros annually, whereas premium brands can cost more than double that amount.