Down shift and get suprising results (Sainsbury's Perform Colour Care Liquid Gel)

Member Name: abbadabbado

Product:	Sainsbury's Perform Colour Care Liquid Gel
Date:	27/04/09 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: works just as well as leading brands

Disadvantages: not a lot of smell after washing

A few years ago I would always be seen to be buying brand names when it came to washing powder / liquid. For some reason I thought the cheaper brands wouldn't do the job as well as the ones with names attached to them.
In recent years I have forced myself to try some of the cheaper brands, and have stuck somewhat on the Sainsbury's colour care gel. I buy liquid over powder as I feel it lasts longer, and my teenage daughter can judge how much is needed better than the powder. I also buy colour care over other types for no other reason than I like my black clothes to attempt to stay black. None of my family suffers from sensitivity when it comes to washing powder so I have no concerns there.

The washing liquid comes in a bottle containing enough for at least 20 washes. I live in a hard water area so use slightly more than maybe I need to, but I tend to use 3 capfuls straight into my drawer and this bottle will last me well over a week. When I compare this to buying powder or washing tablets, I seem to get better value for money from the liquid.
The liquid is packaged well in a recyclable plastic bottle with a handy side handle to make it easier to pour. The cap also combines to a measuring cap if you do what I do and pour directly into the drawer of the machine.
There is nothing special in the smell of the liquid. Whilst it smells pleasant and quite sweet, I find that after washing any smell is overtaken by the fabric softener I use at the same time. As it's not about what the product smells like for me then I'm not too worried.

How does it clean the clothes though? Over the years I have used many different brands, and still now if there is a named brand on offer, then I will buy that instead. I have found that the Sainsbury's washes just as well as any named brand.
Certain stains will stay stubborn and stay in the clothes no matter whether I use a cheap product or the most expensive.
Slight stains and general dirt always come out in the first wash using this liquid, so I'm generally happy with the performance it gives me.

The liquid comes in a standard size of 1.5 litres. This costs me £2.48, which compared to named brands that can come in at well over the £4 mark for nearly the same size bottle; this is great value for money so the results I get from it.

There are only a couple of disadvantages to this product that more expensive brands don't have, but if you can put up with these then this product is well worth buying.
The Sainsbury's colour care liquid appears quite a thin consistency compared to Fairy washing liquid for example. You have to watch when you are pouring, not to overdo it and end up with excess running over the lid.
I think you tend to need a bit more of this product that the named brands, probably due to the consistency. I can make the same size Fairy washing liquid last slightly longer, but still not long enough to make it more value for money.

Summary: a great cheaper alternative for washing