Of all the holiday-weekend sales, Labor Day is the biggest. Not only is it wedged between summer and fall, when retailers slash prices on seasonal wares to make room for new inventories, but it also catches the tail end of the back-to-school rush. Consumer Reports has combed through the circulars, websites, direct mailings, and Facebook pages (yep, Lowe’s, Sears and Walmart, among others, all have ‘em) in search of the product categories that will likely see the most red tags this weekend.
 
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The great outdoors
Things like mowers, grills, and patio furniture may not be displayed front-and-center this late in the season. But take a stroll to the back of the store, where you’ll find closeout deals on lots of outdoor equipment and furnishings. Sears tells us they’ll be offering 20 percent off all Craftsman mowers. In our latest review, the Craftsman 37659 and the Craftsman 37435 self-propelled mowers were both recommended. You might find even steeper discounts—50 percent and up—on used floor models or those that have been returned and must therefore be sold as rebuilt.
 
Looking ahead to winter, Lowe’s is shaving 15 percent off all Troy-Bilt snow blowers as part of its Labor Day promotion. In our snow blower reviews, the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP 31AH5ZQ earned the top rating, thanks to its excellent speed, handling and ability to clear compacted snow. Sears is also promising competitive, pre-season deals on snow blowers.

Appliances aplenty
Many retailers are taking 30 percent off kitchen and laundry appliances. Lowe’s, for example, has an advertised price of $878 for the Whirlpool WFW9050XW front-loading washer and Whirlpool WED9050XW electric dryer. Consumer Reports paid $700 for our test model of the washer alone, which delivered very good performance and efficiency in the lab. We have not tested this particular dryer, but we have many models of dryers both from Whirlpool and others that have performed well in our testing and have a good repair history.

Hhgregg is cutting prices on all items over $99, including 20 to 30 percent off Energy Star appliances and electronics. You might be able to get additional savings on Energy Star models if your state’s cash for appliances rebate program is still going on. If you’re going for the stainless steel look, GE is offering free stainless steel upgrades on select refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, and microwaves. 
 
In the bedroom
The mattress industry loves 3-day holiday weekends, especially Labor Day, which can account for up to 20 percent of the annual take. “Retailers can’t predict when someone is going to want to buy a mattress, so they have to be competitive when they know people will be out shopping,” explains Dan Butler, vice president of merchandising and retail operations with the National Retail Foundation.
 
In our latest Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of mattress brands, Tempur-Pedic, Original Mattress Factory, and Select Comfort scored higher for customer satisfaction than Serta and Sealy. But our investigation found that retailers continue to lure customers in with offers on sub-premium mattresses and then upsell them to a pricier model.
 
So how do you spot a real deal this Labor Day weekend? Sleep on it—the in-store mattress that is, for at least fifteen minutes. This is the only way to judge if a mattress has the support your body needs. According to our tests, the difference between a $2,000 mattress and a $1,000 one will be negligible for many people. Once you settle on a model, don’t be shy about haggling. Given the price variability with mattresses, salespeople usually have a fair amount of wiggle room.
 
Linens are another white-hot Labor Day item, with some retailers saying they’ll slash prices by 50 percent. In our latest review of sheets, two Bed, Bath & Beyond exclusives—Wamsutta 1000 and Wamsutta Dreamzone—were top-rated. We don’t see these sheets on sale just yet, but first-time e-mail subscribers to Bed, Bath & Beyond get a 20-percent off savings certificate for any one item.

Not keen on battling the crowds (or wary of Hurricane Earl)? You can also find great deals online, especially on small appliances, such as vacuum cleaners and toaster ovens. In our annual survey of appliance retailers, perennial-favorite Amazon was again deemed best overall for smaller purchases, combining excellent pricing and selection.

Update: Some of your favorite retailers are advertising sales on paint.

—Daniel DiClerico