SAN ANTONIO – All those products consumers buy to get rid of the dust and dirt, grit and grime, smudges and scum can also clean out the wallet.
A price check of 19 name brand products found at Walmart, Target, H-E-B and Family Dollar found tight competition among the first three.
The dollar store was the priciest on the majority of the products checked, including Clorox Bleach, Pine Sol, Liquid Plumber and Lemon Pledge.
"Wow, I would not have thought that at all," said shopper Patsy Gutierrez who likes to buy name brand products.
For example, a 56-oz. bottle of Fabuloso was $3 at Family Dollar, but Target's price was $2.49.
A 100-oz. jug of Gain laundry detergent was $11 at Family Dollar, but a dollar cheaper at the other three big stores.
While the brand names are the same, the sizes of the packaging are not.
Comet at H-E-B and Walmart was 93-cents. Family Dollar's price was just 80-cents.
However, the more expensive one was a much better deal because the quantity was about 30 percent more.
A spray bottle of Lysol All-Purpose cleaner was $2.25 for 22 ounces at Family Dollar, while a bigger, 32-oz bottle cost less, $1.97 at the other three stores.
From the front they appeared to be the same size, but when the products are turned sideways, the difference is clearly visible.
Value packs can be bargains, like the 2-pack of Clorox Foamer at Family Dollar. It was the best deal compared to the other stores.
However, the 2-pack of Dawn Ultra Concentrated Dish Liquid at Target was not the best deal.
The key is to check the price per unit, not just the price of the product.
Totals of the 19 products shows Target the cheapest in a squeaker.
Target's total was $68.60, although HEB was only 28 cents more and Walmart 15 cents more than H-E-B.
Family dollar's price for the equivalent amounts of the same products was $75.62, about $7 more.