Product review

Updated July 2025

Laundry detergents

Find the best laundry detergent for your needs with our buying guide and test results. 

July 2025

Persil

Ultimate - Powder

Price

$8.69

Score

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Stain removal performance

GOOD
Everyday grime
GOOD
Perspiration
GOOD
Grass/mud
GOOD
Olive oil
AVERAGE
Blood
GOOD
Baby food
GOOD
Tomato
AVERAGE
Makeup
GOOD
Mineral oil
AVERAGE
Chocolate

Product details

Type

Powder
Pack size

1kg
Cost per wash ($)

$0.66
Packaging type

Cardboard box
Country of manufacture

Vietnam
Fragrance
Eco?

Packaging claims

Contains enzymes

Yes
Contains optical brighteners

Yes
Low or no phosphates

Yes - phosphate free
Safe for septic tanks

Yes
Grey water safe

Not stated
Accreditations
High efficiency label

Member reviews

11 Member reviews

An unexplained sticky residue means we’ve stopped using this powder

Pros

It does get our clothes clean but…

Cons

In April 2024 we bought a new top loader washing machine which included a feature new to us - lint filters. From the very first wash in that machine, the filters contained a noticeably sticky white residue that was very hard to completely remove.
We tried changing how we put the powder in the machine and varied the washing temperatures. The residue continued to be left by each wash.
Finally, with concerns about what else in the machine was also being gunked, we cleaned the filters yet again and changed to Persil Liquid and have had no problems since.

Recommend it?

No, this product has too many drawbacks.

Diana W.

22 Jul 2025

Used 6 months or more

Washes well BUT clumping and solubility problems

Pros

washes well, only use 2 Tbsp per wash as recommended amount foams too much for a front loader.

Cons

need to store it in tightly sealed container so it doesn't clump. Leaving in the paper box means breaking up clumps soon. Leaves fine insoluble powder in dryer filter over time (sodium percarbonate ?), so that would also have been left on the clothes?.

Consumer testers: you need to add a clumping test and a solubility test to your testing protocol, see https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-laundry-detergent/

Recommend it?

Maybe, it depends on what you're after.

Anny D.

14 Jul 2025

Used 6 months or more

Sensitive version would be great

Pros

Does the job well;
Recommended dosage way to high.

Cons

Fragrance to strong.

Recommend it?

Maybe, it depends on what you're after.

Ewa D.

13 Jul 2025

Used 6 months or more

Perfume is tooooooo Strong

Pros

Works efficiently enough but..⬆⬆⬆.

Cons

The intense perfume smell is overpowering.
I can smell it in the drawers without them even being open, it makes me literally feel sick. I use Personal Sensitive liquid as my preference now. Maybe Persil could make this powder with no perfume added??? A win for me..

Recommend it?

No, this product has too many drawbacks.

Faye S.

13 Jul 2025

Used 1 month or less

It's changed

Pros

What can I say? It cleans clothes well enough. Seems to shift most stains. Tomato stains are photosensitive and direct sunlight is the best thing for that, straight after washing.

Cons

The recommended amount is ridiculously high. I use about a teaspoon in my front loader which is fine. Too much and my dryer filter system gets clogged with white powder.
Also, it no longer smells the way it used to.

Recommend it?

Maybe, it depends on what you're after.

Liz C.

12 Jul 2025

Used 6 months or more

Used for years

Pros

It does a good job

Cons

Only gripe is the recommended dose on the box of 1.5 scoops for ALL machines is way too much for a front loader. I assume they do this to get us to buy more but in those quantities the detergent doesn't rinse out properly in my front loader. I use half a scoop max.

Recommend it?

Maybe, it depends on what you're after.

Catherine

12 Jul 2025

Used 6 months or more

The best I’ve used

Pros

Excellent performance for my needs. I don’t have to deal with muddy or bloody clothes so others experience may be different. It’s loads better than the Surf that I used for ages. I don’t even use the recommended amount.