If you've ever stepped inside a dollar store, you might wonder why you ever went anywhere else for all your household items. It has everything! From cute dishes to pool toys to spice kits—you can make out like a bandit. And all at a deeply discounted price.

But while shopping at these bargain huts might save you a few bucks, some of the goods you're getting often aren't worth the savings.

Dollar stores make money by obtaining their merchandise directly from manufacturers, overseas factories, and companies that are going out of business. Some of these places tend to produce off-brand items that are cheap to make and don't have spiffy packaging. The result? Goods that often aren't well-made—and might even be dangerous.

But we're certainly not saying all dollar store items are duds.

"There are definitely great buys at dollar stores that are inexpensive and of consistently good quality," says Mim King, a consumer money management and organization pro, who focuses on household cleaning products when she shops at dollar stores. "Because why should you pay $5 for a vinegar-based product when one for $1 will do the same job?"

Party supplies are another smart buy, says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch. And you can always find holiday-themed decor on the cheap, as well as gift wrap and tissue paper. What's more? You don't even have to go in to a dollar store to get the savings.

"Even if you don't have a dollar store nearby, you can order online and find coupons at coupon sites," Woroch says.

The key is to do your research about what's worth a splurge, and what's worth leaving behind. Good thing we're here to help! Refrain from picking up the following household goods on your next trip to the bargain basement.

1. Baskets

You get what you pay for when it comes to wicker. Quality baskets are worth the money because they'll last, which means your organization projects will look fabulous for years to come.

"Cheap baskets are brittle, and faux wicker ones end up crumbling and making a big mess," cautions Jamie Novak, a home organization pro and author of "Keep This, Toss That."

2. Pet food and toys

Expensive pet food might seem like a frivolous buy (isn't all of it the same ground-up discarded chunks of meat and filler veggies?). But when it comes to your sweet fur baby, quality really does matter.

"Consumable items for both humans and pets are of dubious quality at dollar stores," King says.

Regulations for lesser-known brands are very likely not as strict as the national brands you're familiar with. Skip toys for pets here, too, which are often cheaply made and may fall apart. Or even have unacceptable levels of toxicity.

3. Office supplies

You can score some really cute office supplies at the dollar store, King says. (Yes,contrary to popular belief, office supplies can be cute: Mini magic markers! Vibrantly colored sticky notes! Organizing trays that would make Marie Kondo swoon!)

But for the workhorses in your home office and household projects, spend more for name brands.

"The markers you need for labeling are often dried out or only work one or two times," Novak says.

The same goes for labels and label makers. "For some reason, labels and sticky notes from dollar stores have a tackiness that just won't adhere," she says.

4. Canned goods

Beans for $1? You might feel like you've hit the garbanzo jackpot. That is, until you realize that beans are always cheap and even name brands often run 79 cents a can. Beware of getting swept up in a discount store frenzy and buying things just because you think you can't find them cheaper elsewhere.

But aside from their sometimes inflated cost, cheap, generic canned goods can often be a risky buy.

"Dollar store canned foods are of lower quality than I'd like to consume—and I simply don't believe the expiration dates stamped on the bottom," King says.

When food seems to be of the knockoff variety, it usually translates into tasting that way, too, she adds.

5. Toys

When it comes to kids, safety is paramount. And cheap, foreign-made toys are generally not tested as rigorously as those made in the U.S., which means parts can come loose and become choking hazards.

Lead is also a concern with toys made overseas (exposure to this heavy metal in childhood can lead to developmental delays and learning disabilities).

The exception? Pool toys, which generally don't last more than a season. Go nuts and stock up on swim rings, goggles, and diving toys at the dollar store.

6. Plastic bins and containers

Plastic bins are plastic bins, right? Nope. Novak has vowed to no longer buy these products at the dollar store—period.

The small containers with lids are often mismatched and the lids that do match don't stay on tightly, she says. Some of the bins in these stores are made from hard, inflexible plastic that cracks after a few uses.

"And larger plastic tubs can't be stored in the garage or attic lest they warm up and emit a nasty scent that leaches into the items stored inside," she adds.

7. Batteries

Ya gotta cough up for name-brand batteries if you want your equipment to actually run longer than a few days.

Dollar store batteries often aren't well-made and could actually leak (eww!). These batteries will work for a while, but they operate best in devices that don't draw much energy, such as your TV remotes.