The 3-Ingredient DIY Weedkiller Recipe That Costs Pennies and Actually Works!
DIY Weedkiller Recipe. Commercial weed killer is expensive, often full of harsh chemicals, and rarely works as well as advertised. Fortunately, you can create a super-effective, natural solution using three common household ingredients.
In this guide, we break down the exact DIY Weedkiller recipe, application technique, and show you the proven results—killing established, tough weeds in just 72 hours!
1. The Cost-Saving DIY Weedkiller Recipe
This recipe creates approximately 3.5 liters of highly potent, cheap weed killer. The goal is to maximize the concentration of natural ingredients.
| Ingredient | Quantity (Approximate) | Purpose |
| White Distilled Vinegar | 3 x 1.14L bottles (Approx. 3.42 L) | The Acetic Acid in the vinegar is the primary killing agent. |
| Ordinary Cooking Salt | ~½ a cup full | The salt dries out the weeds, ensuring long-term killing action. |
| Dish Soap | 1–2 Tablespoons | Acts as a surfactant to help the solution stick to the waxy leaves. |
How to Mix the Solution
- Add Vinegar: Open your pump-action spray bottle (a 5-liter bottle is recommended) and pour in all the vinegar.
- Add Salt & Shake: Pour in about a half cup of cheap cooking salt, seal the bottle, and shake thoroughly until all the salt is completely dissolved into the vinegar .
- Add Soap: Open the bottle and add 1-2 tablespoons of dish soap. This is crucial for effectiveness.
- Final Mix: Seal the bottle again and shake well to ensure the soap is evenly mixed with the solution.
- Pressurize: Pump the spray bottle to get it ready for application.
2. Cost Breakdown: How Cheap is it?
The major appeal of this recipe is the incredible cost savings compared to store-bought products.
For 3.5 liters of solution:
| Item | Cost (Approx.) |
| Vinegar | £2.10 (3 x £0.70) |
| Salt | £1.90 (used about 1/3 of the bag) |
| Dish Soap | £0.69 (used a tiny amount) |
| Total Cost | £4.69 |
After accounting for leftover salt and soap, the estimated final cost is around £1.01 per liter, making it far cheaper than any commercial alternative!
3. The Results: Weeds Dead in 72 Hours
This DIY Weedkiller Recipe was tested on thick, established weeds, including tough stinging nettles, and the results were dramatic:
- 12 Hours: The weeds started to discolor and look slightly dried out.
- 24 Hours: The solution had a significant impact, with most leaves turning a sickly brown. Very little green remaining.
- 48 Hours: Nearly everything was completely dead.
- 72 Hours: The weeds were entirely dead, dried out, and crispy. The solution proved to be highly effective.
Application Tip
To ensure success, set your nozzle to a mist setting and get in close. Cover as much of the leaf foliage as possible to allow the solution to stick and dry out the plant.
Watch the full video for the live results and demonstration: Home Made DIY Weedkiller That Really Works (and Costs Pennies!)
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