That claim is very unlikely to be true.
No household ingredient or homemade spray is guaranteed to burn weeds in one day and ensure they never grow again. Many viral posts exaggerate the effectiveness of DIY weed killers.
Here’s what different methods actually do:
- Boiling water: Can kill the above-ground parts of small weeds, especially those growing in cracks, but deep roots often survive.
- Vinegar: Household vinegar (about 5% acetic acid) can scorch leaves, particularly on young weeds. It usually does not kill established roots, so weeds often regrow.
- Salt: Can kill plants, but it also remains in the soil and can prevent desirable plants from growing. It’s generally not recommended for garden beds.
- Soap: Often helps sprays stick to leaves but is not an effective weed killer by itself.
The most reliable ways to prevent weeds from returning are:
- Pulling or digging out the entire root system.
- Applying mulch (5–10 cm or 2–4 inches thick) to block sunlight.
- Using landscape fabric where appropriate.
- For persistent perennial weeds, using an approved herbicide according to the product label, if that fits your gardening approach.
Even commercial herbicides do not guarantee weeds will “never grow again,” because new weed seeds can blow in or dormant seeds already in the soil can germinate later.
If you’re trying to get rid of weeds in a specific place (a lawn, gravel driveway, vegetable garden, or between patio pavers), I can suggest the most effective method for that situation.
