You need a user account to post in our forum or submit Did-it-Myself projects.

Don't have an account yet? Sign up today.

Login Error

Invaild User/Password combination

Close

Homemade Weed Killer Recipe


by DoItYourself Staff

what you'll need

  • 4 Quarts of distilled vinegar
  • 1 Cup of salt
  • 1 Tablespoon of dish detergent
  • 1 Large pan
  • 1 Spray bottle

Creating your own weed killer using a series of household items is a relatively simple task that takes the strain out of back-breaking hand weeding techniques. Although ridding a garden of weeds may seem like a losing battle at times, using this recipe will make it easier to attain a fresh and healthy lawn and garden. This recipe is completely harmless to pets and children and can be administered with total confidence.

Step 1 – Prepare Distilled Vinegar

  • Take the large pan and add the four quarts of distilled vinegar to it before placing on a hob.
  • Slowly bring up the temperature of the distilled vinegar until it begins to reach boiling point.
  • Remove the large pan from the heat source, taking care not to inhale any of the fumes being discharged from the distilled vinegar. Although the fumes are completely harmless, you may find that the smell is a little overpowering.

Step 2 – Make up the Mixture

  • Take one cup of salt and add it to the vinegar while it is still hot.
  • Stir in the salt crystals thoroughly until they are completely dissolved.
  • Add one tablespoon of dish detergent to the mixture and stir this in thoroughly as well.

The dish detergent is used to help the solution stick to the leaves of the weeds which will allow the vinegar and salt to work on killing them.

Step 3 – Cool and Prepare

The mixture must be left to cool for several hours. Once the mixture has returned to room temperature, stir thoroughly and add the solution to a suitably sized plastic spray bottle for easier application in your yard or garden.

Step 4 – Effective Usage

Spray the mixture onto the leaves of the weeds with care, making sure that all other plants in your yard or garden are kept free from the potent solution. If plants and weeds are tightly condensed in any particular areas, try soaking a cut-to-size piece of cloth in the mixture and placing it over the weeds for a few minutes so that the leaves are saturated. This will protect all beneficial and preferred plants from absorbing any of the solution. Avoid saturating the soil at all costs as this can lead to beneficial plants absorbing the weed killer mixture through their root systems and causing them irreparable damage.

Step 5 – Safe Storage

Once you have finished applying the mixture, make sure that any excessive quantities are safely stored away. Make sure that you have labeled the weed killer mixture and keep it out of reach of children and pets. Although the mixture is non-toxic, it can act as an irritant to the skin and may also cause nausea if accidentally digested.

Need the right weeding tools? Check out our Garden Tools Buyer's Guide.

 forum activity