WORST performing household cleaning products revealed – including those that are ‘no better than water’
- CHOICE has revealed which household cleaning products are the least effective
- The consumer watchdog’s list includes bathroom, toilet and window cleaners
- The report also takes a look at carpet stain removers and laundry products
Australian consumer watchdog CHOICE has released a list of the ‘least effective’ household cleaning products – with some performing no better than water.
Its latest survey examined all manner of cleaning agents used for the bathroom, the toilet, windows, carpets and laundry.
A number of leading brands were put to the test, which included how they performed against homemade alternatives, and were ranked out of 100.
A report from CHOICE found Harpic Fresh Power (pictured) rated just 40 per cent
Toilet cleaners
In this category, low performing products included Coles Toilet Cleaner, Coles Ultra Toilet Gel, Harpic Fresh Power and Woolworths Essentials Toilet Cleaner, all with a 40 per cent score.
CHOICE also gave Duck Deep Action Gel, Harpic White & Shine Thick Bleach Gel and Oomph Toilet Gel a score of just 45 per cent.
According to the company all of these products ‘failed to outperform water’ which scored 45 per cent in the test.
The report also issued a ‘dishonourable mention’ to Harpic Fresh Power for costing more per 100mL than a range of other CHOICE recommended products.
Bathroom cleaners
When it came to bathroom cleaners, CHOICE gave a white vinegar and bi-carb soda mix a ranking of 48 per cent and said this mixture outperformed a number of leading name products.
CLR Bathroom & Kitchen Cleaner Deodoriser and Easy-Off Bam Active Foam Soapscum & Shine Lemon Zing were given ratings of 47 per cent.
The report singled out CLR Bathroom & Kitchen Cleaner Deodoriser as not only did it score a low 47 per cent, it is also priced at $13.20 – that’s $1.76 per 100mL.
CLR Bathroom & Kitchen Cleaner Deodoriser (pictured left) was awarded a rating of 47 per cent by the consumer watchdog as was Easy-Off Bam Active Foam Soapscum & Shine Lemon Zing (pictured right)
Carpet stain removers
The investigative team at CHOICE revealed that of all the products they sampled to remove stains from carpets hardly more effective than a homemade solution.
This alternative is made from a mixture of dishwashing liquid, white vinegar and water.
The report highlighted one product, Vanish Preen Powerpowder carpet cleaner (25 per cent), as being less effective than using just water, which was rated 26 per cent effective.
Vanish Preen Powerpowder carpet cleaner was given just 25 per cent for its efficacy in cleaning carpet when compared to water and dishwashing liquid was found to be an effective carpet cleaner when combined with white vinegar and water
Status Glass cleaner was awarded a rating of 60 per cent
Window cleaners
Here, the consumer watchdog awarded 64 per cent to an alternative remedy; one equal part water and white vinegar.
Ranked below this was Status Glass cleaner at 60 per cent, Jif Easy Lift glass at 55 per cent and Aldi Power Force Glass Cleaner at 54 per cent.
The report singled out Status Glass cleaner, noting its cost $1.40 for 100mL, made it one of the more expensive products the team trialled.
Laundry balls
A laundry ball or washing ball is a product which has been marketed as a substitute for laundry detergent.
‘When we tested and reviewed laundry balls in 2016, we found that not one single product performed better than plain water,’ the CHOICE report states.
The Miracle II laundry ball was highlighted in the survey for performing worse than plain water in a front loader and Miracle Wash laundry ball kit for performing worse than water in a top loader.
The Miracle II laundry ball, priced $89, (pictured) was highlighted in the survey for performing worse than plain water in a front loader