Does White Vinegar Kill Weeds?

Weed. A burden many of us know only too well. Thankfully, there are many weed-killing products on the market to rid us of this unwanted invader.

However, it can be hard to determine which product is best and if they are all environmentally safe to use. This is where organic products can step in. One being, white vinegar.

White vinegar has some excellent benefits with one being it’s much cheaper than other commercially made weed killers. And yes, it is effective at killing off weeds. White distilled vinegar can be used on backyard weeds, lawn weeds, and those tough weeds that somehow grow through concrete.

To successfully kill the weed, white distilled vinegar should be applied to the top of the weed. If any new weed growth appears, the vinegar should be reapplied until it eventually starves and dies.

What kills the weed is the acid contained in the vinegar. To get the best results, you should:

• Mix the vinegar with two teaspoons of dish soap. The soap will help the vinegar stick to the weeds. When combined, stir together in a bucket or bowl.
• Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spraying the vinegar out allows you to cover a wider area of weeds. 
• Try to spray on a sunny day. The acetic acid within vinegar helps dry out the weeds so it’s best to apply it when they will be in direct sunlight for at least a few hours. Spray in the morning so the weeds are dried out throughout the whole day.
• Spray directly onto the weeds. Also, spray down to the roots to kill these off too.

Does white vinegar kill ants?

Ants can be a nuisance and if they find their way into your home, you can soon become infested with the little creatures. Dealing with this can be complicated and that is why you should act as soon as you see the first ant.

Fortunately, you can kill these ants without using dangerous chemicals inside your home or in your backyard. 

White vinegar can be extremely effective and dealing with a current infestation of ants can prevent any more from appearing. To remove these ants from your home, follow these steps:

1. Mix a solution of two parts white vinegar and one part water and place into a spray bottle.
2. Examine the ants in your home to find out where their nest is. This can be done by following their trail to see where they are coming from and taking food back to.
3. Once you have found the location of the ant’s home, spray the white vinegar solution around this area. The ants will remain inside their nest due to the vinegar’s smell.
4. The solution will not instantly kill the ants. Instead, it will keep them from leaving their nest. This will lead to eventual starvation and death within the nest.
5. If you find any other possible entry points for the ants, spray the vinegar solution here too. This can include doorways and window sills. Therefore, new ants will be deterred from entering your home.

Does white vinegar remove mold?

Black mold can quickly spread throughout your home and most of the time, you may not know why. Once it starts spreading, it can be very challenging to remove. Even with frequent cleaning and disinfection, mold can continue to rampage throughout your home.

While there are numerous commercial products that can effectively remove mold, many contain harsh chemicals that may be as harmful, if not more, than the mold itself. This is why many people resort to using non-toxic products. One being, white vinegar.

White vinegar is mildly acidic and can be very efficient when cleaning and disinfecting certain items. It can also deodorize certain situations for half the price of commercially made products.

It has been found that white vinegar can kill up to 82% of mold species. This includes black mold on porous as well as non-porous surfaces. You can use this vinegar safely on most surfaces and don’t worry about its distinct odor. Although offensive at first, this smell can quickly disappear. 

To remove mold, pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle. You shouldn’t add any water as white vinegar only contains approximately 20% acetic acid. The addition of water will render the vinegar less effective.

Spray the vinegar onto the moldy area and leave for an hour or so. Then, wipe the area clean with water before allowing the surface to fully dry. The smell left by the vinegar should clear within just a few hours.

Will vinegar kill weeds but not grass?

The short answer is, yes. Unfortunately, vinegar may kill some of your beloved plants and patches of grass when you try to rid your lawn of weeds. However, this can depend on the type of vinegar you use. Standard household vinegar only has an acidic level of 5%. When applied to weeds or grass, this won’t make much of an impact, if any.

On the other hand, white vinegar tends to have a higher acidity of around 20% so while it may kill off your unwanted weeds, it may leave a shadow of death on your lawn too.

Many people prefer to use vinegar to kill weeds as it is chemical-free and harmless to humans, animals, and water supplies. That being said, it is a nonselective herbicide. This means it will also kill the grass it comes into contact with and nearby plants. Using it to kill weeds on concrete or in isolated areas can be highly effective but not so much where there are plants or grass around the weed.

You should always apply the vinegar directly onto the weed in which you wish to kill. This is why spray bottles are useful as you can aim accurately at your targeted area. However, even using this method can see splashes come in contact with other plants or patches of grass.

One of the best methods for applying vinegar to weeds in areas where grass or vegetation is located is to use a paintbrush. This allows you to directly control where the vinegar solution goes.