I keep seeing people claiming that this simple, homemade weed-killer recipe can kill weeds fast using everyday items from your kitchen. I thought it seemed too good to be true so I wanted to test it out.
The Recipe: DIY Weed Killer Using Household Items
The recipe everyone was talking about involved using a combination of vinegar, salt, and soap. Making this weed killer at home is super easy because this is stuff you probably already have:
- 1 gallon of vinegar
- 1 cup of table salt
- 1 tablespoon of dish soap
You can adjust the recipe size depending on the area you need to cover. Just keep the ratios roughly the same.
How Does this Mixture Kill Weeds?
While I was skeptical, I decided to do some research. I quickly learned that this may actually work. Here is what each ingredient does:
Vinegar
Acetic Acid: The primary component of vinegar is acetic acid. When sprayed on plants, acetic acid draws moisture out of the foliage, causing the plant to dry out and die. This effect is more pronounced in young, tender weeds.
Salt
Sodium Chloride: Salt works by dehydrating the plant. It disrupts the water balance in plant cells, leading to cellular collapse. Salt also affects the soil by creating an inhospitable environment for plants, preventing future growth. However, caution is needed as excessive salt can damage surrounding plants and soil health.
Soap
Surfactant: Soap acts as a surfactant, helping the vinegar and salt to adhere to the plant’s surface. It breaks down the plant’s natural barriers, allowing the vinegar and salt to penetrate more effectively. Soap also disrupts the plant’s cell membranes, further aiding the herbicidal effect.
Preparation and Application
Mixing the Ingredients:
- Start with the vinegar: If you’re making a smaller batch, use half a gallon.
- Add the salt: Again, for a smaller batch, use half a cup.
- Add the dish soap: Just eyeball it. About a tablespoon, but you really can go wrong with a little more or less.
Agitating the Mixture:
- Shake it up well: Make sure everything is mixed together nicely to prevent the salt from clumping and to ensure an even application.
Application:
- Choose your sprayer: Make sure you have it rinsed out. I use these handy pump sprayers for small areas, like around the patio and sidewalks.
- Spray the weeds: Get good coverage, especially on the leaves, to make sure it works effectively. Don’t worry about using too much. The more the better.
- Sunlight: A bright sunny day will help the effects of the vinegar to be more effective.
Where to Use It
This natural weed killer is great for spots where you don’t want anything to grow, like:
- Flower beds
- Landscaped rock beds
- Mulched berms
- Patios
- Walkways
- Cracks in Driveways
Note: Don’t use this in areas where you plan to plant anything nice; the salt can mess up the soil and hinder future growth.
Observations and Results
I thought it could be the perfect solution to a landscaped area around my house where kids often play. They have toys and watering cans everywhere so although it would be effective, I didn’t want to use Roundup.
The primary weed is Spotted spurge. It’s a particularly annoying weed because it grows horizontally and weed trimmers, mowers, etc. don’t get it. This combined with the safety concerns of the kids and pets, I was hoping for the best.
Video of Application and Results of Vinegar, Salt, & Soap Weed Killer
Initial Application
The first go-round did not work great. I did not have a full gallon of vinegar so I believe the mixture was a little weak. It did kill slowly kill some smaller weeds but the bigger weeds were unphased. The effects on the smaller plants were noticeable about 7-8 hours after I applied the mixture.
A few days later, I bought a new small hand sprayer and some more vinegar. I re-mixed the solution and I made sure to really soak each plant. When I came back a couple hours later I was pleasantly surprised to see that even the big plants were starting to wilt. A couple of days later they were all dried up.
This worked well on the spotted spurge, grass, lambs quarter, and some other weeds that I did not take the time to recognize.
What Type of Sprayer Should You Use With this Mixture?
If you want to use this recipe, you will want a quality sprayer. Acetic acid can burn if it gets on your skin and it will certainly irritate your eyes. So a leaky sprayer is no good so you want to make certain the sprayer or spray bottle you use is compatible.
I cover this topic in more detail in this guide to what sprayers work with vinegar, but most lawn and garden sprayers will work. I used this hand pump sprayer because I did not need such a large volume. These are pretty inexpensive and can spray a surprisingly far distance.
Final Thoughts
This DIY natural weed killer is a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to commercial herbicides. It’s easy to make with household items and works well with thorough application. Remember to use it in areas where you don’t want any future plant growth due to the salt content. Give this homemade recipe a try and see the difference it makes in your garden!