A $2.60 pantry staple, a toilet paper with a “royal flush” rating and a purse-friendly tub of ice cream that beat Messina are among the best supermarket buys in Australia of 2023.
Consumer experts from CHOICE have rounded up the top 10 household items that shone above the rest after putting a slew of products to the test to find the best bang for your buck.
From taste-testing dozens of food in the kitchen lab to washing laundry hundreds of times to remove stubborn stains, the judges have narrowed down the top picks worth every cent.
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Cleaning
Logix 18 in 1 dishwashing tablets: $7.49
For sparkling clean dishes without breaking the bank, Aldi Logix Platinum 18 in 1 dishwasher tablet came out on top after beating big-name products costing almost 10 times the price.
The tablet works out to be just 19 cents per wash.
“I have been using this product for about six years, it has always been better than the competition, even works well for cleaning the toilet. Leave the tablet soak overnight and clean up in the morning,” one shopper raved.
Fairy Kitchen Antibacterial spray: $6
For handwashing, Fairy Kitchen Antibacterial spray was crowned the best for its “grime-busting” performance.
However, CHOICE’s content creator Alice Richard pointed out the dishwashing spray isn’t cheap as it costs $1.33 per 100mL.
“Not everyone is into spray detergents, so if you’re looking for a liquid that’s tough on dishes but gentle on your wallet, Aldi Green Action Plant Based Formula is a steal at 56 cents per 100mL,” she suggested.
Bosistos Multipurpose: $5
In the multipurpose cleaners category, Bosistos Multipurpose was named among one of three top-scoring products after receiving a squeaky-clean rating of 95 per cent.
Many fans have declared the spray as the best “does it all” cleaner.
“Love this product. Have gone from using a number of products to clean the house to using this one product with great results. Love the fact is an Australian product and highly recommend,” one shopper said.
Other top picks include Citro Clean Super Concentrate Multi-Purpose Cleaner ($9.75) and Nifti All Purpose Cleaner ($5).
Laundry
Sard Super Power Stain Remover Toughest Stains: $8
For hard-to-remove stubborn stains — including cooking oil, chocolate ice cream, grass, mud and sweat— Sard Super Power Stain Remover Toughest Stains took the lead with the highest score of 76 per cent.
However, Sard won by a whisker so if you’re looking for something cheaper, Aldi Di-San Pro Ultra Degreaser with Enzymes ($2.15) came a close second with 75 per cent.
The experts found the budget spray outperformed the Sard variety on some stains, such as tomato, collar grime and baby food.
Omo Expert Anti-Bacterial Powder: $29
When it comes to laundry, shoppers can count on Omo Expert Anti-Bacterial Powder to do all the dirty work.
Not only did the product scored a stellar 90 per cent, the brand took out all four top spots in the cleaning tests.
However, the front loader detergent doesn’t come cheap.
“Top performance will cost you top dollar: the leading Omo product will set you back $1.16 per wash,” Richard said.
Food and drinks
Bushells Classic Gourmet Instant Coffee: $8.50
For instant coffee, Bushells Classic Gourmet Instant Coffee hit the spot for the best morning brew.
Surprisingly, the iconic Aussie brand was among the six instant coffees “rated as the same as or even better” than brew made from an expresso machine.
The experts said the brew has a “nice smooth flavour with a sweet dark chocolate aroma.
“Its basic, old-school label probably won’t jump out at you from the shelf, but it’s worth seeking out,” Richard suggested.
Coles Irresistible Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: $6.50
Coles Irresistible Vanilla Bean Ice Cream pipped popular rivals to be crowned the number one vanilla ice cream of the year.
“A supermarket own-brand ice cream beating the likes of Messina, Haagen-Dazs and Maggie Beer? Yes, we were surprised too, but our experts’ tastebuds don’t lie,” Richard said.
And it’s not hard to see why it’s become the go-to dessert.
“This ice cream has been a favourite of ours for a few years now! It’s well priced for the quality and the taste and texture really is amazing,” one shopper said.
Wattie’s Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce: $2.60
Wattie’s Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce was a crowd favourite in the baked beans category — taking out the classic Heinz to secure to coveted top spot with a score of 80 per cent.
“The sauce is so tasty, that I enjoy eating the beans cold, straight from the can,” one customer raved.
Everyday essentials
Quilton Toilet Tissue Gold 4 ply Softness: $10.30
Quilton Toilet Tissue Gold 4 ply Softness scored a “royal flush” in the toilet paper reviews after receiving a rating of 85 per cent.
“Its lived up to its name by winning gold,” Richard said.
Kleenex Everyday Softness on the Go Pocket Pack 4 ply 9 tissues: $3.30
The experts were “truly blown away” with Kleenex Everyday Softness on the Go Pocket Pack 4 ply 9 tissues.
With a score of 80 per cent, the product performed well for softness, absorption and puncture-resistance .
Despite topping the list in its category, Richard pointed out the tissues are “pretty expensive” — costing a huge $6.11 per 100 tissues.
“Buying these on the regular could really blow your budget,” she said.
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