Article: Vinegar contains acetic acid, which effectively kills weeds. Keep in mind that vinegar is non-selective and will kill any living plant it touches, not just weeds. White vinegar can be used alone, or you can add additional ingredients to the vinegar to make an even stronger solution. Avoid using vinegar on or near your lawn, since it will kill the grass. Vinegar will raise the acidity of your soil. Before planting, test the pH of your soil and adjust it accordingly, if needed. Use horticultural vinegar with 20% acetic acid for increased effectiveness between pavers or on patios. The extra acidity will affect the pH balance of your soil and other plants. Lemon juice contains high levels of citric acid and can be effective when used with the white vinegar. If you want to try it, simply mix the lemon juice in with your 2 c (400 mL) of white distilled vinegar. Dish soap can be a helpful addition to vinegar when you're dealing with weeds that have a waxy coating or a "hairy" surface, like dandelion and crabgrass. The fuzzy exterior blocks the absorption of vinegar, but dish soap will penetrate the outer protective layer of the plant and help the mixture stick to the leaves. You can use dish soap or dishwasher detergent in liquid or powder form. Dish soap can be used in conjunction with a lemon-vinegar mixture, but a soap and vinegar solution will be very effective. Isopropyl alcohol can be very effective when mixed with white vinegar or even when used alone. You can also use cheap gin to achieve similar results. Simply add the alcohol of your choice to the white vinegar and stir it thoroughly. You can use alcohol, vinegar, and lemon juice together in one mixture, but a solution that strong may cause soil damage. You can use the full-strength solution if your weed problem is severe, but this is typically too strong. A 50/50 mix diluted with water will be very effective on weeds without traumatizing the area where it's used. Full strength solutions may penetrate the soil and kill the roots of plants other than weeds. They can also disturb crucial microorganisms in the soil. Use a funnel to transfer the solution to a spray bottle, then replace the nozzle tightly. Apply the solution to the weeds and monitor the results for 24 hours. If needed, you can apply more solution, but you probably won't need to. Set the nozzle to "stream" rather than "spray" if the weeds are growing close to plants that you don't want to kill. Don't forget -- weed killer does not discriminate. It will kill any plant it comes in contact with, so use it carefully!
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Start with 2 c (400 mL) of white distilled vinegar. Add 2 to 3 tbsp (29 to 44 mL) of lemon juice concentrate, if desired. Add 1 to 2 tsp (7 to 14 mL) of dish soap to kill particular plants. Mix 1 fl oz (30 mL) of rubbing alcohol into white vinegar. Dilute the vinegar solution 1:1 with water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and apply it to your weeds.