Vinegar has proven itself an effective weed killer. Like most commercial herbicides, it’s nonselective, not caring whether it kills weeds or your petunias. Unlike commercial weed killers, vinegar is eco-friendly and won’t harm people, pets or the environment. Vinegar’s only real drawback in certain cases is that it has no residual action, so new weeds soon arrive. Permanent removal is occasionally desirable for stubborn weeds in gravel drives and paths as well as cracks and crevices in walkways and sidewalks. Add common table salt or epsom salt to vinegar to destroy weeds for good in these trouble spots. Just make sure to never pour the salt mixture on soil, as the solution will make sure that nothing grows in that spot again.

Pour 1 gallon of white vinegar into a bucket. Everyday 5-percent household white vinegar is fine for this weed killer. You won’t need higher, more expensive concentrations such as 10 or 20 percent. It may take two or three days longer to kill the weeds with the lower concentration, but they will die.

Add 1 cup of table salt. Stir the solution with a long-handled spoon until all the salt dissolves completely.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. This will act as a surfactant and make the vinegar and salt solution adhere to the weeds more efficiently. Blend thoroughly.

Funnel the weed killer into a plastic spray bottle.

Drench the weeds with the solution on a dry, sunny day. Coat all surfaces well with the spray. Any plants soaked with this solution will die within several days. They won’t be back and nothing else will ever grow there.

Funnel any leftover weed killer into an empty plastic container. Cap it tightly. Label it clearly and store in a cool, dark spot indefinitely.

Things You Will Need

• Household white vinegar

• Bucket

• Table salt

• Long-handled spoon

• Liquid dishwashing soap

• Funnel

• Plastic spray bottle

• Empty plastic container

Tip

Stock up on rock salt when stores discount it near the end of winter. Substitute 1 cup of rock salt for 1 cup of table salt.

Warning

Make sure that you don’t want any vegetation to ever grow where you apply salt.

Vinegar can burn the skin of sensitive individuals at 10- and 20-percent concentrations.

1. Place citric acid, baking soda, cornstarch, and oil in a bowl.
2. Add eight to 10 drops of the essential oil or blend of choice.
3. Mix well with spoon until soft dough is formed. It should have the consistency of damp sand. Note: If the mixture is too wet, try adding a little more baking soda and cornstarch until consistency is correct. 
4. At this point, you may add food coloring, dried herbs, or flower petals to mixture. 
5. Place mixture in silicone molds. Let sit 24 hours before removing from mold.
6. To use, drop in tub or shower and allow to dissolve.