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WASH OUT

From Fairy to Persil – how much your favourite laundry powders have gone up in price & how you can save on washing

Aldi's price difference is a real surprise

Lynsey Hope, Consumer reporter

Published: 8:40, 31 Mar 2024
Updated: 8:41, 31 Mar 2024

A POST about washing powder went viral this week after a university professor revealed a box of Fairy non-bio has shrunk in size but still costs the same amount.

Professor Catherine Noakes pointed out the XXL pack had shrunk from 4,225g to just 3,900g but still costs you around £13.50.

Lynsey Hope did an investigation into washing up powder — Lynsey Hope did an investigation into washing up powderCredit: Darren Fletcher

Professor Catherine Noakes pointed that Fairy Non-Bio has shrunk in size but still costs the same amount — Professor Catherine Noakes pointed that Fairy Non-Bio has shrunk in size but still costs the same amountCredit: Darren Fletcher

But Fairy is not the only brand shrinking boxes and putting prices up.

A Sun investigation has found the price of a wash has increased across the board.

Even supermarket own powders cost more now than they did nearly two years ago.

We found a single wash with Fairy non-bio will cost you 4p more now than it did in May 2022.

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But even if you use an Aldi powder, it's gone up by 2p per wash.

Consumer expert Martyn James said: “The price of washing powder is one of the best measures of inflation and price hikes - and I’ve been so shocked by the increases over the last year.

"At home, I’ve been rationing out powder until they go on sale.

“The danger for businesses is that there is no brand loyalty anymore. Shoppers will buy the cheapest potions and leave pricey powders on the shelf.”

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Here we reveal how much more you are paying per wash now than two years ago:

Asda Sensitive Non-bio Powder

May 2022: £4 for 45 washes, 9p per wash

March 2024: £4.70 for 45 washes, 10.4p per wash

PRICE UP: 1.4p per wash

Asda's Non-bio powder has come up by 1.4p per wash — Asda's Non-bio powder has come up by 1.4p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

Fairy Non Bio

May 2022: £7.40 for 40 washes, 18.5p per wash

March 2024: £9 for 40 washes, 2.25p per wash

PRICE UP: 4p per wash

Fairy Non-bio is up by 4p per wash — Fairy Non-bio is up by 4p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

Lid's Formil Colour

May 2022: £2.99 for 40 washes, 7.5p per wash

March 2024: £3.95 for 40 washes, 9.8p per wash

PRICE UP: 2.3p per wash

Lidl's Formil Colour is up by 2.3p per wash — Lidl's Formil Colour is up by 2.3p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

Aldi Almat Non-Bio

May 2022: £2.99 for 40 washes, 7.4p per wash

March 2024: £9 for 40 washes, 9p per wash

PRICE UP: 2p per wash

Aldi's Almat is up by 2p per wash — Aldi's Almat is up by 2p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

Non Bio Laundry Powder by Sainsbury's

May 2022: £2.75 for 25 washes, 11p per wash

March 2024: £3 for 25 washes, 12p per wash

PRICE UP: 1p per wash

Sainsbury's Non-Bio is up by 1p per wash — Sainsbury's Non-Bio is up by 1p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

Persil Non Bio

May 2022: £7 for 37 washes, 18.9p per wash

March 2024: £7.50 for 37 washes, 20.2p per wash

PRICE UP: 1.3p per wash

Persil's Non-Bio is up by 1.3p per wash — Persil's Non-Bio is up by 1.3p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

Tesco Colour Bio Detergent Powder

May 2022: £3.75 for 40 washes, 9.3p per wash

March 2024: £4.75 for 40 washes, 11.8p per wash

PRICE UP: 2.5p per wash

Tesco's detergent powder is up by 2.5p per wash — Tesco's detergent powder is up by 2.5p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

Morrisons Non-Bio Washing Powder

May 2022: £4 for 40 washes, 10p per wash

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March 2024: £4.75 for 40 washes, 11.8p per wash

PRICE UP: 1.8p per wash

Morrisons Non-Bio is up by 1.8p per wash — Morrisons Non-Bio is up by 1.8p per washCredit: Darren Fletcher

It turns out that most supermarket detergents have gone up in price — It turns out that most supermarket detergents have gone up in priceCredit: Darren Fletcher

Lynsey found that Fairy's Non-Bio has the biggest price hike — Lynsey found that Fairy's Non-Bio has the biggest price hikeCredit: Darren Fletcher

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