What Household Items to Buy (and Avoid) at the Dollar Store
There is a lot to reveal when it comes to dollar stores – like their propensity to pop up in food deserts and their impact on local economies – but that’s not what we’re talking about today. Because no matter how you look at these discount chains, 80% of Americans shop in dollar stores at least occasionally, according to a June 2021 Consumer Reports survey .
As long as that is the case, it makes sense to better understand which household items are really good value in dollar stores and which are not.
Recently, a group of Consumer Reports experts gave some tips on how to be a smart shopper in a dollar store. Here are some of them that will help you get the best deals on the subjects of essentials for your home, courtesy of John Galeotafiore , deputy director of the testing of products in Consumer Reports.
Don’t pass by the car aisle
While you might not think of dollar stores as a pick-up place for your car, they can come in handy for common products like windshield wiper fluid, spill cleaning wipes, and electronics cords.
While many motor oils use replacement parts, Galeotafiore advises checking the bottle to make sure it bears the American Petroleum Institute certification mark . “Even if it’s an unfamiliar brand, this mark means it meets the latest industry standards,” he explains.
The hardware section has the basics (but no more)
The shopping arcade at the dollar store may seem vast, but Galeotafiore recommends acting with realistic expectations. Sure, you can expect to find things like measuring tapes, hammers, and screwdrivers, but if you’re looking for something more specialized or for more complex tasks, he suggests going straight to the hardware store.
Paper products as a last resort
Not everyone can go to wholesale stores or wholesale stores to buy toilet paper and napkins in bulk. In such situations, paper products and other household items are likely to be cheaper in dollar stores than in other local establishments such as convenience stores or gas stations.
However, people seem to be aware of this already, given that most people who shop at dollar stores tend to buy home goods there, according to a survey by Consumer Reports .
Pay attention to the light bulbs
Yes, you will find bulbs in dollar stores, and yes, they will be cheap. But, according to Galeotafiore, these are incandescent bulbs rather than LED ones. And while LED bulbs themselves are usually more expensive, they use less energy and last much longer, so they are ultimately more profitable.
“To save time and money,” says Galeotafiore, “pay attention to the parts of the lamp you are replacing so you don’t get something wrong.”