A popular homemade “natural weed killer” recipe uses household ingredients, but the claim that it “dries everything in 2 hours” is exaggerated. Some mixtures can burn or damage the leaves of weeds quickly, but they may not kill the roots, meaning weeds can grow back.
A commonly used non-herbicide spray is:
Vinegar-based weed spray
Ingredients
- 1 gallon (about 3.8 L) white vinegar (higher-strength horticultural vinegar works better than kitchen vinegar)
- 1 cup table salt
- A small amount of liquid dish soap (about 1–2 tablespoons)
How to use
- Mix ingredients in a spray bottle or garden sprayer.
- Spray directly onto weed leaves on a dry, sunny day.
- Avoid spraying desirable plants, grass, flowers, or garden soil where you want things to grow.
Important cautions
- Salt can damage soil and prevent future plant growth in that area, so it’s best avoided in lawns, gardens, and places where you want healthy soil.
- Vinegar solutions work mainly as contact killers (burning foliage) and may not eliminate deep-rooted weeds.
- For safer garden use, hand-pulling, mulching, or targeted weed removal are often better long-term options.
For driveways, cracks, patios, and gravel areas, a vinegar-based spray may be useful. For lawns or vegetable gardens, a different approach is usually better.
