9 Household Items You Should Never Buy At Costco—Superfans Say They're 'Not Worth It'

For some shoppers, it’s Costco or bust. Superfans really are that dedicated to the big box store, so you know that if you’re getting a review from one of them, it’s going to be accurate. Which is why we complied a list of household items you should avoid at Costco, specifically according to loyal customers. Whether it’s the price or quality, these 9 items are definitely items to skip on your next shopping trip.

1. Kirkland Toilet Paper

First up on our list is Kirkland-branded toilet paper. While it may be tempting to buy this product in bulk from everyone's favorite big box store (flashback to the onset of COVID-19!), superfans on Reddit say you may want to look elsewhere for your bathroom paper products. "The amount of lint these rolls shed makes my bathroom look like a ski resort," one person wrote.

Apparently, it's also an issue for the plumbing. "My pipe was clogged and the plumber literally asked me if I used Kirkland TP," another person shared. "It is a known issue for plumbers."

2. Kirkland Dishwasher Pods

Another item that you'll be tempted to buy in bulk! This one is another disappointment to superfans, many of whom are reporting that the pods leave "a white residue" on their dishware. "I've had so many bad experiences with the Kirland dishwasher pods that I'm not taking any more chances," one person wrote in a Reddit thread.

"Same," another replied. "I end up with white residue all over things."

"This happened to us too," reported another customer. "Our glasses all get a white residue." Whatever this mysterious white residue is, you don't want it all over everything you use to eat and drink.

3. Kirkland Batteries

Batteries may be cheaper at Costco, but with the reduction in price apparently comes a reduction in quality. "Kirkland batteries are awful," one person wrote on Reddit. "They leak like it is their job. I've had them leak, unused, in original packings inside of 18 months."

"Agreed," another person shared. "They are awful. Battery acid in all my remotes and kids' toys. Not worth it!"

And leaking isn't the only issue. They apparently don't last as long as other battery brands either. "I can confirm that they don't last long," one person wrote. "Had to buy Duracells because my toothbrush only lasted a week. Then my toothbrush lasted over a month with the new batteries. They are crap batteries."

4. Kirkland Sheets

If you're looking to add some extra sets of sheets to your linen closet, don't stop at Costco. Even if these are your back up set of sheets or just the sheets you use for guests, it's still not worth it. "The Kirkland sheets suck," one superfan wrote. "Mine got holes in them after 3 washes."

And this isn't a one-off experience either. "Yep," another user agreed. "Only sheets in my life that I have punched a whole through with my foot white sleeping."

5. Adidas Socks

You might think you're getting a deal on a bundle pack of Adidas socks, but according to customers who've tried them, they're cheap for a reason. "Those Adidas socks are horrible!" one person wrote. "The pack I bought last month is already pilling. Avoid it!"

"Agreed," said another customer. "They lasted me about three washes."

"The fuzz comes out of them and leaves a mesh behind," another customer reported. "Not quite a hole, but pretty much." Maybe stick to Nike?

6. Kirkland Windshield Wipers

You might not think to look at Costco when you're thinking of getting new wind shield wipers, and according to customers, that might be a good thing. "The windshield wipers go on sale and seem to be at attractive prices, but lots of people here complain about the quality of them," one person wrote. "They work great for a few months, and then streak like crazy." Perhaps stick to the car wash, or ask the people who change your car's oil!

7. Bar Soap

Another easy item to buy in bulk because of how easy to store it is! Unfortunately, for many Costco shoppers, it's on their "avoid" list. You're better off buying a name brand like Dove, it seems. "Their bar soaps are crap," one person wrote, and others agreed.

"It really does dissolve fast and will leave soft scum everywhere in the shower," wrote another customer. Soap that makes things dirtier? No thanks!

8. Kirkland Contact Solution

For those out there who are bound by contacts, you know how important it is to have good quality contact solution. Unfortunately, the Kirkland brand is not it. "I don't like the Kirkland brand contact solution," one customer shared. "My contacts don't feel as comfortable and moist for as long when I use it compared to name brands. Which makes me sad because it's so much cheaper." This is just one of those things where you simply can't trade quality for price.

9. Fire Alarms

Finally, this is one thing that you want to make sure you're buying at top quality, which, unfortunately for members, means shopping somewhere other than Costco. "The First Alert Fire Alarms are supposed to be good for 10 years, but we had one go off after only two years," one person shared. "It was definitely the 'fire' beep, not the 'battery low' beep, and it happened when we had good airflow through the house; windows open, no cooking smoke, shower steam, etc."

"We found out later that my dad has the same problem with an identical First Alert Fire Alarm from Costco," the customer continued. "It's frustrating that we can't trust in something as important as our fire alarms." If there's ever anything to splurge on, it's a good quality fire alarm. Safety first, people!