No matter how healthy your soil may be, weeds are considered “opportunistic plants.”

Some weeds lay dormant underground, seeds can spread by being carried in the wind, and rain can disperse seeds in unwanted areas. 

Garden enthusiasts who are struggling with pesky weeds can use a simple homemade remedy involving three household items to permanently remove any unwanted plants. 

Experts at Garden Benches claim that their top method kills weeds permanently whilst “providing eco-friendly solutions that are both effective and easy to prepare.”

Their effective homemade weed killer can be made using white vinegar, salt, and washing-up liquid. Simply spray the mixture on a dry day, ensuring all parts of the weed are covered, and the plants should perish within a week.

Method

To make this concoction at home, pour a gallon of white vinegar, preferably five percent household variety, into a container.

While this concentration might take an extra day or two to show results, it’s effective. Next, mix in a cup of regular table salt, stirring with a long spoon to ensure it’s fully dissolved.

Next, incorporate one tablespoon of liquid into the mixture. This soap ensures the vinegar and salt cover the weeds effectively.

Once well-mixed, transfer the concoction into a spray bottle for application.

According to the experts, vinegar is the main component. “Acetic acid, accounts for about five percent in household vinegar. As a desiccant, it extracts moisture from plant leaves, effectively killing the upper growth.

“It’s especially potent against young or small weeds. However, plants with deep roots, like dandelions, might resist its effects. The good news is acetic acid degrades swiftly in soil, causing only temporary harm. Accidental splashes on neighbouring plants might cause browning but are unlikely to be fatal.”

Salt is also used as “it can tackle some plants that vinegar might spare. However, its impact on soil lasts longer than vinegar, potentially harming the roots of adjacent plants.”

The last component is soap. Acting as a “surfactant, soap enhances the spread and absorption of vinegar or salt on weeds. It can also penetrate the waxy protective layer on some leaves, making the solution more effective.”