The Magic of White Vinegar

[GLC1968]

White vinegar kills dandelions. I *heart* it for that alone!

[emily_in_nc]

But I kind of like the smell of vinegar. It reminds me of dying easter eggs as a child.

I agree! That's what I always get flashbacks to when I use it.

[Owlie]

Me too! I don't like it, but it does remind me of Easter egg dyeing.

We used it for cleaning the wood floors of our apartment. Not that it did a whole lot of good (the floors were in desperate need of refinishing). My mom suggested boiling a pot with vinegar to get burned on milk and potato off it. It took a few cycles of boiling and scrubbing, but it worked better than just soaking it.
It's also good for fixing dyes to wool--I'm thinking specifically of food coloring, no mordant needed. I've done it with Kool-aid, but not with vinegar+food coloring. I think I need to try it, just to make sure.
(Okay, so not too many people here will understand my yarn fixation, but I'm sure some will.)

[shootingstar]

didn't know it was a form of weedkiller.

Another useful household thing but for different stuff is baking soda. makes certain things shine by removing some grease off some pots, etc. I use it to brighten up my silver jewellery.

[SadieKate]

White vinegar kills dandelions. I *heart* it for that alone!

What? Just pour it on full strength? What about the grass or other vegetation?

And will you come help me with a midnight raid on a neighbors' yard?

[GLC1968]

What? Just pour it on full strength? What about the grass or other vegetation?

And will you come help me with a midnight raid on a neighbors' yard?

Sure! *insert evil laugh*

But yeah, it will probably kill grass, too. I poured about a half cup (full strength) over these two MASSIVE dandelions that were on the edge of our rose bush area. I poured it slowly so that it soaked in only where the weeds were (and didn't seep into the rose bushes). I've really only used it on the weeds in our gravel driveway or the path - not the lawn itself. You know, maybe I'll try it on the lawn this week anyway. It's not like I love our lawn all that much that a brown spot or two would bother me... I'll report back!

[Blueberry]

(Okay, so not too many people here will understand my yarn fixation, but I'm sure some will.)

Yep - on Ravelry?

[OakLeaf]

We use it on the weeds that come up between our paving stones. I worried a little about the pavers at first, but it doesn't seem to have hurt them. I don't mind the smell when it's in the backyard.

[Owlie]

Yep - on Ravelry?

Yes I am! (I'm sure you can guess my username.)

[grey]

White vinegar kills dandelions. I *heart* it for that alone!

NOOOOOO! You don't KILL dandelions, you EAT THEM!

"Dandelion is a spring tonic - somewhat laxative, mildly diuretic, and improves the function of the liver, promoting secretion of bile. As such, dandelion is an excellent blood-cleanser, helping rid the system of accumulated toxins and improving bad skin.
Fresh buds and flowers are a cleansing yet fortifying, trailside snack. The fresh greens are an excellent salad ingredient..." (I use them in place of arugula)

I make a tincture of dandelion roots & arial parts every spring... it's my secret hangover cure. A teaspoon in water and... bye bye hangover!

Roasted roots apparently make a decent coffee substitute. I haven't tried this, so I don't know. You can also make dandelion wine, and dandelion jelly, from the flowers.

We should be killing grass, not dandelions Besides... what kid doesn't love blowing those awesome seeds everywhere?
Edit: I guess I should be happy you are all using vinegar to kill "weeds" and not Roundup.
Edit 2: If you really want to get rid of dandelions, you have to dig them up. The whole thing - even a piece of root will let the plant regenerate.
You should eat what grows outside your door - in my case it's dandelions, plantain, lamb's quarters, and comfrey.


BACK ON TOPIC (sorry, just had to get that out!): I use vinegar, baking soda, salt & lemon for almost everything. For grout I mix baking soda & salt for a stronger scrub, lemon and baking soda clean & whiten my porcelain sink, and vinegar makes the baking soda fun and fuzzy.

Baking soda & lemon juice made into a paste will also get the funkies out of travel mugs (hubby forgets to bring them back home for DAYS sometimes) or water bottles.

Vinegar in a spray bottle + sunshine gets odors out of fabrics.

[GLC1968]

NOOOOOO! You don't KILL dandelions, you EAT THEM!

My dear, you are preaching to the choir! We eat dandelions too, but even if you eat them, they WILL take over everything else and I'd hate to miss out on all the other things we've planted because dandelions get out of control. Trust me, there are plenty left. NO ONE could eat all the dandelions on our property.

Even edible plants can be a problem.

I'm sure you've got Kudzu growing somewhere near you, right? Even though it's edible and nutritious, it's out of control all over the south. Some of it must be killed or it will take over everything!

Where I live, blackberries are an invasive species and must be held back or they destroy trees, other growing things and sometimes even barns and sheds! Yep, delicious blackberries can be destructive. Thankfully, our goats LOVE blackberry brambles so we don't have to resort to noxious chemicals.

Oh, and we don't kill grass at our place - we use it to feed our goats and chickens. Grass is a wonderous commodity when it's not confined to suburban lawns, so please...don't kill grass.

[jessmarimba]

I don't think grass will grow in my yard...at least the dandelions make it look green! Plus they spread from my yard all over my neighbors yard, which is my silent revenge for their complaints about my lack of yard work when I was in the hospital last year.

I just don't like the dandelions where they are growing through the sidewalk and patio around my house. Though milkweed is the worst offender there, and since the roots are below the concrete I can't even pull them up. Vinegar works fairly well on milkweed too though.

[grey]

My dear, you are preaching to the choir!

Oh *whew*

Kudzu hasn't made it this far north yet. I'm just south of Chattanooga. But yes - it's a problem to the south! Blackberries are also a bit invasive here, especially along roadsides for some reason (they make a decent snack on a ride, if you know they haven't been sprayed).

[tulip]

Oh *whew*

Kudzu hasn't made it this far north yet. I'm just south of Chattanooga. But yes - it's a problem to the south! Blackberries are also a bit invasive here, especially along roadsides for some reason (they make a decent snack on a ride, if you know they haven't been sprayed).

Must be the elevation, because kudzu is certainly north of you. All over NC and in Virginia, too.

I plant milkweed, also known as Butterfly Weed. It has a beautiful bloom and is the food source for Monarch butterflies and caterpillars. I just transplanted a whole bunch of seedlings that sprouted below a plant that I bought last year. I hope to cover my whole side yard with milkweed.

[itself]

What dilutiion do you use to kill weeds?

Also, I read on our bottle of CLR to test it as it can hurt porcelain, etc, so I have never used it. We have really bad calcium circles in our toilets, but I am afraid to use it. If you use CLR, please advise!