How to Use a Homemade Weed Killer With Vinegar

A guide to protecting your landscape with a three-ingredient weed killer recipe

By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

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Updated on 04/26/24
Reviewed by
Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller
Reviewed by Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and horticulturist with over 30 years of experience in organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column.
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Fact checked by
Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel
Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 2 days
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $20 to $35

The right vinegar weed killer recipe has the power to kill weeds. The higher the acetic acid percentage of the vinegar, the deadlier it will be. The type of vinegar used for culinary purposes is relatively low in acetic acid (around 5 percent) but horticultural products with a higher acetic acid content (20 percent to 30 percent) are available at garden supply and home improvement stores. Read on to learn a simple and effective vinegar weed killer recipe and application method for this strong mixture.

Warning

The potency of high-percentage acetic acid products used for killing weeds renders them unsafe, so use care when handling. Do not let them come in contact with your skin, and avoid touching your face when using them.

closeup of dandelions

The Spruce / Sarah Crowley 

When to Apply Vinegar

When practicing natural weed control, know which weeds you are battling before using vinegar on them.

Annual Weeds

Learn when annual weeds set seed, so you can target them before they spawn a new generation. Depending on the weed, this can be in the spring or summer. If you catch them in time, one application of vinegar will often be enough to solve your weed problem.

Perennial Weeds

Perennial weeds, such as dandelions, are not as easy to defeat. It's a good idea to snap off dandelion flowers whenever you see them so they don't propagate via seeding. However, while their leaves die back in the winter, they typically live on through their roots. The plant will weaken and finally die with diligent, repeated applications of the vinegar herbicide.

The Limitations of Vinegar

A commercial weed killer is usually effective after one or two tries because the weed absorbs the chemical and permanently kills the root. Vinegar typically does topical damage to the weed unless you can apply it directly to the roots.

Because it's nonselective, vinegar is not an especially effective method for killing weeds in lawn areas because you may end up with patches of brown lawn. It is best to use vinegar in areas where lawn grass and other landscaping plants are out of the way, such as patios or walkways where isolated weeds push through the cracks.

Warning

The high acidic content of herbicidal vinegar could eventually affect stone and other hard materials when regularly reapplied.

Reapplying

You will probably have to reapply the vinegar to get the job done, especially with perennial weeds. Vinegar will be more effective on younger weeds and annual weeds, such as crabgrass. However, even many herbicidal products, including organic ones, need a reapplication.

illustration of how to kill weeds with vinegar

The Spruce

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Spray bottle
  • Paintbrush
  • Protective clothing, eyewear, and gloves
  • Face mask

Materials

  • Horticultural vinegar (20-30 percent)
  • Liquid dish detergent
  • Water

Instructions

  1. Wait for Sunny Weather

    Wait for a forecast with a few continuous days of sunshine before applying the vinegar.

    A sunny period is important. Rain will wash off the vinegar. Most importantly, however, you need the sun to hit the leaves a few days after application to damage the weeds.

    dandelions

    The Spruce / Sarah Crowley 

  2. Wear Protection

    Before handling strong vinegar, put on gloves, eye protection, and secure clothing. A face mask is also highly recommended in case of splashes and spills.

    Gardening gloves

    The Spruce / Margot Cavin

  3. Mix the Herbicide Recipe

    Gather your three ingredients, vinegar, water, and dish soap, and follow this recipe: 

    • Combine 4 parts vinegar to 1 part water. 
    • Add about an ounce of dish soap to a gallon of the mixture. 
    • Mix well in a spray bottle or other container (if you are not spraying the mix).

    When the weed growth slows down in the summer, reduce the mixture to 1 part vinegar and 1 part water with 1 teaspoon or so of dish soap.

    The dish soap is a surfactant that improves the effectiveness of the vinegar, allowing it to stay on the vegetation's waxy coating long enough to penetrate. The surfactant helps the vinegar grab onto the weed so it can work together with the sun to damage the plant.

    Making a vinegar mixture

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Tip

    Zap a few tiny weeds using undiluted household vinegar (5 percent) with a drop of dish detergent as a quick fix.

  4. Apply the Mixture

    Carefully spray or paint the vinegar onto only the weeds you wish to kill. To avoid damaging nearby plants or other materials with the mixture, paint your homemade herbicide directly onto the weeds with a brush.

    If applying the mixture with a spray bottle, pull the trigger only when you are right up close to the targeted weed.

    Warning

    Do not spray horticultural vinegar on plants if it is breezy or windy outside. The vinegar can accidentally spray onto other plants and harm them.

    spraying weeds with vinegar

    The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

    Natural Garden Care: Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer
FAQ
  • Can vinegar kill weeds permanently?

    If you use horticultural vinegar correctly and diligently, you may be able to kill the roots of stubborn weeds, like dandelions.

  • Is homemade vinegar weed killer better than commercial options?

    Homemade vinegar weed killer, along with other DIY weed-killing options, will take a bit more time to work than the faster-acting commercial options.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Acetic Acid. CDC.

  2. Webber III, Charles L. et al. Impact of Acetic Acid Concentration, Application Volume, and Adjuvants on Weed Control Efficacy. Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 10, no. 8, 2018, p. 1. Canadian Center of Science and Education, doi:10.5539/jas.v10n8p1

  3. Does Vinegar Kill Weeds? Montana State University Extension.