Gardeners looking for a homemade weed killer might already have what they need in their kitchen. While it's not as well-known as some popular hacks, one item often found in drink cabinets could be useful around the garden.
Vodka can be used to tackle common weeds, such as dandelions. Jen McDonald, a certified organic garden specialist, told Homes and Gardens: "Vodka can be used in place of herbicides to kill broad-leaf weeds, such as dandelions. A garden cocktail consisting of one ounce vodka, two cups of water, and a few drops of Castile dish soap will do the trick."
How to Apply the Vodka Mixture
"Serve it up in a spray bottle and apply directly to weeds on a sunny day. The vodka and sunlight will scorch the weeds, making them easier to pull within a few days," McDonald added.
For gardeners who don't have vodka to use, other common kitchen ingredients, such as bicarbonate of soda and distilled vinegar, can also do the trick. Demonstrating the method on TikTok, content creator and author Michael Griffiths explained how to use the two-ingredient mixture.
Alternative Vinegar and Bicarbonate Mix
Posting as @Themichaelgriffiths, the gardening enthusiast shared a 'homemade weed killer that actually works'. He said: "The first ingredient to use is distilled vinegar. This works as a herbicide. The second ingredient is bicarbonate of soda, but don't add too much bicarbonate at once, or it will fizz everywhere."
Instead, add it slowly, mixing as you go. This will create a more effective weed destroyer. Make sure it's all mixed together and add it to a spray bottle. Give the weed a good soaking, and it'll be finished before you know it.
In the caption, he added: "I used a 2:1 (two parts vinegar, one part bicarbonate) solution. Mix together until the solution is completely clear otherwise it will clog your spray bottle. Give the weed a really good soak. This is best used on young weeds."
Social Media Reactions
The video impressed social media users, gaining thousands of likes. Reacting to the post, a social media user said: "I use vinegar and salt plus put in a splash of washing up liquid so the mixture sticks to the plants. Works wonders."
Someone else thought: "Salt, white vinegar and washing up liquid. Perfect combination." Another comment read: "I make my own weedkiller, vinegar, a small squeeze of dish liquid, a small teaspoon of salt, give it a good shake, works a treat." A different reply claimed: "Boiling water straight out of the kettle works best."
