QUICK SUMMARY
Lidl has launched its W5 Spray Mop for just £6.99, offering a much cheaper (albeit manual) alternative to the £150 Philips OneUp.
Available in stores now, it features a 500ml removable tank, flexible mop head and two reusable microfibre pads.
Lidl has launched this week's Kitchen & Household offers in its famous middle aisle, including the W5 Spray Mop, which is available in stores now. At a first glance, it looks very similar to the Philips OneUp – a mop we awarded four stars when we reviewed it at the end of last year.
Now, there is an important difference between the two before we go any further. The Philips OneUp is an electric mop, using a rechargeable battery and Philips' OneUp technology to pump clean water onto the floor whilst separating the dirty water as you clean. The W5 is completely manual, so you're obviously not getting quite the same cleaning system for the money. However, look beyond that and there are several similarities between the two.
Instead of Philips' more advanced cleaning system, the W5 uses a straightforward detergent spray function. There's a lever built into the ergonomic handle, which you squeeze to spray cleaning solution directly in front of the mop as you go. It also has a 500ml removable tank, which should be plenty for a typical floor-cleaning session.
There are a few other similarities to the OneUp, including a flexible mop head and reusable mop pads. There are actually two included in the box, which is something I much prefer to the disposable approach used by alternatives such as the Shark VacMop.
Replacement pads shouldn't be too difficult to find once Lidl stops selling the W5 either. Its rectangular mop head uses a hook-and-loop style attachment, so similarly sized generic microfibre mop pads should provide plenty of replacement options.
One thing that definitely isn't similar is the price. Lidl's W5 Spray Mop costs just £6.99, compared with the Philips OneUp's £150 RRP. However, as with most Lidl middle-aisle bargains, availability will depend on your local store, so I'd strongly recommend checking Lidl's online stock checker before making a special journey.
