Which Columbus stores offer household items for the lowest prices? Here’s our price check
One thing you discover fairly quickly as an adult is that life is expensive and it’s the price of the seemingly small items that will get you.
There are a few items that are absolutely essential to any household. So, finding the best deal on things like cleaning products can make a huge difference in your household budget.
Since the COVID era, Georgians have been spending more on cleaning products and essential items for the home, so we decided to shop a few area stores to see where we could get the best deal.
We visited Target, Walmart, Dollar General, Pop Shelf and Publix to compare the prices of their store brands and name brands to the other retailers. We bought items that are most likely found in every home and that everyone has bought at least once in their life.
What are the most popular household items?
According to data collected by Statista, Georgia is predicted to spend an estimated $19 million on household cleaners and $40 million on household paper products.
As we shopped, we tried to buy the most common items found in Georgia homes and see what they might typically cost.
These prices reflect the national averages:
Glass cleaners: $3 to $6
Dishwasher soap: $5.89 to $10.98
Paper towels: $2.97 to $8.69
Laundry detergent: $13.21 to $16.75
Batteries: $3.68 to $7.99
What stores in Columbus have the best deals?
We didn’t use any fancy methods to get results and our results are not scientific by any means. We shopped at five retailers and looked at store brand prices and name brand prices for the five items listed above.
These numbers don’t reflect sales tax, sale prices, loyalty or reward programs. If the store didn’t have an equivocal product in a store brand, I subbed in the brand name.
You may have to use your own judgment (or math skills) to decide which is better for your household.
Here are the results:
Target
Up & Up brand prices (subtotal: $34.15)
Paper towels (two triple rolls): $4.99
AA batteries (eight-pack): $7.49
Laundry detergent (42 tabs): $9.99
Dishwasher detergent (36 tabs):$8.69
Glass cleaner (32 oz): $2.99
Name Brand Prices: (average subtotal: $38.50)
Bounty paper towels (two mega rolls): $7.99
Duracell AA batteries (eight-pack): $9.19
Arm & Hammer laundry detergent ( 45 tabs ): $9.69; Tide (45 tabs): $19.99
Finish dishwasher detergent (43 tabs): $11.99
Windex glass cleaner (26 oz): $3.99
Walmart
Great Value brand prices (subtotal $27.12)
Paper towels (two triple rolls): $5.92
AA batteries (eight-pack): $3.68 out of stock
Purex laundry detergent (70 oz): $9.97
Dishwasher detergent (27 tabs): $4.78
Glass cleaner (32 oz): $2.77
Name Brand Prices (average subtotal $29.86)
Bounty paper towels (two triple rolls): $6.97
Duracell AA batteries (eight-pack): $9.18
Arm & Hammer laundry detergent (42 tabs): $9.48; Tide (43 tabs): $15.94
Finish dishwasher detergent (32 tabs): $8.94
Windex glass cleaner(32 oz): $3.97
Dollar General
Store Brand Prices (subtotal: $29.25)
True Living paper towels (two regular rolls): $3.75 (out of stock)
DG Home AA batteries (pack of four): $3.50 x2 = $7.00
Arm & Hammer laundry detergent (42 tabs): $9.50 (out of stock)
True Living dishwasher detergent (38 tabs): $6.50
Glass cleaner: True Living 32 oz ($2.50)
Name brand prices (subtotal: $55.00)
Bounty paper towels (four double rolls): $10.50
Duracell AA batteries (eight-pack): $9.25
Tide laundry detergent (45 XL tabs): $19.95
Finish dishwasher detergent (43 tabs): $11.80
Windex glass cleaner (23 oz): $3.50
Pop Shelf
Store brand prices (subtotal without paper towels: $25.00)
Paper towels: Not available
Generate AA batteries (eight-pack): $5
Xtra laundry detergent (100 oz): $5.75
Grab Green dishwasher detergent (15 tabs): $5 x 2= $10
Method glass cleaner (28 oz): $4.25
Name brand prices (average subtotal without paper towels: $36.35)
Duracell AA batteries (four-pack): $5 x 2 = $10
Arm & Hammer laundry detergent (14 tabs): $3.95 x 2 = $7.90; Tide (16 tabs): two for $11
Finish dishwasher detergent (18 tabs): $4.95 x 2 = $9.90
Windex glass cleaner (23 oz): two for $7
Publix
Publix brand prices (subtotal $43.25)
Paper towels (six double rolls): $12.49
AA batteries (eight-pack): $8.99
Arm & Hammer laundry detergent (42 tabs): $9.69
Dishwasher detergent (36 tabs): $8.69
Glass Plus glass cleaner (32 oz): $3.39
Name Brand Prices (subtotal: $65.56)
Bounty paper towels (four double rolls): $12.49
AA Duracell batteries: (pack of eight): $10.49
Tide laundry detergent (45 tabs): $19.99
Finish dishwasher detergent (43 tabs): $14.59
Windex glass cleaner (23 oz): two for $8
Walmart is the clear winner in terms of least expensive subtotals for both store brands and name brand prices, while Publix came out as the most expensive in both categories.
Surprisingly, Dollar General had a pretty high subtotal when it came to brand names, but one of the lowest for store brands. It was hard to factor Pop Shelf in, since they didn’t offer one of the items, but their prices seemed to fall on the lower end of the spectrum.
All of these items are staples in many Georgia homes, so we hope this list can help you make the best decisions for your family and your budget.
What should I shop for next? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on Instagram.
