I Tried the 3 Most Popular DIY Weed Killers – Here’s What Actually Worked And How Best to Use Them

Weeds are, by definition, plants that grow where you don’t want them. Some are downright ugly, while others - like dandelions - are quite pretty but unwanted. So it’s no wonder that most gardeners try to rid their backyards of unwanted weeds.

Chemical weedkillers are no longer a gardener’s first choice, given their reputed effects on bees and other pollinators. And everybody’s trying to save money by doing things themselves, so DIY solutions top the list. But some DIY solutions work to kill weeds, while others do not. We’re here to clear up the issue for you - three weedkillers that work and provide safer alternatives to Roundup.

Three DIY Weedkillers that Work

With all the bad press around chemical weedkillers, many homeowners are looking for natural weed control solutions that use stuff you generally keep around the house. Most of these DIY solutions are budget-friendly, but not every reputed “weedkiller miracle” is effective.

We’ve made things simpler for you by sleuthing out the scientific stuff behind the weedkiller success. Here are three weedkillers you can make from household products that actually work.

But note: many of the strongest most effective weedkillers will kill “wanted” plants as well, so they should only be used on driveways, sidewalk cracks and areas of rock or gravel.

1. Vinegar, Salt and Dish Soap

Many DIY recipes for killing weeds contain vinegar, but vinegar alone doesn’t do the job. Vinegar contains acetic acid, a substance that kills weeds. But adding salt to the vinegar boosts the process by dehydrating the foliage and stops the plant from growing back.

If the substance is sprayed on the weeds, it can easily run right off, preventing the vinegar and salt from doing their worst. That’s why you need to add some dish soap - Dawn, for example - to the mix. It’s the stuff that makes the product stick to the leaves.

This DIY recipe is simple, budget-friendly, and perfect for killing weeds - but not everywhere. The mix is deadly for weeds - but also for other plants. So if you spray the weeds in the flower bed, every living plant will suffer the same fate. Reserve this for places where there are only weeds, no good plants. It works fast to clear weeds along the driveway, in the cracks in the sidewalk, between paver stones, and over any gravel areas.

Get the Mix

Mix the ingredients together in a spray bottle with a nozzle wide enough to release the salt. Here are the suggested dimensions.

• 3 cups distilled white vinegar
• 3/4 cup regular table salt
• 2 tsp dish soap

Spray the weeds thoroughly. Apply on a summer day, then repeat 6 weeks later.

2. Boiling Water

Those looking for a simple solution to weeds will love this one. Boil up a kettle full of water, then douse those weeds. It’s free, quick, simple, and natural. Note that it works best for annual weeds since the boiling water kills the foliage it touches, but deep roots are protected under the soil.

Piping hot water kills weeds - and any other plant nearby! So, once again, this is not the DIY weedkiller to take daffodils out of the lawn. Pouring boiling water on weeds works well for stone patio pathways, driveways and sidewalks.

Boiling water destroys plant cells on contact. Within hours you will see the weeds wilting and dying. Sometimes the simplest method is the most effective. Pouring boiling water directly onto weeds is especially useful for cracks in sidewalks or between patio stones.

3. Rubbing Alcohol Mix

Rubbing alcohol and isopropyl alcohol are not the same. Rubbing alcohol is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water, and you’ll want to add even more water before using this mix as a weed killer. But even a more diluted mixture is a powerful weed killer and will also kill your favorite plants if you spray them accidentally. The product dehydrates and kills plant tissues by breaking down the cell membranes, causing the plant to “leak out” its water and nutrients.

Ready-made weed killers like Spruce, available from Walmart, use a mixture of alcohol and other non-toxic ingredients to dehydrate weeds without harming bees, pets, or humans.

Get the Mix

Mix the ingredients together in a spray bottle with a nozzle wide enough to release the salt. Here are the suggested dimensions.

• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• 2 cups water

However, you should exercise caution before using this on weeds in the garden. Rubbing alcohol can negatively impact the biome of the garden, harming the garden's ecosystem. Adding rubbing alcohol in the soil can kill the beneficial bacteria your garden soil needs to nurture plants. Over time, it can ruin the soil for any plant growth. That’s why this extremely effective rubbing alcohol mix should only be used on weeds poking up from the driveway or emerging from cracks in the sidewalk.

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