In a comprehensive product test conducted by the consumer advocacy group Choice, the budget-friendly stain removal sprays from major Australian supermarkets have emerged as top performers, outshining some well-known brand names.
The test involved evaluating 23 stain remover powders and 20 pre-treater sprays on common stains caused by sweat, grass, mud, cooking oil, as well as stubborn stains from chocolate ice-cream, tomato, baby food, blood, and makeup. The results were clear – the Aldi Di-San Pro Ultra Degreaser With Enzyme spray scored an impressive 78% overall, tying for first place with the Sard Super Power Stain Remover Toughest Stains product.
“If you’re on a budget, it’s hard to justify why you’ll spend so much on a Sard spray when you could get an Aldi one which is just as good,” said Choice senior product officer Chris Barnes.
The Aldi product, priced at just 28 cents per 100ml or $2.09 per bottle, is significantly cheaper than the Sard spray, which costs $1.90 per 100ml or $8 per bottle. Other budget-friendly supermarket sprays also performed well, with Aldi Di-San Pro Oxy With Enzymes coming in third with a score of 75% and a $2.09 price tag, followed by Coles Ultra Pre-wash Stain Remover ($2.10, 73%) and Woolworths Clean Ultimate Oil & Grime With Enzymes Pre-wash Stain Remover ($2.10, 72%).
When it comes to stain remover powders, the top-performing products were dominated by Sard and Vanish. Sard Super Power Stain Remover Toughest Stains Antibacterial Soaker took the top spot with a score of 76% and a unit price of $1.22 per 100g, followed by Sard Whiter & Brighter Stain Remover Major Stain Types Antibacterial Soaker (75%, $1.10 per 100g) and Vanish NapiSan Oxi Action Gold Advanced Crystal White Stain Remover (73%, $1.70 per 100g).
The testing process involved spraying and soaking pre-stained fabric swatches, and then measuring the whiteness of the fabric using a spectrometer to objectively assess the stain removal performance.
“It’s not just an eyeball [test]. You actually do measure the reflectance of light off it… and therefore how much of the stain has been removed,” explained Barnes.
The findings suggest that consumers on a budget can achieve excellent stain removal results without breaking the bank, thanks to the impressive performance of the supermarket’s own-brand offerings.
