If you mean a homemade weed killer, the popular vinegar–salt–dish-soap recipe can kill small weeds, but it isn’t as universally effective as social-media posts suggest.
A safer, practical approach
- For weeds in cracks, gravel, or paths: pouring boiling water directly onto young weeds can provide short-term control.
- For young annual weeds: household vinegar (typically about 5% acetic acid) may burn the leaves, but it often won’t kill established roots.
- Avoid adding salt if you want to preserve your soil. Repeated salt applications can accumulate and damage soil and desirable plants.
- Don’t use concentrated horticultural vinegar as a casual DIY substitute. Strong acetic-acid products can cause serious skin and eye burns and should only be used according to their pesticide label.
Also, vinegar is non-selective: it can damage flowers, vegetables, grass, and other plants it contacts.
If you tell me where the weeds are (lawn, vegetable garden, driveway, patio cracks, or empty land), I can suggest the most effective homemade method for that specific situation.
