Who knows .... my return may well be imminent. Hope everyone is well. Christina ;-) x
Who knows .... my return may well be imminent. Hope everyone is well. Christina ;-) x
Member since:03.10.2003
Reviews:126
Members who trust:101
My brand of choice for washing up liquid is actually Persil Aloe Vera. However, for some strange reason my local Sainsbury seem to have stopped stocking it and as a result, choices are limited. It appears to be Fairy or a Sainsbury own brand version. I refuse to pay over £1 for a 500ml bottle of Persil from the nearest corner shop, so opted for Sainsbury’s Perform + Protect Rosemary & Basil Washing Up Liquid.
In Sainsbury, premium brands like Persil or Fairy washing up liquid, retail at 88p for 500ml. The Rosemary & Basil own brand version sells at 79p so there’s not a huge difference in price. Given that I was paying a near to premium price for this, I
did have high expectations.
The washing up liquid comes in a clear container, so you can see the liquid through the bottle. It’s an intense turquoise sea blue colour (quite attractive really), and looks relatively thick and soapy. The labelling is fairly plain and just contains the name of the product and it informs you that it has “grease cutting power” plus “antibacterial action”. The reverse of the pack contains instructions for use, information on ingredients and customer care information. You’re also informed that the bottle is recyclable. The company is against animal testing and the product is suitable for use by vegans and vegetarians.
The flip toplid is easy to undo. When first using this, I was tempted to use slightly more than I would of a premium brand. I guess I was making the assumption that because it was a supermarket own brand that it wouldn’t be as good as something like Persil or Fairy. As a result, I ended up sometimes wasting the washing up liquid and with a bowl of water that was way too soapy. I soon realised that you don’t actually need to use any more of this, and that it’s just as effective at creating a good lather as any of the premium brands.
On opening the bottle there is no obvious fragrance, but that is probably true for most washing up liquids, so I wasn’t expecting one and wasn’t disappointed. However, when you start adding hot water to this product, a gorgeous aroma is released. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint it as being either rosemary or basil, but I do know that I like it. It smells fresh and clean and doesn’t have a harsh chemical smell at all. Better still, the fragrance does seem to permeate the air and really does linger for a good while after use. I’ve known people to come into my kitchen quite a while after using this and ask what the smell is (in a good way). For want of a better description, it smells refreshing and light and reminds me of clean laundry and fabric softener.
Performance is excellent too and again is comparable to big brands. It lathers up nicely, especially considering this is hard water London. This washing up liquid also does well at cutting through the greasiest of plates, and the dirtiest of pots and pans. Of course, you need to ensure the water used is hot enough to start with, but this is true for any washing up liquid, not just this one.
The main negative for me of using this product is that my hands feel slightly “drier” after using this than they do when using Persil, but I think it’s a small price to pay and I probably really should wear rubber gloves, since I’m prone to dry skin anyway.
To obtain maximum benefit from the antibacterial action of the washing up liquid, you should use the product “neat” on your washing up cloth or sponge. I like this idea, as washing up sponges and cloths and skins generally are prime breeding grounds for bacteria.
The concept of the Sainsbury’s Perform + Protect range is to “combine high levels of performance with added protection for you, your family and your home”. I think they’ve succeeded.
CONCLUSION
Whilst my Sainsbury do not stock my preferred Persil, this is a good alternative. I’ve used other products in the Perform + Protect range including shampoo and hand washes and have never failed to be impressed. This is worth buying solely for the wonderful aroma alone, as it really does leave a great smell behind and the kitchen smells clean and fresh too.
It’s a great replacement for a premium brand and although I would still buy my Persil if I could, I think this performs just as well with the exception of drying my hands out slightly more. I also think that it’s a superior product to Fairy, which I’ve never really been that keen on anyway.
Ingredients
15-30 % Anionic Surfactant Less than 5% Non-ionic Surfactant, Antibacterial Agent and perfume Preservative
I would recommend this wholeheartedly to anyone and it gets 4 Ciao stars from me, losing only one due to the closeness in price to a premium brand, and the fact that I find it slightly drying.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers.
Christina ;-) x
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lol such a detailed review on washing up liquid! Em x
purplelynne 19.08.2004 21:29
I like the aloe vera one, so this sounds like a good alternative. Lynne x
Elffriend 08.08.2004 00:47
Ditto with couscous, a lovely smell. At the moment I'm using a cheapy version from the pound shop. 3 for £1. Just as effective as persil, in fact they even look the same. I have to be a penny pincher at the moment, but am constantly surprised at the effectiveness of these so called cheap brands. Lisax
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