It's All In The Baking Soda! (Persil Washing Up Liquid)

Member Name: Brown_eyes1984

Product:	Persil Washing Up Liquid
Date:	14/03/05 (1669 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cleans exceptionally well, cheap, lasts long

Disadvantages: the smell

Lets face it, washing up isn't exactly the most exciting job in the world is it, yet it is an essential one that needs to be done at least twice daily. These days more and more people are turning to dishwashers to take away the hard scrubbing work required by washing by hand. But what about us poor souls who can't have one for one reason or another? How can we ensure our dishes, pots and pans are all gleaming and as clean as they can be? Well I've found a pretty great washing up liquid that promises to make your washing up shine. This is of course made by 'Persil'.

*** Persil Washing Up Liquid ***

Persil I think, are best known for their laundry powder. Maybe I've been burying my head in the sand, but I only recently discovered their washing up liquid and chose it mainly for it's price. It isn't presented in a particularly exciting bottle and it does look like an economy washing up liquid. However, what makes persil washing up liquid stand out, is that it contains baking soda. Now I don't know how many people actually know this, but baking powder is an extremely good cleaning product. Some toothpastes contain it to make teeth cleaner and it can be used to clean out your fridge too. It really is a great little product and by including it in this washing up liquid, it promises to make your dishes cleaner than any other brand. It also promises that you will finish your dishes quicker than you normally would. Sounds fantastic doesn't it? But does it really do all that or is it just plain marketing?

*** My Opinion On... ***

Here is my opinion on everything from how clean it makes the dishes to how it effects your hands. Hopefully this will give you the best possible chance of knowing whether this product is for you or not.

1) The Size And Cost

Usually I wouldn't start with this section but sometimes it's nice to know whether this would be in your budget or not before you get too excited and want to buy it!

Now I am impressed with the size of the bottle for the price. You get 750ml for just 0.88P. Now compared to other leading brands which are 500ml for just under that price, that is pretty good! But does the fact that it is so cheap reduce it's quality?

2) Smell and Soapsuds

The one thing that first struck me about this washing up liquid was how many soapsuds it actually makes. I always thought Fairy was the leading brand that created the most bubbles but after using both I now see that this is probably a little more bubbly! Now this is a good thing for me because I love all things bubbly including baths and washing up!

The second thing that wasn't so pleasant to me was the smell. Now to be honest it really reminds me of playdough. It's a really weird smell that I don't find appealing at all. My fiance on the other hand loves it. I'm more of a fruity kind of smell person myself so prefer the smell of other washing up liquids such as 'Fairy' over this one!

3) The Shine

We're promised shiny dishes with this and we really aren't let down. I am truly amazed by how clean this really does make my washing up. I've used a variety of different washing up liquids including the cheapest shop brands and the main known one 'Fairy' and none of them have measured up to the persil standard. This is no doubt down to the baking soda that persil has in it and to be completely honest I love it! I really find it has made me enjoy washing up more because I love seeing the shiny results afterwards. That may sound strange but the results really are that good! There aren't even any little mucky bits anywhere and you can actually see yourself in everything.

4) Is It Quicker?

Although it promises to be quicker than other leading brands I haven't really noticed any difference. I know it gets them cleaner but I still tend to spend the same amount of time on the washing up as I did with other brands. So there's no real change here and in my opinion they haven't lived up to that part of their promise.

5) Is It Kind To The Hands?

Another important factor is how kind is it to your hands? Now I'm probably not the best person to ask about this to be honest because I have lately become allergic to washing up liquid and I have to wear gloves all the time now. Now it wasn't Persil that caused this because it started when I was using another brand a while back and now it's just got so bad I can't use any brand without gloves on otherwise I end up with extremely itchy, dry hands. So in my experience it hasn't been very kind to my hands and it makes them itch but whether it does this to anybody else is beyond me.

6) Texture and How Long It Lasts

Cheap washing up liquid is often quite thin in texture which means you have to use quite a bit in order to ensure your washing up is cleaned thoroughly. I have found with this though it's not that bad. I've tried shops own brands and it is definitely thicker than them but a little less thicker than 'Fairy'. I do find that I don't use that much though so it does last around a month. Really good for the price!

7) How Long The Results Last

I've found I don't need to clean things again until at least the next wash. It all depends on whether I've used the washing up or not. If I've washed something and I haven't used it, obviously the results last for a lot longer than when i do use something. I don't know anybody who doesn't wash what they use in a morning at night and that's exactly what I do. The results last for exactly the same amount of time as other leading brands only it is much cleaner.

8) Does It Disinfect The Washing Up?

I really don't think it does and that to me is a good thing because although the washing up would probably be even cleaner and not just shiny, I really wouldn't like to have a disinfectant on thing that I will be eating and drinking from.

9) Availability

I got my bottle from Tesco but you can also buy it from places such as Wilkinsons. Prices may vary depending on where you buy.

*** My Overall Opinion ***

I really like this washing up liquid and although I'm not particularly keen on the smell, I am going to continue buying it because the results far outweigh the smell. Also it isn't too bad of a smell, it's just not a nice perfumed one!

I have also just realised Persil do smaller tubs of different variety of washing up liquid but they don't contain baking powder so this review was on the baking powder variety.

*** Final Words ***

It does advise you wash your hands immediately after use and dry them thoroughly. This is to protect your hands from damage. If the product gets into your eyes rinse thoroughly with cold water and always keep away from childrens reach.

*** A Final Tip ***

When washing up even if you aren't allergic to any liquids, I'd always advise that you wear gloves. Not only does it protect your hands, but it also helps clean the dishes better. This is because you can have the water hotter than you could without gloves on as you don't feel the heat as much, and also the water lasts longer without going cold meaning you can wash more!

Aimee xxx

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