• Almost 200 tests, over 5 thousand results – UOKiK has checked the quality of washing powders for white clothes.
• How did 10 popular brands fare in stain removal? Find out at uokik.gov.pl. Download the report (in Polish), and learn about the detailed testing methodology from the test information.

Washing powders are the most commonly purchased type of laundry detergents in Poland. There is a huge selection, but the hardest part is finding one that will keep our clothes snow-white. After testing washing powders for "coloured clothes", the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection conducted yet another series of tests, this time taking a look at 10 washing powders for white clothes. The experts from UOKiK Laboratory examined the effectiveness of stain removal and the effect of the washing powder on fabric strength and shrinkage after washing. They also verified whether the weight of the washing powder matched the declared weight on the package. They calculated the cost of the washing powder per wash and assessed the quality-to-price ratio of the products.

"The right to accurate information is one of the basic consumer rights. We want to make the choice easier for the consumer, provide information about product quality and support informed purchasing decisions. We continue our tests of various everyday products, this time presenting the results of quality tests of 10 washing powders for white clothes," says Tomasz Chróstny, President of the UOKiK.

How did we choose the washing powders?

We selected 10 washing powders for white clothes for testing on the basis of a market survey conducted by the Trading Standards Inspection. We bought the washing powders at chain stores, local stores and discount stores. Testing was conducted by staff of the accredited OCCP Laboratory in Łódź between December 2020 and February 2021. The washing powders underwent a total of 197 tests, which generated 5,392 partial results.

How did we test the washing powders?

To check how the washing powders dealt with stains, the OCCP Laboratory staff used a ready-made cotton knit fabric with a set of 15 types of standardised stains, such as tea, liquid foundation (make-up), chocolate ice cream and spaghetti sauce.

All tests of the stain removal capacity, fabric strength and possible change in its size (shrinkage) after washing were conducted under identical, monitored conditions. The washing powders were dosed in accordance with instructions on their labels. The process was conducted in the same way for each wash cycle.

What did we find out? Download the report.

The Ultra washing powder offers the lowest washing costs, at PLN 0.36 per wash.

Stain removal

The Domol Vollwaschmittel washing powder proved the most effective in stain removal (having obtained top marks for 5 stain types). The biggest differences between individual detergents were seen for stains from chocolate ice cream, fruit dessert for babies, clay and lard. The smallest differences were found for stains from used mineral oil, make-up, curry, red wine and carrot juice.

Fabric strength

The tested washing powders had no effect on the change in fabric strength after washing. The strength of fabrics after washing was comparable. This means that the use of detergents did not lower the tear resistance of garments.

Net weight

The actual net weight was consistent with the weight declared by the manufacturer on the package for all tested washing powders.

Fabric shrinkage

Tests showed that the tested washing powders had no effect on fabric shrinkage after washing. Fabrics were characterised by similar shrinkage regardless of which washing powder was used, meaning that the detergents had no effect on the change in garment dimensions after washing and drying.

Tips for consumers

"When choosing a washing powder, take a look at information on the packaging, and when washing, follow certain rules to keep the strength and attractive appearance of your clothes and other fabrics, but also to protect the environment. Our experts have prepared a handful of tips that will help consumers to not only choose the right washing powder for white clothes, but also to prolong the use of their wardrobe and reduce laundry costs. These are important aspects for both the household budget and the environment," says Tomasz Chróstny, President of the UOKiK.

Pay attention to the colour of washed garments

Do not use a washing powder for white clothes when washing coloured fabrics. Even though the ingredients may seem similar, there are differences. Washing powders for white clothes contain oxygen-based bleaching agents, which help keep your clothes white, but can negatively affect colour intensity of washed garments.

Do not just sort your clothes into dark and light

White clothes should be always washed separately and only with other white clothes, with no addition of cream or pastel garments. This is very important for keeping the washed clothes white.

Even a very effective washing powder may be unable to remove stubborn or old stains

For hard-to-remove stains it might be a good idea to hand-wash the garment before tossing it into the washing machine. Stain removers, either universal or acting on specific stain types, will help in this. Time is also a factor – do not wait too long before washing stained clothes. The sooner you begin removing the stain, the higher the chance that you will be able to actually get rid of it.

Fabric shrinkage

The tested washing powders do not affect shrinkage of washed clothes. However, the process of washing clothes in water can by itself cause their dimensions to shrink. Garments made of natural fibres, such as cotton or linen, are more prone to shrinking due to water and high temperatures used in the washing process than garments made of synthetic fibres.

You can count on the help of the Trading Standards Inspection

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection would like to remind you that all objections related to product labelling, quality and safety can be reported to Provincial Inspectorates of the Trading Standards Inspection.

Download the results of tests of washing powders for white clothes from uokik.gov.pl.

Consumer assistance:

Tel 801 440 220 or 22 290 89 16 – consumer hotline
E-mail: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumer Ombudsmen – in your town or county
Trading Standards Inspection – in your province

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL