You’re gonna love this frugal gardening tip for making your own natural Homemade Weed Killer with White Vinegar.
Got weeds? Grab some vinegar! That’s right… thanks to this DIY Homemade Weed Killer with White Vinegar Spray, you can get your yard back under control!
Weed killer can be so, so expensive… and full of such icky ingredients, until now! The combination of white vinegar + lemon juice will send your weeds off crying, and that’s exactly what we want! Not only is this Homemade Weed Killer with White Vinegar a great natural alternative to the weed killers at stores, it wills save you SO much money!
Here’s what you’ll do…
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Homemade Weed Killer with White Vinegar
If you’ve been wanting a way to kill those pesky weeds without paying big bucks for harsh chemicals… here’s a great frugal alternative! It’s all natural, and works like a charm!
Homemade Weed Killer Ingredients:
- 3 cups Distilled White Vinegar {most vinegars are 5% acidity, but the higher the percentage the acidity, the better the weeds will die. Heinz Cleaning Vinegar is 6% acidity, many Pickling Vinegars are 7%+ acidity, and you can find 20% acidity Vinegar at Home Depot}
- 1/3 cup Lemon Juice
- 1 tsp. Dawn Dish Soap {this will help the mixture ‘stick’ to the weeds}
How to Make Homemade Weed Killer:
- In large bowl, mix together Vinegar, Lemon Juice, and Dawn Dish Soap until well combined.
- Transfer to large spray bottles using a funnel.
- Spray generously on all parts of the weed {leaves and root area} earlier in the day when the weeds are in full sun. {the hotter the day, the better your results will be!}
- The combination of the acid from the vinegar, citrus from the lemon, heat, and sunshine will make those stinky weeds shrivel up!
- Be careful to spray only on the weeds you want to kill, and keep away from your grass and plants that you want to live! 😉
- Vinegar can be hard on soil, so this is best suited for driveways, courtyards, and patios where you don’t intend on growing plants in the future.
For example, this is out it works. Here is a weed near my driveway…
Here is the weed near my driveway 1 minute after spraying with vinegar… {buh-bye, weed}
The weeds were totally dead within one week, just like that!
Wow ~ what a simple and thrifty Homemade Weed Killer!
And, the best part is… even my boys can spray weeds now {which, at least for now, are excited about this new ‘job’} 😉
What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About Vinegar as a Weed Killer:
Rosanna said: “I just discovered VINEGAR as an “organic” weed-killer! I’ve had monkey grass growing in ugly patches around my magnolia tree. If you have monkey grass, you know it’s impossible to get rid of. On a hunch, I took some vinegar and didn’t even spray it. I just sort of poured it on while jiggling the bottle around. One week later, DEAD MONKEY GRASS! The Vinegar is safe for the tree, because the tree roots are too deep to be bothered by it, and the vinegar is not strong enough to harm the tree. It works much faster on common weeds.”
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So have you ever tried Homemade Weed Killer with White Vinegar?
Or do you have a thrifty DIY Weed Spray trick?
Leave a comment & share!!
Rob Wilson says
Hi Heidi,
Thanks for sharing awesome tips!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Rob… so glad you’re enjoying the gardening tips and tricks! 🙂
Eleanor says
However, this homemade weed killer is non-selective and should be applied with caution in areas where there are good plants.
Edwin says
Any weed killer no matter if it’s homemade or readymade needs to be applied with caution in areas where there are good plants.
Monica G. says
Nice article, Heidi! I have tried the trick with the vinegar to kill weeds before and I was very happy with the results! Thanks for reminding me!
Paula says
Hi. I utilized Homemade Vineger Weed Killer Spray alternative to kill dandelion. I generally boil the vinegar to make the acetic acid to become concentrated as this may inevitably generate a potent killer. Thanks for the sharing. – Paula
Deb Zapora says
What can I iuse to kill weeds but not hurt my plants. Veggie snd flowers
Sylvia says
Here’s a different approach for slugs. I had a sick box turtle that had a badly cut front leg. I had to keep her inside to heal. She didn’t like the dry box turtle food from the pet store so I was trying to think of what she would be eating outside. I went out after dark and since we had tons of slugs, thought I would try one. Well, she went crazy. She gulped it down so fast, I went back out and got a couple more. I started catching 2 or 3 every night. She was a little box turtle. After about 5 nights, suddenly I couldn’t find any more. We had way more than 15 on any given night and now there were none! I think those little critters sent out the word and they all skedaddled out of our yard.
Bill lupton says
Earwigs n ants n spiders
My barn used to have thousands of earwigs. Reduce the population by pouring some beer or sweet drink on the grass near the structure and cover with any flat object, I use a small square of plywood @a square foot. Lift it up next day n get ready to do the earwig stomp. Yuukk.
Every spring we have an antapalooza period, I put a couple drops of honey where they are coming in. A couple times a day just wipe them up with a wet paper towel.
Spider control, in the spring and especially the fall do a super vacuum in every nook and cranny inside and out of your dwelling, garage n porch too. Keep on the lookout for the next weeks they will be looking for a new place to live cause you’ve ruined their hideouts. Squish the ones you see and sprinkle diamatious earth around areas they are seen. It’s not a poison its crushed stone that cuts and dehydrates all crawling insects. Gardening stores carry it. Poisons, any kind, are not allowed where we live so we have to accept some critters but you can reduce the population by just making your space not so pest friendly. Thank you frugal girls for all your hints. [email protected]
Rachelle says
I used this in the past because it was safer for pets… I found it works best if you remove the leaves and just spray the roots, making sure it is in the sunlight. Even then it was a 50/50, some it worked on and some it did nothing!
Mary Lou Cox says
I tried the beer, it worked a little but it tips over and they enjoy the drink anyway, then to clean it up made me sick. I save my egg shells, break them a bit and toss them in the garden. The slugs get cut with the shells so they stay away. Gives lots of calcium to the soil also.
Kelleigh S. says
What about IVY? I am gonna try !
Thanks for the tip!!
Rachelle says
Stick with real weed killer for Ivy… it’s too hardy of a plant for any homemade that I have tried!
Arlena R says
Thanks for the tip!
Stacy says
I would only use this in driveways and such. Vinegar will ruin soil so that nothing will grow there. Boiling water will work with out ruining the soil.
Arlena R says
Thanks! I was going to use all over!
s h says
what about killing a redbud tree stump that keeps sending up sprouts from the roots?
Dana says
Does the vinegar combo kill grass too???
MaryInMinnesota says
I have over 300 large patio blocks making up a patio and a sidewalk and even with using heavy duty plastic under neath the patio blocks, every weed possible grows up between the patio blocks. I used pure vinegar on an area around my flower pots, and then I used pure bleach on another area, and both killed the grass and weeds… but the vinegar worked faster. A gallon of vinegar costs more than a generic brand gallon of bleach, so you might want to try using bleach, pure strength. The bleach also killed the mold growing on some of the patio blocks that were in the shade.
Lalia H says
My neighbors grew the best moss the following year. It was 4″ thick! So if you do this in the Pacific Northwest, be sure to put lime on your grass in the fall to neutralize the acid. Moss loves an acid environment.
DARLENE E says
DOES ANYONE HAVE A FRUGAL TIP FOR GETTING RID OF FIRE ANT MOUNDS??
Ana Perales says
so can you spray this on your weed filled grass? or will it kill the grass too?
Heidi says
Hi Ana ~ this will also kill the grass, so only spray on areas with weeds… away from grass or plants you want to keep alive. 😉
~ Heidi
MomHomeGuide says
Thanks — will have to try this on my patio. The weeds are always sprouting through!
Ann says
I appreciate all the comments here! Do you have any advice on how to get rid of ants?
Heidi says
Hi Ann ~ here are 25 DIY ways to get rid of ants… hope this helps! 😉
https://thefrugalgirls.com/2011/09/diy-get-rid-of-ants.html
~ Heidi
Becky says
What about killing weeds in my lawn? We have a healthy patch of dandelions–taking orders for Mother’s Day! LOL. With two little girls and a dog, I am concerned about treating with harmful chemicals. Wouldn’t the vinegar kill the grass, too?
Tina says
Yes, vinegar will kill the grass. Just spray the vinegar in a straight stream (not spray mode) into the center of the dandelion. You have to do it on a sunny day too. It is the combination sun and vinegar that kills the dandelions. I have small children too and the vinegar works great.
Rhonda E says
Earwig Trap: put rolled newspaper in your garden, earwigs love tight, dark spaces, then pick up the newspaper and toss it in a deep bucket of water to drown the earwigs.
Francie says
If you’re a gardener and you plant crops like corn, green beans, squash..etc..will this vinegar weed killer be safe for the crops?
Peggy Fulkerson says
If you have a small garden this will work. Pour regular black pepper around the plant, not too close , and wa-la.
Also, for roses, I save banana peelings-outside. When they are stiff I put them in my blender (works better that food processor) and grind them until they look like pepper. Spread them around the roses and cover lightly with soil. Roses LOVE banana peelings.
Marti says
Can also put banana peels without drying and grinding them, around base of your roses, mixed in or covered with dirt or compost and let them rot and decompose and they help the roses just as well.
I did chop the peels into pieces making them easier to mix in the dirt.
Barbara Marcis says
I have killed weeds with Coca Cola, add a few drops of dishwashin liquid to the cola so it will adhere the pland and spray it liberally
pat matheny says
u just reminded me of a little magic trick i used to show the kids, pour a paperplate with whole milk, add two drops of food coloring to the middle, each a different color, then rightaway, add a drop of dishwashing liquid to the middle also, are you waiting? im not going to spoil it for u just know its awesome to watch and wont hurt anyone
Dean DeWitt says
Thanks. I’ve never done that. Sounds like fun for the grandkids.
Marti says
I told my daughter about the milk, even evaporated milk, or 2% milk works, just needs some milk-fat in it…with the food coloring and Dawn dish soap, or any type dish soap, and she did it at home for my grand-daughter. It happened my Grand-daughter used it in a science project that week, back when she was in 4th grade!
She had a good results, and won 1st place!
karen boggs says
If you have slugs around your hostis plants you put sand around them and they wont bother them
Nancy says
I tried the vinegar on several different kind of weeds in my yard, spraying liberally. I waited several days. It did not kill any of them. I wasted the vinegar. Then got out some old Round Up and sprayed the same weeds, and they were dead the next day.
Dawn says
Thank you…I was going to look up something for whatever is eating my hostas…I will try this.
Sherry says
I’ve used stronger vinegar in these instances – the 10-15% that you buy at the garden store, not the grocery. It isn’t inexpensive, but we didn’t use is to save money. We lived on a lake and the chemical run off into the lake wasn’t something that we wanted to contribute to.
TJ Brown-Armstrong says
You can intensify cheaper white vinegar through evaporation if you’d desire to plan for it. Cover a tray with screening when filled with vinegar and let the liquid evaporate which concentrates the strength, but be careful about marking the container clearly if you store it.
Julie Buck says
Tried it and it works great. Thanks for the tip:
joube says
Thank you, i’m going to try it on poison ivy!
Dean DeWitt says
Me too.
Danielle says
Be careful. Vinegar will kill any plant. So use it sparingly around other desirable plants and where soil fertility is important (especially if you add salt to the mix).
Lauren says
One of my favorites; cleaning the bathroom Shower/tub:
1/3 Your favorite laundry soap
1/3 Water
1/3 Vinegar
in spray bottle
I use this every few days in the shower before I get out, does a great job on cleaning and keeping the hard water gone!
Susie says
I have been trying everything on my bat/shower and can’t get the hard water stains out. I am going to try this! Thanks!
Renee Arcand says
Have been gardening for over 20 years and have never heard of this! Most anxious to try white vinegar out! Thanks for sharing
Cheryl says
I know salt works on slugs, but make sure you don’t put too much, I used to live where we had TONS of snails and I just sprinkled salt on them and they kinda foam up and die and it’s cheap too. I’m excited to try this out on my weeds, thanks so much for the tips!
Heather Berry says
Yup…the slugs will take their last drink in the beer. It totally works.
Binny says
beer will kill slugs and snails.
Just put a shallow dish near the plants, fill it with beer and they go in an drown themselves. It works!
Salt works too but is yuckier
Amber Hayes says
I remember my Grandmother sprinkling salt on slugs…I was little so I’m not sure if it worked.
Sheila says
Yes, salt still works on slugs.
Melissa N says
I am going to go try this right now! Got any home grown tips for killing slugs and earwigs? The slugs out here in WA are flippen huge..and they’re everywhere! And they are literally destroying my flower bed… any home grown tips for getting rid of them?
Dawn says
I have heard, but don’t have a problem with slugs, that a water and salt mixture will kill them…but you would have to spray each one individually I would think. Not sure if that is helpful or not…but the salt causes them to dry up.
Chris says
You can put dry salt directly on them. I used to get them at a house I lived at several years ago. I would go out with a handful of table salt and sprinkle it right on them (ok, more like making a frenzied toss…I hate slugs! ew!) and they would shrivel up before my eyes. Gross, but effective!
Peggy Fulkerson says
Just place jar lids around the border and/or inside the bed(several). Add beer straight. There will be a surprise for you in the morning!
Your fairy God-mother
Mahala says
To get rid of slugs all you need is salt! Just sprinkle a little on their backs and that’s it. You can even sprinkle some where they lay or common areas they are seen too.
Dee says
You can also place crushed egg shells around the beds. When they try to slither in they get cut and die or they just stay away altogether. Or, I just thought of this… Try crushed egg shells mixed with salt! Hehehe that seems really devious.
The sprinkling salt alone trick works well too, but that requires you to stand guard 24/7. Too high maintenance for me. 🙂
Jewelly Shetka says
Put out a flower pot dish with high sides and
fill with beer. Put it where you see the most
slugs and wait. Slugs love the smell of beer
and will fall in and drowned…maybe they get
drunk on the smell, fall in and drowned,
don’t know. A slug will almost literly melt
if sprinkled with salt.
dONI says
Plant some plants in your garden or flower bed that do not attract slugs. There are lots of flowers and bulbs that do not attract slugs and bugs/
marlena says
I throw my used coffee grounds in the flowerbed. I cant see them, it helps the plants, and the best part…..slugs hate the grainy feeling! Win Win!
Barbara Narcis says
For destroying slugs, pour some beer in a jar lid and leave it overnight where you see evidence of the slugs.The slugs will consume the beer and it stops them in their tracks. It works for me.
Barbara Marcis says
I have tried the salt on slugs but it killed my plants
debby tyrrell says
I hear that soapy water will kill earwigs and pennys are good to keep away slugs. Crushed egg shells in the garden will also help with slugs. I have not done it myself, but heard from others that they work. Good luck
Mary frame says
If you have not tried putting beer out, try it. Slugs are bad in SC. Take a can of the cheapest beer you can find and pour it into several old shallow pie pan. The slugs are attracted to the beer like it is a magnet. They crawl into the pan and die. Let me know how you you do with it!
Stephanie says
I lived in WA from 1977-1983….Pour salt directly on the slugs, they almost instantly dry up and die…..
Holly says
My father used to put out metal pie plates with beer in them — slugs dry out in the alcohol. He never had a drink in his life and bought beer for the first time for slugs.
Kristie says
I use a mixture of ammonia, Murphy’s oil soap and water to kill slugs. Kills them in seconds and does no harm to my grass or plants. I just put about a cup of ammonia, couple tablespoons of the soap in a spray bottle and fill the rest of the way to the top with water. Go out in the morning when the slugs are heaviest and spray away. Couple of sprays, slug is dead. After I started doing this my slug population is not so huge. Love it!!
Julie says
I’ve always heard to use beer, put in a dish & cover loosely with a clay pot, they smell the yeast & want it but drown instead. They like cool damp places!
Shari says
I know this is a very late post but if you still need help with the slugs…..
Diamatious earth is the very best thing to use for slugs…you sprinkle it under your plants and the slugs got through it and they are gonners. Diamatious earth is simply ground up shells so it is very safe to use.
Jill Arruda says
save your eggshells. rinse them, then crush them and sprinkle around the plant base. good for the soil, and its slices those little buggers right up!
Reba says
Hi Melissa, I live in western PA, I have had a problem with slugs, UGH!…and I found that using any one of these works well to chase them away from your plants: table salt, ashes from any wood, sand. They cannot cross any of these, it burns their tummy! Keeps them away, re-apply as needed, the sand will stay longer, won’t dissolve with watering.
Liz says
Make a cornmeal trap. Put a tablespoon or two of cornmeal in a jar and lay it on its side wherever there is slug activity. The slugs will be attracted to the scent, but the texture of the meal is too harsh and will kill them. Leave the jar out overnight or for several hours; when you spot the slugs in the jar, you can dispose of them permanently to remove them from your garden.
Danielle says
If you use the suggested beer tip be sure to use deep slippery sided containers. One spring evening, my friend Marisa set out çontainers of beer to attract the slugs. It worked a charm! When she came out in the morning on her way to work there were dozens of slugs in the pots. Grossed out, Marisa decided to deal with the slugs when she got home later in the day. But when she returned from work the pots were dry. No beer and the slugs were all gone. Apparently they’d had their beer fest, crawled out of the containers that were to shallow, and gone home to sleep of hangovers.
Lynn Fix Koellermeier says
Killing slugs is easy – sprinkle a little salt on them. They will shrivel in front of your eyes! My grandma and I used to do it in her garden for a “fun time!” . . . Snails – all you have to do is break their shell. . .
I saw a pin the other day about putting ground up eggshells around your plants to keep the slugs away, because they don’t like to climb over the rough eggshell. I put it out, and the birds came and ate the eggshells! Too funny!
Heidi says
Hi Jessica ~ I’ve honestly never tried this on mushrooms… let us know how it goes!
~ Heidi
Becky says
Heidi – love your helpful tips. Will the vinegar work on crabgrass? Are there any DIY cures for crabgrass? Thanks!
Jessica says
I wonder if this will work on mushrooms….I’m going to try it out and report back 🙂