Cleaning the toilet is not the most pleasant of chores, but it is something that just has to be done on a regular basis - especially in a household of five. (Even my two year old has managed a couple of 'number twos' down the toilet!) My attitude towards toilet cleaning products tends to fluctuate widely. I go through periods of only using eco-friendly products (such as Ecover or Method) and then have spells when I feel the need to blast the two toilets in the house with something stronger. I use Domestos products from time to time as I find it to be a reliable brand and is frequently on offer at most supermarkets or Wilkinsons.

This Domestos 'Pink Power' bleach caught my eye mainly due to its distinctive bright pink colouring, contrasted with the familiar reassuring Domestos logo. I was also drawn in by the promotional price of £1 per 750ml bottle, although the full RRP is only slightly higher (around £1.15) which I don't feel is overly expensive for a branded cleaning product.

The bottle, aside from its zany bright pink colour, has been designed with practicality in mind. The bottle is quite slim, so comfortable to hold and pour even when full. I also like that the plastic used is quite flexible so it is easy to tip the bottle over the toilet and give it a gentle squeeze to release the bleach. The dispensing tip is cleverly angled to make it simple to position the bleach directly under the rim and get at all the germs lurking under there. I find that the bleach comes out evenly and is easy to control, without any potentially dangerous drips or spillages. Safety is obviously a key concern - especially given the bold colouring which could easily attract the attention of curious toddlers. To counter that, the bottle features a plastic safety cap, requiring squeezing and twisting to open although, obviously, the bleach should be stored well out of the reach of children anyway.

When I first used the Pink Power I was surprised to discover that the bleach wasn't actually pink in colour! Given the prominence of the pink packaging and the choice of name, I had anticipated a thick pink substance to come squirting out. The bleach is actually, well, just like bleach - being a transparent liquid, although much thicker than many cheaper (and inferior) brands of bleach. I have used many other types of toilet cleaner that have been brightly coloured (Harpic Power Plus, for example) and I find it quite useful as it is much easier to see at a glance that the entire toilet bowl has been consistently covered, helping to maximise germ control. The lack of colouring is not a major concern in the grand scheme of things, however, as I'd much rather have a clear product than the risk of my toilet bowl being stained pink!

The other surprise was the odour of 'Pink Power.' Again I had anticipated that the pink branding would have some significance for the fragrance and expected that Domestos had tried to mask the strong odour of bleach with something pleasantly floral or fruity. Unfortunately, there has been no attempt at masking the odour - this is unmistakeably bleach and very strong bleach at that. I find that the smell of bleach quickly takes over the entire bathroom and can even be smelt at the bottom of the stairs. There is no chance of having a discreet last minute clean around before guests arrive if using this stuff!

In terms of effective cleaning performance, I have no issues at all with this product. It claims to kill all known germs dead - none of this 99% nonsense here, leaving you to worry about that surviving 1%! The 'extended germ kill' capacity offers extra reassurance, with the knowledge that this can carry on working for up to 24 hours. Leaving the stuff in overnight also helps to eliminate any unpleasant stains, particularly if I haven't kept on top of the cleaning. I find that this is effective and thick enough to remove most stains and marks around the inside of the toilet bowl, meaning I don't need to spend time scrubbing away. I tend to squirt this around last thing at night and leave to soak but, even if only left for 15 minutes during the day, the toilet bowl is still left visibly sparkling clean with a gleaming and reassuring whiteness.

Domestos can be used for other purposes around the home but I find the smell too unpleasant to use elsewhere in the home and prefer to use specialist (scented) products for cleaning the kitchen floor or work surfaces. I have used this diluted to clean the kitchen floor in desperation and found it to be effective and easy to use but it wouldn't be my first choice simply because of the distinctive bleach smell which I find takes ages to disappear.

In all, I find this product to be thoroughly deserving of the Domestos brand with its well-established reputation for quality, ease of use and germ killing cleaning performance. It doesn't, however, offer anything to really distinguish it from other quality bleach products and I was a little disappointed that the whole 'pink power' phenomenon is nothing more than a clever marketing gimmick to catch people's attention on the supermarket aisle.