This was not originally part of our editorial calendar, but after reading a few articles online, I decided to share this important post. Does homemade weed killer actually work?
Three years ago, we shared this post on Chemistry Cachet for an easy DIY weed killer with a secret ingredient.
I was surprised how much it took off! People were finding it on google, pinterest, and hometalk.
Homemade weed killers have been around for a long time, but I took it to the next level with an extra ingredient to increase effectiveness.
Now, there are articles online saying the vinegar weed killer is a hoax.
Let’s find out the truth!
Does Homemade Weed Killer Actually Work?
Before we begin, I would like to mention that I never share anything on Chemistry Cachet unless I have personally used it with success. Sometimes that means I spend months even a year seeing if it works.
This is especially true for things like cleaning and gardening.
There are many MANY DIY solutions found online, but you can be sure we won’t share anything on this website unless it is 100% proven to work. Also, we share the science behind why it works, so it is even more sound.
So, what about this DIY weed killer?
Simply put, yes it works. There is more to it though.
This is a homemade weed killer that kills everything! This is what we need to focus on.
Homemade solutions are not and cannot be formulated for selection. This means, when you spray a DIY weed killer made from vinegar and salt, it will certainly kill plants and grass. If you read our FAQs for our weed killer, we state to NOT use on the lawn. It will kill grass along with weeds.
Yes, excessive salt isn’t good for soil.
Another point found from some naysayers online is salt will ruin the soil. This is true. Heavy salt use can be hard on the soil. Soil contains natural sodium which plants needs, but heavy salt can kill plants.
However, most homemade weed killers don’t really have enough salt in them to cause issues. Our solution contains 3/4 cup of salt per spray bottle. This spray bottle lasts a long time depending on how you use it. So, there isn’t any lasting impact on soil if you spray a weed.
Also, you are spraying weeds not soil. We recommend using our recipe on areas like sidewalks, rocked areas, fence lines. It was never created to be used on soil.
Some of our readers have used it to clean out flower beds before planting. Because the solution is so mild, I have never had a reader with issues growing plants in the area.
Again, our weed killer was never meant to put on any soil though.
What about a vinegar weed killer recipe with epsom salt?
Many reports I have read online talk about epsom salt. There is a big difference between table salt and epsom salt. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate, an ingredient commonly used to nourish plants. If you are using a homemade solution with this ingredient, it won’t work as well nor will it last.
Don’t use a DIY weed killer with epsom salt.
No, the weeds don’t grow back.
I’ve had some concern about weeds growing back. It is impossible for weeds to grow back if you use the exact ingredients in our solution. When vinegar and salt are sprayed onto weeds, it goes down into the root. It kills them after a few hours, they don’t grow back.
Ours has a secret ingredient to make the solution work quicker. Sometimes things like rain or dew can wash off ingredients before it has a chance to work, so this can causes weeds to not die all the way.
Round-Up vs Homemade Weed Killer
More and more people are searching for homemade solutions with the dangers of round-up being reported. Obviously, ingredients like vinegar, salt, and dish soap make homemade versions more safe. However, round-up has been chemically formulated to target specific weeds. Like we mentioned above, it is impossible for DIY versions to achieve this. This is why store-bought weed killers remain popular. It is the only way to kill a weed in a lawn without harming grass when it comes to spraying things.
Round-up does contain many chemicals, so this is why I shared a science based more natural weed killer years ago. I needed to kill the weeds in my rocked area without Ruger walking through it. I was worried about him getting it on his paws then tracking it into the house. So, homemade options are still safer for pets.
So, What are homemade weed killers best for?
I think our DIY weed killer is perfect for sidewalks, fences, and especially rocked areas! I have river rock under our pergola and porch swing. It gets weeds during the spring, so I just spray our vinegar solution on it, and the weeds are gone!
Remember, Chemistry Cachet has a secret ingredient (read more about it here). Our secret ingredient makes it work FAST, so you don’t have to worry about possible rain.
