Does Dish Soap Kill Weeds? How to Make It Work For You
It's pretty simple, but is it effective?
Wega52 / Getty Images
Spring brings with it plenty of joy and growth: blooming flowers, blossoming buds, and happy, vibrant green leaves sprouting from previously bare trees. But it also brings with it a battle, one we often face with stubborn weeds that seem to sprout up overnight, invading our gardens, sidewalks, and driveways. They can be difficult to prevent, seemingly impossible to keep, and challenging to keep at bay.
But one trend has been taking over the gardening community—it involves getting rid of weeds with nothing more than a drop of dish soap. But does it actually work?
Does Dish Soap Kill Weeds?
Dozens of weed killers are on the market, but many of them are poisonous to people, plants, and pets, leading many gardeners to look for safer alternatives. Could the solution to your weed woes be lurking right in your kitchen cabinet? That’s right, dish soap, that humble hero of the kitchen sink, can also double up as an effective weed killer.
How to Kill Weeds Using Dish Soap
Gather Your Supplies: You only need a bottle of liquid dish soap, a spray bottle, some water, and a good attitude. You can use whatever brand you’d like, but try to stick to one with fewer harsh chemicals and additives.
Mix the Solution: Combine approximately 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well.
Target the Weeds: Prepare your aim and head into your sunny yard. Spray the solution directly onto the weeds' leaves and stems. While dish soap isn’t too aggressive, be careful not to spray any nearby plants you don’t want to get hurt.
Wait and Watch: Allow the solution to work its magic. It’ll take a few days, but you should start to see the weeds withering away. Repeat the process every week as needed.
Pros and Cons of Using Dish Soap to Kill Weeds
Pros
Inexpensive and you probably already have it under your kitchen sink, making it a budget-friendly option for weed control.
Using dish soap is relatively safe for the environment.
Dish soap is also a safer alternative for weed control since it isn’t toxic to people or pets.
Cons
May struggle to eradicate larger or more established weeds with deep root systems.
Risk of accidentally spraying and damaging nearby plants that you want to keep.
Not a long-term weed control solution, nor is it preventative.
Things to Consider
As you should with any new treatment, you might want to test it first. Before applying the soap solution to a large area, test it on a small area to ensure it doesn’t cause any unintended damage.
Opt for a mild, eco-friendly dish soap without added fragrances or antibacterial agents. They’ll likely be more effective this way.
Be patient. Killing weeds is not an instantaneous process, and it may take several days for the weeds to show signs of wilting.
You can always combine methods, using dish soap in combination with hand-pulling, mulching, and other weed management strategies.
Read Next: Weed Control Without Chemicals
Read the original article on The Spruce.
