10 Homemade & Natural Weed Killers That Actually Work

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Weeds are a part of gardening none of us love, but hopefully these homemade and natural weed killer ideas will give you a greater sense of satisfaction. Save yourself some headache (and money) with these 10 pet- and kid-friendly homemade weed killer solutions to help you avoid chemicals.

Since each of these is a hearty green killer, it also means most will kill grass and other plants, so avoid using them where they’ll damage your lawn. And for best results, use each during the sunniest part of the day.

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1. Spray unwanted broadleaf weeds with a homemade weed killer — vodka.

Spray unwanted broadleaf weeds with Vodka.

Broadleaf weeds like dandelions, wild onions, chickweeds, and plantain weeds can be a pain. To kill them effectively, funnel vodka into a squirt bottle and spray the entire weed body when it’s exposed to extreme sun on a warm day.

This DIY broadleaf weed killer will remove the waxy coating on the leaves, and the hot sun will dry them up. Once the weeds are dead, pull them out and dispose of them. Avoid using vodka on grass.

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2. Borax is a natural weed killer that’s easy to sprinkle on unwanted greens.

Sprinkle Borax on unwanted weeds or plants for a natural herbicide.

Borax is a lot more useful than for just cleaning your clothes. The pH in this homemade weed and grass killer is high enough that it will kill the vegetation it comes in contact with. Be careful not to use it near flowers or vegetables, as it will damage the growth of those too.

That’s not all Borax can do; there are so many legit ways to use Borax around the house!

3. Douse weeds between concrete or bricks with lemon juice — another natural weed killer.

A spray nozzle attached to a bottle of lemon juice and being sprayed onto weeds growing in cracks.

A true eco-friendly solution — lemon juice — will kill unwanted weeds in just a day or two, thanks to lemons’ acidity. As with vodka, this DIY weed killer treatment is most effective when the weeds are doused on a hot, sunny day.

4. Vinegar weed killer works surprisingly well.

Does vinegar kill weeds? Studies have proven that it’s a natural remedy that works. Vinegar is “non-selective,” meaning it will kill anything green, but a spray bottle filled with vinegar is a great solution for killing leafy weeds.

Note: Because of its acidity, it runs the risk of lowering the pH of the soil. Make sure to wear protective clothing and eye protection while using any of the solutions.

5. Scald your weeds with boiling water, a simple DIY weed killer.

Boiling water is great for weed control. It can destroy unruly weeds growing between pavers and pathways. Carefully pour the water close to the ground to avoid splashing yourself and harming any plants you want to keep. It will kill any plant it comes in contact with.

RELATED: Genius Gardening Hacks You’ll Regret Not Knowing

6. Follow up boiling water with salt as a homemade weed killer.

Someone pouring salt onto a sidewalk crack as a weed killer

Need to know how to kill weeds naturally? Use salt. After scalding your weeds with boiling water, sprinkle a little rock or table salt on them. This will ensure that all unwanted weeds die. Apply it carefully: it will kill grass and plants, and in cold climates, it can contribute to concrete erosion.

7. Clove and peppermint oil are natural weed killers and also keep away bugs.

Add clove and peppermint oil to naturally kill weeds and keep away bugs.

Clove oil is a weed control option that damages the cellular membranes of plants while it, along with peppermint oil, helps to keep away unwanted pests like ants.

Combine the essential oils, pure white vinegar, and dish soap, stirring the mixture well. Add the solution to a spray bottle, and get to work saturating your weeds. Avoid spraying on plants and grass you want to keep alive.

Natural Weed Killer Recipe:

4 cups pure white vinegar
1 Tbsp. dish soap
15 drops clove oil
15 drops peppermint oil

8. Use rubbing alcohol as a weed killer hack to kill dandelions.

Woman pouring rubbing alcohol into a measuring spoon then spray bottle to kill weeds

As a homemade weed killer, fill a clean squirt bottle with 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol and 1 quart water. Saturate the dandelions with the mixture, being certain to wet all the leaves. The rubbing alcohol will draw out moisture, killing the plant. For best results, apply the mixture on a sunny day, avoiding grass and other plants.

9. Baking soda + vinegar = natural weed killer for driveway and sidewalk cracks.

Baking soda being sprinkled on a sidewalk crack then sprayed with vinegar to kill weeds

I know you’ve been waiting to learn how to make weed killer with vinegar and baking soda. These two classic household items pretty much work well anywhere.

Baking soda is great for killing weeds in driveway or sidewalk cracks. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda directly on the weeds then spray on vinegar. A chemical reaction will occur, and the weeds will begin to shrivel and die. This solution works best when weeds are growing fast in the spring and fall.

Tip: Baking soda and vinegar are not just some of the best weed killers around, they’re also great for cleaning pretty much everything. Check out these genius cleaning hacks.

10. Make your own vinegar and salt weed killer with pure Castile soap.

Person adding drops of essential oils into a sprayer and using the solution as a weed killer

For an all-natural solution, combine pure white vinegar, salt, and liquid Castille soap. Funnel the mixture into a spray bottle. For best results, treat weeds with the mixture at the sunniest time of day.

Non-Toxic Weed Killer Recipe:

1 gallon pure white distilled vinegar
2 cups Epsom salt
1/4 cup pure Castille soap

Mix the ingredients together and get to spraying! If you only have time to spray your weeds on a cloudy day, add 10 to 15 drops of orange essential oil. The orange and vinegar combined will give the solution an added punch. Think of it as the weed-killing boost you’d normally get from the sunlight.