We Tried 30% Natural Vinegar to Kill Weeds / Part 1

Join Vicki & Steph from DIY for Homeowners by Mother Daughter Projects as they try 5% and 30% vinegar to destroy weeds in Steph's yard!
For more details on "We Tried 30% Natural Vinegar to Kill Weeds" project visit: bit.ly/weeds30
PART 2 Update Video: • Kill Them Weeds! Answe...
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FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

We bought the 30% vinegar here on Amazon: amzn.to/3eI63nu

[@philglasier2904]

Did any of the foliage get effected weeks after the application?

[@tomyang5991]

What is the purpose of adding salt?

[@darryldouglas6004]

@@tomyang5991 Its Sodium Chloride. It helps carry the vinegar to the plant. 😃

[@MrBobzilla1959]

I mix 1 gallon 5% and 1 gallon 30% to make 2 gallons 17.5% vinegar and it works great and stretches your $$$$$!!! Very Effective!!!

[@lynnl6101]

I use straight 30% vinegar. Nothing mixed with it. It works great.

[@josieditzler7332]

The dish soap is added as a surfactant so the solution clings to the leaves rather than drip off into the surrounding soil.

[@breeze787]

My mixture for a weed killer was 30% vinegar strength, 1 cup of epson salt and a 1/4 cup of dawn advantage. 30 minutes later weeds looked like they were fried. Oh I also applied it on a 90° day so epsom salt worked very well for me. Expect the scent of sweet vinegar in the air. Thanks for putting this up!

[@TheFlutterrbye]

I appreciate your demonstration. I have been doing this for years, especially around my pool. First I sprinkle baking soda down first. Then I apply as you did. I do this maybe once a year, sometimes I skip a year. Again thankyou. 🌹🦋🌹

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

Thanks for sharing!

[@pinkescape00]

I have wanted to try this out to get rid of overgrown weeds, without using harsh chemicals. Now that I know it works, I will definitely be doing this. Thanks!!

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

You’re welcome!

[@carolprice7414]

I ordered the 30% vinegar from Amazon. While I am waiting for my Prime 2-day delivery (2 weeks for this 30% vinegar) I used the 5% vinegar. It does work, but like you said, not as well. I sprayed last Saturday and it did help a LOT. I sprayed again today. The 30% will be here next week and should take care of all current weeds! So much safer and less expensive than the chemical solutions. Thank you.

[@breeze787]

Lowes prominently sells the 30% vinegar for around $19.99. My Lowes store had 192 gallons in stock. I bought 4 of them cuz I got a lotta weeds.

[@IMOO1896]

I moved in the last year and where I lived prior to the move, I had really good luck with vinegar to rid the weeds. Where Im living now, it doesn’t touch them. Must be the variety of weed from one place to another.

[@autumn1231]

Nice to see a loving , healthy parent child relationship.

[@Holly-days]

Nicely done, ladies.

[@hollyhasegawa6095]

Awesome ladies, I have been looking for a more natural solution to kill those pesky weeds and now I have it thanks to you both. I can't wait to try it, i really hate weeds that just grow everywhere. Thank you again, have a beautiful day, hugs!

[@Cartier_specialist]

Very good. Baking soda mixed in water will kill crabgrass but I don't think the results are as fast as what you showed but baking soda is dirt cheap. Mix 16 Oz of baking soda to 2 gallons of water and saturate the leaves of the undesirable weeds. It typically will not hurt turf grasses but it may cause some yellowing and it may slightly stunt the growth of turf grasses but it will snap back.

[@heidibrown2357]

Does this ruin the soil? So I can't plant anything where I spray this? I totally just tried it on some pretty invasive weeds. Definitely works better in the sun! Thank you for the recipe!!!

[@steffnic13]

Vinegar allows the soil to recover but when you add salt, you can’t plant there ever again. Vinegar and Dawn dish detergent will kill weeds and allow you to plant within a week or two (erring on side of caution at 2 weeks)..

[@motleydigger]

If you plan to grow most anything at all in the place where you are using this for weeds I would skip the salt entirely. You don't need it anyway if you use a high strength vinegar. The vinegar will eventually evaporate but you will be stuck with that salt for some time to come. I would also skip any dish soap. Alternatively you can use boiling water. After it cools us the high strength vinegar. But you want to use the boiling water first and let it cool. This works for most weeds. I kill poison ivy all the time with boiling water but you Have to be sure it won't get on other plants or roots that you do want to keep.

[@rebeccaindy]

Is it risky carrying boiling water? Do you just boil it on the stove and carry the pot out?

