Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Business

Kiwi laundry company Re.Stor fights back after Consumer NZ labels them dud suds

30 Jun, 2022 01:44 AM3 minutes to read
Grant Taylor and Renee Lee from Re.Stor are considering legal action after Consumer NZ labelled their product "worse than water". Photo / Supplied

Grant Taylor and Renee Lee from Re.Stor are considering legal action after Consumer NZ labelled their product "worse than water". Photo / Supplied

NZ Herald

The Kiwi owners of a laundry detergent brand labelled "worse than water" in recent Consumer NZ tests are disputing the results and could take legal action.

Grant Taylor and Renee Lee's Re.Stor laundry sheets performed "terribly" at removing stains according to the Consumer NZ test published this week.

According to the Consumer NZ tests the tropical scented Re.stor Concentrated Laundry Detergent Sheets performed worse than a water-only wash and landed the product on the Consumer NZ "do not buy" list.

The other laundry liquids not to make the grade included Essentials Laundry Liquid (2L) and Value Laundry Detergent (2L).

Taylor and Lee are refuting Consumer NZ claim the Re.Stor product was the "most expensive" and say because of the price per wash the laundry sheets were more economical.

The Consumer NZ test compared 55 laundry detergents, powders and sheets on performance.

The tropical strength laundry sheets received a 'do not buy' review from Consumer NZ. Photo / Supplied
The tropical strength laundry sheets received a 'do not buy' review from Consumer NZ. Photo / Supplied

Products were tested to see how well they removed stains such as make-up, grass, blood, engine oil and food.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"Consumer NZ has firstly misled the public and the media claiming we are 'more expensive than the leader' and the 'most expensive'," Renee Lee said.

"We are actually 8th from the top on purely the pack sizes they've included, which firstly proves this statement incorrect."

Lee said there was "no physical way we can be worse than water given that mixing and dissolving our sheets with water is part of the washing process." The pair accused Consumer NZ of "hunting for a headline".

Lee said the claims by Consumer NZ were damaging to their small business and the company would consider legal action if there was no retraction.

"It has been an incredibly stressful 24 hours and we were shocked at the claims - there was no notice and no right of reply.

"It has been so damaging."

But Consumer NZ is standing by the test results and said all testing was done independently.

"We have been testing laundry detergents for a decade and are proud to provide the results free to the public," James le Page said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
The laundry sheets dissolve in the wash and come packaged in a cardboard box. Photo / Supplied.
The laundry sheets dissolve in the wash and come packaged in a cardboard box. Photo / Supplied.

"We think it is important consumers have an independent source of information about the quality and performance of laundry detergents."

Le Page said claims that Consumer NZ testers had not followed the correct instructions were incorrect.

"Dosage and instructions are followed by the lab, these details are checked before testing commences," he said.

As far as the product performing worse than a water-only wash Le Page said that was what the results showed.

"We don't know why the Re.stor product didn't perform," he said.

"We measure how much staining remains after a wash and compare the performance of all the products tested to score them. We don't analyse why, as that would add no value for consumers."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Le Page also stood by the Consumer NZ finding that Re.Stor was more expensive than the top performer.

"The argument about cost per wash is null and void. Even $12.50 divided over 60 washes is still too much to pay for something our lab found performs worse than water."

Le Page said there would be no retraction or retesting at this stage.

"If we identify that we have made a mistake in our testing or statements, we wouldn't hesitate to do so.

"At this stage, we have no cause to do so."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Business

Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty

19 Aug 06:03 PM
Premium
Business

Steven Joyce: School shake-up needed for the sake of our kids

19 Aug 06:02 PM
Premium
Business

Insider-trading accused distances himself from Eric Watson

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
Business

Mary Holm: I have $50,000 in cash - should I pay down my mortgage or invest?

19 Aug 05:00 PM
Premium
Business

Fran O'Sullivan: Gaurav Sharma affair is a mess — 'reject' that, Ardern

19 Aug 05:00 PM

Most Popular

Live: 'Unbelievable' wild weather - further flooding as heavy rain hits again overnight
New Zealand

Live: 'Unbelievable' wild weather - further flooding as heavy rain hits again overnight

19 Aug 07:25 PM
Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter
Entertainment

Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter

19 Aug 06:03 PM
Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty
Business

Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty

19 Aug 06:03 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP