The Daily Record's Rachel Williams pitted a 79p Lidl W5 Advanced Bathroom Cleaner against a Flash spray costing £2.39, finding both performed equally well on cleaning power, with the main differences coming down to scent and formula.
Williams, a Fashion & Beauty Writer, tested the two products at different times to maintain fairness, using them on bathroom surfaces including taps, a shower screen, a mirror and a sink. Both cleaners promise to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and require only a spray-and-wipe application.
Flash spray performance
The Flash. Spray. Wipe. Done product, also purchased from Lidl, can be used on multiple surfaces including sinks, taps, glass, shower curtains and floors. Its lighter formula did not drip, and the 'White Blossom' scent left the bathroom smelling like freshly laundered sheets.
Williams found it tackled water marks on taps and a shower screen with zero residue, and cleared grime around the shower hose and sink immediately. Her only gripe was that the deep blue tint slightly discoloured the grout between tiles, though the packaging does not mention any unsuitability for such surfaces. She rated it 4/5.
Lidl W5 budget cleaner results
The Lidl W5 Advanced Power Bathroom Cleaner promised to "remove grime" and "leave long-lasting shine" while killing 99.9 percent of bacteria. Its formula was foamier and thicker than the Flash spray, which Williams said helped cut through heavy limescale and grime build-up.
It left surfaces sparkling almost instantly without much scrubbing, and performed particularly well on glass, leaving a mirror streak-free. However, its scent was slightly chemical, which put it just behind Flash's fresher fragrance. Williams also rated it 4/5.
Overall verdict on the budget option
Both cleaners were on equal footing when it came to ease of cleaning, with the main difference being scent and formula, which comes down to personal preference. Williams noted the fresher scent of Flash edged out the Lidl spray.
However, at just 79p compared to Flash's £2.39, the supermarket cleaner can do virtually all the same work, and Williams suggested she and many others might consider making the £1.60 saving more often.
