Persil Bio (Unilever/UK): Why Can't P&G Do This?!

[MrX]

The Persil Non-bio formula is quite substantially different to their normal bio products. It relies on surfactants and bleach to clean the clothes rather than enzymes.

I never use it, so I don't really have any experience of its foam level.

However, the Persil Bio DEFINITELY still foams less than Ariel.

I know Ariel have toned down their fragrance from its peak a couple of years ago, but it's still an EXTREMELY strong scent.

Persil's changed its formula quite a bit recently too. They've changed the enzymes. It now contains : Lipase, Protese, Amylase and Mannanase. The addition of Mannanase should make it much better at digesting guar gums in particular and other gunk.

 

[nickuk]

UK Powders

What an interesting thread!

I am delighted that the OP is impressed with UK Persil Bio powder. This thread inspired me to do some testing of UK powders - performance and rinsing.

I have just returned from holiday with 9 loads of laundry to do. I have been working my way through these loads today with Ariel Bio, Persil Bio, Persil Non Bio and Daz Bio. Not a drop of fabric conditioner has been used, so that I can just focus on comparing the powders. All washes were done on `Easy Care 40' in the Bosch front loader and for each wash I used 120ml. We have hard water.

Performance wise, I noticed no difference between any of the products and many of the loads were quite soiled. I have three young sons. Even Persil non bio dealt with dried in vomit, urine, chocolate ice cream and sweaty shin pads no problem.

Rinsing wise, Ariel has indeed been reformulated and rinsed clear by the second rinse. I hadn't noticed this and could barely believe my eyes. Daz says `new formula' on the box and the product appears the exact same as Ariel with the blue streaks in it. However, the rinsing was a very different performance to Ariel - the Daz whipped up suds on every rinse so clearly there is some old technology going on despite the revised formula. Persil Bio rinsed really well, and non bio slightly less well, though still acceptably.

All loads were tumble dried without fabric softener.

Scent wise, on dried laundry, I preferred both Persils over Daz and Ariel. This surprised me a little as I actually thought I would slightly prefer the Ariel! I do in the box, and as it wafts from the washer.

To my nose there is now very little difference between Persil bio and non bio, the bio is simply a very little more zesty and hard core. Both left a really fresh scent on the laundry, whereas there was something peculiar, clashing and cloying about the Ariel. Daz left an OK scent which in some ways was very pleasant, but in other ways smelled a little cheap and reminded me of insect repellant spray. Because it was the only one which rinsed poorly, I would discount this product anyway.

Today kind of settled it for me that with current formulations I slightly prefer Persil Powder over Ariel though they are both great performers and it's down to personal preference.

With regards LIDL Formil - I also have a lot of time for this detergent. Unfortunately I have found that it does not clean as well when pitted against the likes of the above brands, contains more fillers and doesn't start working so well from cold. (I tested about a year ago and the results were fairly conclusive)

Just for info - as an aside - a couple of weeks ago I tried Surf (Tropical and Lavendar variants) and was very disappointed with it, finding it to perform worse on a range of stains than Persil Non Bio and for it not to deoderise properly despite containing oxygen bleach. It did have great rinsing and barely sudsed - which was great, but the disadvantages were too significant to consider it.

Thanks to everyone for contributing to a very interesting thread, and for inspiring me to have an interesting (if geeky) day!

Nick

 

[frigilux]

I love it when people do detergent tests! Thanks for your input, Nick. I'm finding UK Persil Bio powder combined with Tri-Zyme stain remover (available from Amway) zaps stains in my loads of kitchen whites even better than US Tide HE/Tri-Zyme. And it rinses so cleanly in my uber-soft water.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Persil

Hi all,

I've found Persil has improved again recently... I'm not sure whether it's my imagination or if it keeps changing every few months! I'm currently using the new Persil tablets (with the Colour written in a rainbow effect much like old Ariel Color) as my colour detergent, and it doesn't leave a musty smell like it used to when I used it for a while last winter. Bought a box of the powder to try next - again has the new packaging and has shrunk like the Ariel boxes did a few months ago so will see if they are as good as the tablets. It has definitely lost that musty property to it's smell anyway.

Currently using Ariel Actilift powder on whites - but will happily try a small box of the new Persil bio after that has gone. Still have to use the Ariel Stain Remover, not had a chance to yet.

Softener wise I'm using the new Orange Blossom Lenor, and I think it's one of the best softeners I have ever used, it smells lush but not overpowering. Smells nothing like oranges, just that fresh washing smell! Got the dryer on at the moment and can smell it wafting through the kitchen everytime I check dinner. A definite recommendation from me, and in combination with Persil Colour tablets it's really nice.

Back to the original question though - the rinsability of both Persil and Ariel seems to be at the best they have both been for a long long while - even if I wash towels on Quick Wash on the Beko which only does 2 rinses, the last rinse (without softener) is always crystal clear. Asda Colour tablets were a different story though - had no end of trouble with frothing when it came to them so ended up just pushing the box to the back of the sink cupboard!

Nick - nice to see you around again, will send you a long overdue email soon!

Jon

 

[MrX]

@lavamat_jon

I've compared the ingredient lists and Persil has indeed been very substantially reformulated.

The major addition is the enzyme, mannanase. It still contains protese, lipase and amylase and the colour version contains cellulase.

Mannase - tackles a lot food stains very well, particularly anything connected with guar gum or other modern natural thickeners and emulsifiers. (This is not in Ariel!)

Overall, Persil would seem to be a far more sophisticated bio than Ariel.

Protese - tackles protein stains.

Amylase - tackles starches and sugars.

Lipase - tackles fats (This isn't in Ariel)

Cellulase - reduces bobbling by digesting loose cotton fibres.

The scent has also been completely changed and it's now identical to Skip in France. It's a much nicer fragrance that isn't at all overpowering and it leaves a nice fresh scent on clothes that lasts after drying.