The headline “THIS burns weeds in 1 day! They NEVER grow again” is typical clickbait. The “THIS” is often one of these:
- Vinegar
- Boiling water
- Salt
- A mixture of vinegar, salt, and dish soap
- A commercial herbicide
The claim that weeds “never grow again” is usually false. Here’s what actually happens:
- Boiling water: Kills the above-ground parts of many weeds quickly, but deep-rooted or perennial weeds may regrow.
- Household vinegar: Can burn leaves within hours or a day, but it often doesn’t kill the roots of established weeds.
- Salt: Can kill weeds, but it also remains in the soil and can prevent other plants from growing. It can also leach into surrounding areas, so it’s generally not recommended for garden beds.
- Commercial herbicides: Some systemic herbicides kill both leaves and roots, but even they don’t prevent new weeds from sprouting from seeds later.
For long-term weed control, the most effective approach is usually a combination of:
- Pulling or digging out roots of perennial weeds.
- Applying mulch to block sunlight.
- Using targeted herbicides only when appropriate and according to the label.
- Preventing weeds from going to seed.
So while some methods can make weeds appear dead within a day, no single treatment guarantees they will “never grow again.” New weeds can emerge from surviving roots or from seeds already in the soil.