[@dannyboy0037]

Try using a 500,000 btu propane torch. I have found great success with this in my coastal hardscaped backyard. Weed wack and apply vinegar where delicate areas you would like to preserve.

[@shellydehart8217]

I’m so glad you showed the vinegar bottle as I was going to ask where can you get 30% vinegar, now I know. This is a great info video n I’m definitely gonna try it. Thanks♥️😊👍👍

[@julianafarrell6292]

Tried 30% vinegar just the way you have. Same result one week later grass is back because it doesnt kill the roots. Taking 2 gallons back.

[@julianafarrell6292]

It was sunny and 80 degrees. I did add the salt and dawn. Watch out if you spray near plants it might kill your plants.

[@markp1908]

Thank you, straight to the point with actual results. Great video

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

You're welcome!

[@dandydonslife9869]

Great info on weed control, thanks.

[@micksayers1]

Does it contaminate the soil afterwards,as i want to kill ground elder in my border, and plant more plants.

[@josharm24]

Thank you! Ill be testing this later.

[@jude1515]

Very good. Vinegar is amazing. I am looking for a solution that is safe for getting rid of weeds in a lake. I need to make sure it will not be harmful to the fish and other wildlife. Any suggestions on that?

[@TM-qj4yr]

Thank you very much for the tips.

[@JohnSnow-vf8jo]

I used 80% straight vinegar on my patio slab joints which are always full of strong dandelions, now one year later, they are just regrowing, probably from new windswept seeds, so I will now give them another spray with 40% this time, to see If I am needlessly using the stronger ( and pricier ) vinegar. Tune in twelve months for the update.😁😁

[@dNEj4q3ce]

Thank You for the video. I have been watched many videos and try to decide to see what to use. Now I will certainly try your method. Again Thanks!

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

You are so welcome!

[@theoriginalkeepercreek]

Question: After spraying the mixture, did you let the dogs out in the yard? I have to spray the fence line of out property and worried about letting our pooch out afterwards. I also am using 40% Vinegar - do you think I should cut it with water?? What are your thought please? Thank you.

[@zoedoodle]

Thanks for this. I have tried regular vinegar and a homemade solution of lemons and neither worked well or for more than a nanosecond. My biggest concern with this recipe is that using salt will mean that nothing will grow in the area when I'm ready to plant it up.

[@tomyang5991]

Hi I have the same question regarding the salt remained in the salt. Have you got a chance to find out the answer yet?

[@quietyard8014]

Depends on the rain eventually washing out the soil. Ask county extension or master gardeners for your area

[@bobr226]

Try using $8.88 Craftsman battery operated sprayer at Lowe’s. Fits gallon jugs with screw tops. Saves your hand as opposed to trigger sprayers.

[@shelter9236]

It also nails crabgrass, I used the 30% vinegar but it can get expensive if you have a lot to do. Yeah, weeds are hardy little stinkers. But yay, no glyphosate!

[@my1birdhouse]

I used straight 30% and it kicked a**. I used it again even though weeds were dead before I pulled them to make sure roots ate dead too.

[@biggetl1319]

Does it cause harm to the soil organisms? How soon before you can plant in the sprayed area?

[@PoM-MoM]

Do you know if the same solution kills Fire Ants/mounds ?

[@glorialeach7301]

I just put vinegar from the gallon jug poured into my sprayer. Works great and won’t hurt your pets.

[@dbreardon]

Would you please do a follow up on this in about a month or two. I would like to hear if the weeds have grown back or not. The acidic mixture will essentially burn the leaves of the weeds but I don't know if it gets all the way down to the roots. Also not sure how the 30% will effect painted metal surfaces.....people may want to consider that when spraying.

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

We will! We actually did this project about a month ago and no weeds have grown back so far. We are interested to see if they grown back too. -Steph

[@wayneburks5872]

It won't keep seeds from sprouting. But it does kill what it gets on.

[@mrzacat3tasm3xxxico20]

@@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY Great video, Thanks for the update, did you make 2months weed free? Even so once or twice a month applications isn't bad.

[@TediKay]

Is this not akin to "Salting the Land"? The residual salt does not go away. I have thought about using a steamer to cook the weeds. I used my floor steamer on my brick walkway and it seemed to cook the weeds and the seeds. The problem is that it is cumbersome and not fast.

[@markschmaus5580]

Do u still add Dawn dish soap and salt to the 30% Vinegar ??

