Best washing powder for 2023 named – and it's not Ariel

Aldi’s budget-friendly Almat Bio Washing Powder has snagged the 2023 title of Which? top product of the year. 

The detergent, selected from a pool of 4,000 products, edged out competition including Apple Watches and Dyson Vacuum Cleaners. 

Securing the second spot is a Lenovo laptop, celebrated for its fast processor and battery life.  A Currys’ Essentials cooker, that costs only £229, claimed third place.

The list also revealed surprising victories for budget-friendly items over their branded counterparts.

Asda’s 50p tin of baked beans trumped Heinz, while Co-op’s £22.50 Les Pionniers Non-Vintage Champagne outshone the more expensive Veuve Cliquot, which retails at around £47.

Almat Bio stands out for achieving Best Buy, Great Value, and Eco Buy accolades from Which?, making it one of just two products to receive this triple recognition.

The award-winning washing powder costs just £3.95 for a 2kg pack, equating to less than 10p per wash—  57 percent cheaper per wash compared to the leading brand, Ariel.

In a previous assessment, Which? gave Aldi’s washing powder an impressive consumer rating of 79 percent, surpassing Ariel’s score of 78 percent.

Which? judges noted that the budget-friendly detergent is effective against tough stains while keeping clothes white, all while being eco-friendly.

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Corporate Buying at Aldi, said: “We are delighted to be awarded Which?’s Top Product of 2023 for our Almat Bio Washing Powder. 

“At Aldi, we’re committed to providing the highest quality at the lowest possible prices for our customers, and this win shows we can not only compete with leading brands but beat them on quality and price.”

With rising living costs, many of this year’s top products promise premium quality and performance at a value price.  Budget-friendly or lesser-known brands are increasingly popular best-buy choices.

Aldi’s discounted prices extends to its vegetables, which are being sold for as little as 15p for a 2kg bag of potatoes in the run-up to Christmas. 

This is 4p cheaper than its discount rival Lidl.  Which? named Lidl as the cheapest supermarket in November, where an average basket of Lidl shopping cost £10 less than both Tesco and Sainsbury’s. 

However, Aldi reclaimed the title as cheapest UK supermarket this month.

Cut-price supermarket veg is on sale until Christmas Eve, after which Aldi will close for Christmas Day.