Wirecutter - 7 items to skip at the dollar store

The dollar store isn’t as great a value as you think

A claymation illustration of a brown cutting board with half a cucumber and cucumber slices beside a silver grater and five finger tips in a pool of blood.

Dana Davis

When our deputy editor Annemarie Conte had her lovingly baked banana bread hit the floor due to someone’s dollar-store cake pan, she knew that was the last straw.

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You know the saying: “You get what you pay for.” Dollar stores can certainly help when you’re on a tight budget, but if you have the means, spending a few extra bucks on sturdier, longer-lasting items is often cheaper and less wasteful in the long run.

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You asked, we answered. In our latest installment of Ask Wirecutter, we walk you through how to convince someone to stop buying poor-quality things. Or at the very least, to steer clear of these 7 items at the dollar store.

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What else is going on

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The best sleeping pads for camping

Roughing it doesn’t have to be so … rough. If your current camping setup leaves you feeling uncomfortable or chilly, consider upgrading to one of our sleeping pad picks.

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Whack those weeds away

Coming home from your summer getaway to find your lawn grew out of control? A string trimmer (AKA a weed whacker) can help you tidy up those nooks and crannies your mower can’t reach.

Whimsical orange, yellow, pink, and royal blue bubble text reading “Our 100 most popular August picks” over a neon green background.

Our most popular picks in August

Last month, Wirecutter readers beat the summer heat with A/Cs, ice cube trays, and ice cream scoops. Others folks turned to our grooming and health picks to master the art of self-care.

Today’s best deals

A Queen-size Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress and two pillows placed on top of a modern wooden bedframe.

Matches LOW

Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress (Queen)

Deal price: $1000 | Street price: $1600

Use promo code WIRECUTTER

Side-, stomach-, and back-sleepers will all get a good night’s sleep on the Leesa Sapira, our longtime top pick for the best memory foam mattress you can buy online. The Leesa Sapira Hybrid offers plenty of bounce with over 1,000 springs. and its memory foam top provides optimal pressure relief. This deal is available in the queen size.

Buy now from Leesa

A cream-colored set of L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets.

L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set

Deal price: $135 | Street price: $159

Use promo code WCSLEEP15

Cool and crisp, this percale bedding from L.L.Bean has been our top cotton sheets pick for six years running. No other sheets have been able to offer what the Pima Cotton Sheet Set can: top-notch construction on breathable, durable cotton sheeting that just gets better with age. This deal is available in the queen size.

Buy now from L.L. Bean

First-Time deal

Tiki BiteFighter LED String Lights

Deal price: $119 | Street price: $159

With delayed shipping

Add a personal touch to your backyard or patio with these mosquito-repelling string lights. The Tiki Bitefighter Lights combine form and function with individually-controlled repellers nestled among a string of bright lights.

Buy now from Amazon

First Time deal

Hisense U6H 4K TV (55-inch)

Deal price: $400 | Street price: $430

The Hisense is one of the best budget-friendly 4K TVs available. It won’t be able to keep up with advanced video games, but its vibrant colors and crisp picture make it great for folks who just want a regular TV. This deal is available in the 55-inch size.

Buy now from Amazon

Coleman OneSource 1,000 Lumens LED Lantern

Deal price: $64 | Street price: $75

If you want a handy tabletop lantern that can be recharged from a USB port, the Coleman OneSource has robust size and six brightness settings for a variety of outdoor situations. It offers many of the same features as our top pick, but without requiring bulky D batteries. Plus, the rechargeable battery can be removed and used with many other Coleman products.

Buy now from Amazon

For more deals on our picks, check out the Wirecutter Deals page.

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Wirecutter - 7 items to skip at the dollar store

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