[@aaronluce15]

Yes, the dish soap is for the chemical can stick to weeds and kill it completely

[@MichaelDBauer]

Not sure about the 30% part. First time hearing of 30% for me. I buy white vinegar from the store and mix it in the same proportions you mentioned with salt and dish washing liquid. I use original Dawn because that was what I read in the first recipes I saw. I also strayed away from the Epsom salt recipes like you and chose table salt. If you do it in the sun like you mentioned it works great. One thing you didn't mention was that it has no residual action. It kills weeds efficiently and quickly, but new ones will come back. Even with that said, it is so easy to do it again with the same results. Thanks for a great video.

[@luisjorge153]

Excelente work ladies, and thank you for posting the link with the brand of the vinegar. Cheers!

[@BobbiDeeWebley]

Did you add salt and soap to the 30% vinegar solution? Did you have to keep your dog away from the area and if so for how long?

[@MJLynch]

We have a stone driveway and there are just two weed killers: a commercial vegetation killer or undiluted 30% vinegar. This is after 50+ years of trial and error.

[@jennifermertz2812]

I did use epsom salt and all worked fine.

[@tomgoffnett5624]

SHORT AND SWEET! Thank you! I really appreciate this video, it is so well done and right to the point.

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

You are so welcome!

[@deyoglines]

Do you know anything about using Borax instead of salt? Just wondering about if one is better than the other. Thanks!

[@srilamaiti]

This is a very useful video. Can we grow normal grass there after the weeds are gone? Please let me know. Thanks in advance.

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

No, nothing will grow there if you use this mixture.

[@Penster-Elle]

Steph: "In order for this to be effective it needs to be a very sunny day, with no rain in the forecast" Penny: looks up at the heavily overcast Scottish sky, wipes the rain off her face and heads back indoors to snuggle up with a dog or two with the heating on... 🤣🌧🌧☂

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

😂

[@fierywomanpacnw7004]

In Scotland, do you have the expression "sun break" like we do here in the Pacific Northwest?

[@JamesBrown-mt5ru]

Two Scots phrases spring to mind - "If you don't like the weather, just wait 30 minutes, it'll change." (and it does) Another is hope springs eternal when we see a wee bit of blue sky and say, "Och, there's enough to mend a Dutchman's trousers." That said, Glasgow is further north than Moscow but has much milder winters. Were I live just south of Glasgow is 1,000 miles further north than New York and we get about 20% less rain in a year.

[@janwier6835]

I’m unable to find arthritis rub in my area. Hot sauce is made with capsaicin & vinegar, would it do the same as the rub?

[@angelslive9651]

Will give it a go as bleach is much too hard on my chest an eyes- mix with salt and water but it works too.

[@soupeapod]

I’m going to try it on the tree of heaven seedlings.

[@karenh5736]

That's why I got 30 percent vinegar, nothing seems to kill tree of heaven

[@ernolercha]

Did the plants grew back or it also killed the roots? And will I be able to plant something in the ground afterwards? I have a real problem in my garden with Aegopodium podagraria. It a is highly invasive plant and the only solution is to dig out all its roots, which are very long and brittle. This is a really tedious work. Using vinegar could be an ideal solution for me, but before I buy litres of acid I'd like to know if it won't destroy the soil and if it will actually get to the roots? Maybe you have some solution for this weed? Please help!

[@alrad5149]

Just want to make sure I have the recipe right. 1 c salt to one gallon of 30% vinegar and a squirt of dawn. No water included, right?

[@lance9787]

Where can I buy 30% vinegar in Toronto

[@tranhuynh543]

Thank you 😘

[@Pomdaddy]

Hi Great info thanks. Is it safe for pets?

[@keithbeasley5862]

Did you use salt and Dawn with the 30% Vinegar as well? Or just 30% vinegar..? Thank you!!! You two are awesome!!

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

Yes, all that was mixed together.

[@justmejo9008]

One note the salt and vinegar will sterilize the soil so not sure you want to use in a garden bed?? I hope someone knows more about that part to explain it as I am not sure if that is all bad

[@BrucknerMotet]

Will the solution, with all that salt, kill the soil so that effectively no living plant can ever grow again in that soil? Maybe something to remember if folks are killing the weeds just so they can use the same soil to grow new flowers plants etc?

[@davemorris4078]

I applied this same mixture to my brick patio where weeds were growing. In a bout 2 hours the weeds and moss were turning brown. I didn't want to use a product like Roundup since wee have pets. This made a believer out of me. Thanks!

[@sedul2006]

Is it possible to not use salt? Will the salt hurt ability to grow anything else to use in a hardscape?

[@felixcano896]

Any Johnson Grass examples? That won't kill my lawn. Thanks ladies!

[@jeansroses7249]

can you take the 5% vinegar and boil it down to concentrate it and thus make it stronger?

[@sandy-rr1by]

someone said the county coop store carries 30% vinegar for agricultural use. i haven't been there yet. wondering if this would kill dandelions, they are taking over my yard.

[@illbeback126]

How long does it take for weeds to come back?

[@eileenevans7672]

Thanks for the tips! What would be the best non toxic solution to removing weeds on our lawn?

[@gr9515]

45% will get them too. I just ordered 75% to dilute.

[@robertarton6141]

How long does the vinegar smell last

[@MrRezillo]

Question: did you dilute the 30% vinegar or just use it straight? I want to use it in the nozzle sprayer you used for the 5% solution. Thanks for the vid.

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

We did a follow up video here that shows the mixture: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6W4Y2yIr7OJbZI

[@yangchenlhamo4554]

Hi I did follow your recipe and sprayed on my weed in-between bricks of the sidewalk. It killed weeds but when i try to pull out the weeds next day, its very hard to pull and saw that roots are still little green and still very much intact in soil. It was hot 90s when i sprayed in morning, weeds all turn yellow within 2-3 hours but later in the late evening, there was shower. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@Zoe-qn6xh]

Do another application

[@UKM-13]

Did the weeds grow back in a few weeks?

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

no

[@paulaungiers8734]

I mixed 1lb of salt with 1 gallon of boiling water - added 1 tablespoon of washing up detergent , and sprayed the mixture with a spray bottle: How long will it take to effectively kill the weeds and grass, please? Is fine spraying ok?

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

Did you add the 30% vinegar?

[@jamieburton1805]

Armies use to use salt to put on the farm lands of their enemies because you can NOT grow anything if you put enough salt on it. Forever. Something to consider when using this method.

[@JM-ll6hd]

Not forever. Takes times but it gets washed out of soil.

[@beauburrell3318]

I use Epsom salt, not quite as potent, but will not hurt the soil.

[@beauburrell3318]

Just use two cups.

[@Skinny_Danger]

I'm excited about trying this and just procured the ingredients but I'm confused about the ratios. You say you use one cup of salt in a 1/2 gallon pitcher. You pour in an unspecified amount of vinegar, mix, and then you say you poured in the remaining 1/2 gallon of vinegar. Doesn't make sense if you are using a 1/2 gallon pitcher. Did you use 1/2 gallon of vinegar TOTAL? Thanks!!!

[@Skinny_Danger]

OK, I just watched the Part 2 follow-up video which clearly shows that a full gallon of vinegar was used. Thank you!

[@kelleyh8141]

May be a silly question but do the weeds grow back in the same place again or is it dead forever?

[@tomgoffnett5624]

It kills the plant so it will never grow again. Of course a new plant (weed) can come along and grow there unless you used a lot of salt. Salt will stop anything from growing there again. Kind of a bad idea because it's permanent. A drive way or side walk would be a good idea, but imagine spraying high salt content on weeds near a bush - it could get ugly.

[@mayg.931]

So do nice and I will try that at home thank you so much for both of you this hearts is for mother and daughter lovely ❤️ ❤️

[@NebulousNattie]

Did it hurt/kill any of nearby plants from soaking into the ground? How close did you get to them?

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

We have not noticed that being an issue. We were fairly close to some plants, but also made sure to just spray the ones we wanted gone. -Steph

[@ellenjampole1905]

When you used the 30% vinegar, did you also use Dawn & salt?

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

Yes. We also have an updated video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6W4Y2yIr7OJbZI

[@ellenjampole1905]

@@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY thanks!

[@ellimae1548]

Dose it have to be Dawn..can not get that here in Danmark

[@bigbluegpr]

No, any type of liquid detergent will work. Its function is to make the salt and vinegar mixture adhere to the plant, rather than just running off.

[@coachhannah2403]

Kills the tops, but takes a couple times to kill large root masses. That is not bad, just saying. Works better adding detergent, salt, and clove oil to a mixture.

[@joytoyouandme4593]

What does the clove oil do?

[@wayawolf1967]

Epsom salt does work. It doesnt seem to dissolve as well as table salt though. Can clog the spayer nozzle .

[@teresefrazer1027]

Where do you source the 30% vinegar from?

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

Amazon

[@ottestad]

I have tried many natural solutions and the weeds always grow back within a couple of weeks. How long would you say this keeps the weeds at bay? With thanks

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

We made a part two video to show how well is lasted: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6W4Y2yIr7OJbZI

[@margiesmith9493]

Thank You for sharing

[@mammasita3511]

how close to my flowers can I get without killing them?

[@NirvanaWoodWorksbyJanie]

Love this! Perfect as we have a family cookout coming up and we have some tall grass that looks like mini trees growing on our land and the riding lawn mower cannot cut it down as it is way too thick and tall. Thank you so much ladies and for your previous reply on my HD question regarding their trades program. Y'all stay safe!

