Do you hate having weeds pop up in your pathways, but also hate using harsh chemicals? Well, worry no more! We have found an easy Homemade Weed Killer that works like a charm and is so simple to make. All you need are 3 simple pantry ingredients!
An Easy Homemade Weed Killer with No Harsh Chemicals
Caring for a yard and garden can be extremely satisfying—but it can also be a lot of work. If you have sidewalks, garden pathways, or other areas that are prone to pesky little weeds, this post is for you! Say goodbye to harsh, smelly, and toxic weed sprays: this one uses ordinary kitchen ingredients and is perfectly safe to use around children and pets. You don’t have to worry about fumes, either, or about polluting the ground or water supply!
The easiest way to use homemade weed killer is to put it in a large spray bottle or even a pump sprayer. From there, you can use it to spritz any annoying weeds that are popping up in the wrong place. However, keep in mind that it’s non-selective, meaning that it will kill flowers and veggies as well as weeds! So while it’s great for keeping the grasses out of your gravel walkway, it’s not a good candidate for killing weeds in your flower border, herb garden, or anywhere else with plants you want to keep.
What You’ll Need
This 3-ingredient homemade weed killer is very easy to make and use. The best part is that it truly works! And there are no harsh chemicals or toxic ingredients. All you need are three simple items:
- Vinegar: For one batch of weed killer, you’ll need a gallon container of white vinegar.
- Dish Soap: Any ordinary dish detergent (not dishwasher detergent or tabs) will do.
- Salt: You can use regular table salt, or use Epsom salt. Either one will work!
How to Make Homemade Weed Killer
You can mix this weed killer directly in the spray bottle you plan to use it in, or just in a large glass or plastic container with a lid.
Dissolve the Salt in the Vinegar. First, pour the salt into your container, and add the vinegar. Shake the salt and vinegar together. It’s best to let this mixture sit for an hour or so, to let the salt completely dissolve.
Add the Dish Soap. Next, add the dish soap. Shake again, gently. Once all the ingredients are combined, you are ready to spray your weeds!
Does Natural Weed Killer Really Work?
It really does! Essentially, this homemade weed killer is excellent at drying up the weeds’ foliage. Both vinegar and salt go to work drying up the moisture in the weeds, while the dish soap acts as a surfactant, preventing the plants’ natural barriers from repelling the weed killer.
For best results, make sure to use this natural weed killer on a sunny day. Sun helps dry out the weeds, while a rainy or damp day would decrease the weed killer’s effectiveness.
After you spray the weeds, it may take up to 24 hours for them to completely die. Bigger weeds may need multiple treatments.
Bonus Tip: Cornmeal Gluten for Weed Prevention!
According to Friendly Organics Canada, there appears to be good evidence showing that cornmeal gluten works well as a weed preventer. So while it won’t kill existing weeds, it may be a great, natural way to prevent weeds from sprouting up, without the threat of toxic chemicals!
Homemade Weed Killer
Ingredients
- 1 gallon white vinegar
- 1/4 cup dish soap
- 2 cups Epsom salt or regular salt
Instructions
- Pour salt into your container.
- Add the vinegar.
- Shake the salt and vinegar together. (It is best to let it sit for an hour or so, to let the salt completely dissolve.)
- Add the dish soap.
- Shake again until all the ingredients are combined.
- Pour into a spray bottle.
Notes
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77 comments on “How to Make 3-Ingredient Natural Weed Killer”
I use table salt, it’s far more effective, it’s cheaper and is not a fertilizer (Epsom salt is) that encourages more growth in the sprayed areas.
Does this need to used right away? Can you mix it and use later?
Hi Carol. You can mix it and then use as needed.
They don’t tell you the amount of stuff to mix ! How much salt to a gallon, and how much soap?
Hi Carlos. The amounts are listed in the recipe card near the bottom of the post.
It is in “ingredients” just above the instructions but there is an ad in between which makes it easy to miss.
Works 100%
It works. I use this ever year.
It’s a good weed killer it works great
I have heard about vinegar for killing weeds but this formula makes more sense so I’m trying it! thanks
I’m surprised that I finally found something that actually works
Tried it, works great !
Excellent recipe , it really works Thank You.
Thank you Marlene!
Will give it a try, have used vinegar befor
OK, I have been using a “version” of this recipe. It calls for only one cup of salt. A whole container of table salt only has 2 and a 1/2 cups of salt. Mine seems to work fine but I tried buying 45% vinegar and diluted it down to 11.25% and it seems to work a little better.
Love this mixture. I use it every year and it works great. No chemicals either.
works as advertise
Do not use table salt. Epsom salt only. tab.slt destroys more of the good organisms and pollutes the water shed. This is not a weed killer recipe, but weed control. This does not kill the root.