By Linda Nguyen
Updated Nov 28, 2018Best forFamilies with older kids who are looking for an effective, fragranced pack-style laundry detergent
Top BenefitsGood stain removal, easy to toss in the wash
ConsiderationsContains fragrance, child safety locks on package require some dexterity
Bottom linePersil ProClean Power-Caps Original Scent laundry detergent packs clean laundry well, tackling stains and leaving clothes smelling fresh.
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Kids do a number on clothes, bedding and their stuffies, so an effective laundry detergent is a must. For families that like the mess-free simplicity of laundry packs, Persil ProClean Power-Caps Original Scent is a great option.
The Today’s Parent Approved team dirtied white 100-percent cotton t-shirts with everything from spaghetti sauce to grass, and then hit the laundromat to see how well laundry detergent packs tackled both fresh and set stains. Persil ProClean Power-Caps did a good job of cutting through many of the stains, especially spaghetti sauce, mud and chocolate ice cream. It’s worth noting that the Power-Caps performed best when two were added to the wash—not surprising given the heavy staining on the t-shirts. For small to medium-sized loads of lightly soiled laundry, one laundry pack should do the trick.
The majority of our parent testers gave this detergent their nod of approval, highlighting how easy the packs are to use and that it tackled stains without leaving any soapy residue behind. They found the detergent did a good job of cleaning avocado, baby food and formula stains, as well as smellier messes like poop and urine, from their family’s clothes. And whether they washed clothes, sheets or towels, parents said the Persil ProClean Power-Caps left laundry smelling fresh for days.
Ease of use is a major deciding factor in approving products, and it doesn’t get much simpler than tossing a pack or two into the washer drum (no drips and spills to worry about here). The only thing to think though is the number of packs to add to each load of laundry, and both our editors or parent testers found it easy to understand instructions relating to this.
One very important thing we must note is pack-style laundry detergents do carry a risk of accidental poisoning. To a young child, that squishy pack looks a lot like candy or a toy to gum on, so it’s vital that the packaging includes safety features to keep little ones out. Opening the lid of the 40-count tub of Persil ProClean Power-Caps requires a two-step push-and-lift motion, which can take a little getting used to, but keeps the packs safely inside and out of wee hands. (The 16-count zip-top bag doesn’t have any child safety features, so we don’t recommend families with kids purchase Power-Caps in this format.)
Most of our parent testers were very satisfied with Persil ProClean Power-Caps Original Scent: all gave it a very good rating for ease of use, and four out of five said the quality is very good. Their opinions on value for money were mixed, but that's not surprising given that Power-Caps are on the higher end of cost per pack among this type of laundry detergent (about $0.37 each, with price varying slightly depending on the retailer). That said, the majority of parents felt the ease of use and stain-removing power makes it worth the price. Editors agreed, finding that this Persil laundry detergent is easy to use, cleans clothing well, does a good job of lifting stains, and leaves laundry smelling fresh long after washing.
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