[@rollingfog1]

I bought 45% It's nice

[@adolfocampos7460]

Were can i buy 40 percent vinegar.i need for my gold plating .

[@josieditzler7332]

Belle Chemical on Amazon sells 45% vinegar.

[@cdlady54_95]

Great, thanks! Does it work on ants?

[@stevenbell4053]

You need to use table salt. Plants like Epsom salt as a nutrient.

[@ellimae1548]

Steven Bell well I read use Epsom salt and just bought some

[@__m__e__]

while 5% vinegar is edible, 30% vinegar is no joke in terms of danger to eyes and skin. Even though it's "natural," it is still a very strong acid. I'm currently trying 10% as a compromise

[@josieditzler7332]

I’ve bought a 45% from Bell Chemical (via Amazon) that gets diluted with water (1:1) for a 22ish %. It’s more cost effective since you’ll get 2 gallons from one and it’s cheaper.

[@pscfoss6711]

does this solution effect the plants surrounded by the weeds, does it go into the ground and seep into their roots?? won't it kill the plants also??

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

We have not noticed that being an issue. We were fairly close to some plants, but also made sure to just spray the ones we wanted gone. -Steph

[@rogerdavies6226]

Hint, add a little bit of grass dye to mark where you have sprayed, Ever watch golf on TV and wondered how they got it so consistently beautiful? Grass dye or paint and ta-da no brown spots

[@perceive8159]

Any wisdom to share on how to destroy 💥 the invasive "horsetail "

[@downbntout]

Get a 10x25 rolled piece of black plastic from the paint department. Cover and hold it down with steel tposts, rebar or rocks. Keep that there for a year. You deny them sunlight, eventually roots die. They have an underground lattice of roots so pulling doesn't help

[@krstoner53]

If it’s in a place you don’t mind using a chemical spray then 2,4-D Amine or equivalent works great

[@debbiehenderson2275]

I’ve used vinegar mixture but with Epsom salts and has worked for me. I sprayed along my stone garden edge however it killed some plants along the inside edge. So be careful where you spray this mixture . You do need a couple of sunny days in a row after applying this for it to be effective though.

[@MrBobzilla1959]

with the 17.5% Vinegar/Epson Salt /Dawn Dish soap mixture I make the weeds are dead in less than 2 hrs. on a sunny hot( 80 degree) day!

[@elsie3255]

If you added salt you don't want anything else to grow there, right?

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

Yes, we used this on places I don't want anything to grow.

[@richardburnett2749]

One gallon of vinegar to 1 cup of salt works like it should

[@leonthornton3465]

Where do you find 30% vinegar? I tried epsom salt and 5% vinegar (most of the stores sell), but it did not work.

[@tomgoffnett5624]

Just below the video, in the video description there's a link to amazon for the 30% vinegar. :)

[@Hiker33]

Epsom salt is a plant nutrient. Try using regular table salt.

[@my1birdhouse]

I got 4 gallon jugs of 30% but it cost me $60..but I don't have a huge area for weeds..I just spray when I see something coming up around my flowers with a spray bottle..it lasts.

[@buddyholly4672]

Where do you get 30% vinegar?

[@janiefoglewohlerspantryand2102]

If you have 45% vinegar would you dilute it with water and what would be the ratio

[@josieditzler7332]

Diluted 1:1 plus 1 cup table salt and 1 tbs dish detergent.

[@JK-rv8jf]

do you have any tip or video for cat repellent? street cat come to my house and poop almost every single day

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

I have had that problem for years! I never found a trick that worked perfect. For a while I was using a motion activated sprinkler that would scare some of the cats away, some cats liked the water! -Steph

[@elyshamsr6775]

Chili powder, cayenne pepper

[@elainephleps4705]

Moth balls or flakes sprinkle around edges of where they do there business. Redo as needed

[@bobbieevoy4332]

I have used the regular vinegar method before and it worked the same but the weeds came back about 10 days later, will you let us know how long the weeds gone and if they come back please. The 30% vinegar is very expense if the weeds come back but have wanted to try

[@MotherDaughterProjectsDIY]

I can tell you we did this project about a month ago and they have not grown back yet. We will keep you updated in the coming months too! -Steph

[@the-papaw]

This works depending on your soil, you just needed a different ph balance (you added acid). Some folks need to go the other way, like using epson salts.

[@janetstone8836]

Where do you buy 30% vinegar. I have not seen it?

[@lauriegonzalez2827]

walmart

[@karenknowles1537]

Dawn is a petroleum based product.