Boiling Water
Some have written in saying they use boiling water on weeds. This can work, but every time I have tried, the weeds grow back quickly. It is similar to a hot summer day and drought, weeds and grass shrivel, but not necessarily the roots.
In Conclusion
If you are reading this post because you are skeptical about trying a natural weed killer or you’ve read an article online, I want to conclude this post with some important points to keep in mind about creating a weed killer:
- It works
- It’s safe for the ground
- It’s safe for animals
- It makes getting rid of weeds around rocks and concrete easy
- It’s affordable
- It is easy
There is nothing to lose when it comes to creating our solution, so give it a try!
Remember to view our video and original post here!
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Hi Alexis,
I speak in favour of your recipe!!
I live in a Canadian hardwood bushlot, … your weed killer REALLY WORKS. I have been using it for the past 2 growing seasons now!! I even ventured into the States to buy your secret ingredient. (We can’t get the secret ingredient here…at least I have not been successful finding it here in Canada). If I can control the weeds in my stoned areas , anybody can control their weeds. Keep sharing your gifts young lady … I look forward to reading your posts daily. Amelia is a delight.
From a mid-seventies year old woman!!
Hi Marilyn! Thanks so much for sharing that, I am so happy to hear your success. I have recently had many Canadian readers reach out to me about the secret ingredient, so I will be sure to relay your message to them!
Hi Alexis – I’ve been using your weed killer recipe for the 4th season now. I’ve shared your recipe with others and they love it also. However, there have been some weeds that don’t seem to want to die and I’ve had to spray them more than a few times to kill them. My neighbors crab grass grows into my xeriscaped garden and I’ve been spraying the crab grass since early Spring with no effects. The other day I ended up pulling them out by hand with the intention of spraying them again if they come back. It seems that weeds are tougher than others.
Hi John! Crab grass is so hard to get rid of 🙁 I ask my local extension agent about it since we get it in the fall pretty bad, he said the only way to really get it is to pull it up by the roots. Even commercial sprays won’t kill it all the way.
“we stab it with our steely knives but we just can’t kill the beast”!
Good natural clothes moth preventive
Hi Sandra, I got your comment from last week and replied to it. I hope you get this one too “Cedar is a good option, cedar chips repel moths. Also, essential oils and herbs that repel moths are rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender, or bay leaves. Some people use dried herb bundles with a mixture of those types”
I made your weed killer but I couldn’t use it in the sprayer I had. I remember you mentioning that you have a spray bottle you recommended from Amazon. What was it?
This is my list of favorite sprayers: Make sure to find ones with large nozzle for salt to spray from!
Will ur homemade weed killer kill oleander?r
It would be hard for this to kill large oleanders which can get root systems like a tree, but it can work
On small ones with many treatments
Being a master gardener, I was taught to use all natural things when possible.
I have tried this, and it has killed everything that I intended to kill.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing! I think it is so helpful to find natural alternatives that really work too 🙂
Does the salt ever dissolve? I bought a sprayer especially for this purpose but it got clogged and I had to keep cleaning the spray nozzle. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to have to buy another sprayer.
Hi! No, the salt doesn’t dissolve all the way, but you actually don’t want it to. The salt particles are what helps naturally kill the weeds. We recommend using a spray bottle with a large nozzle, a washing bottle, or a pitcher for easy pouring
Thank you for your prompt reply. I will search for a sprayer that will allow the salt to pass through. I bought a garden sprayer that I thought would work.
Is it possible to take the filter out of it?
You can try taking the filter out, but it is typically the top portion of the sprayer that can clog. You can also try rinsing it with hot water during application to keep the top nozzle from clogging
Thank you again for your quick response. I will try that. This weed killer works really fast, so thank you for your creation.
Connie
Thanks Connie! Let me know if you have anymore questions, I am happy to help!
How do i kill yucca plants? Their roots are strong and deep!
Plants like that are very hard to kill. You can try our homemade weed killer, but it works better if you cut the top of the plant off and can pour the solution inside the roots. We have had readers try that before and it can help it work better