23 hours Ago By Sayan Bose
TOP cleaning experts have revealed a 54p hack to get rid of annoying weeds growing on driveways — and it works way better than vinegar. The wild, troublesome bushes are the ultimate gatecrashers in the garden and on pavements - but there is an easy trick to get rid of them . While most gardeners like to use vinegar as an effective solution to remove weeds, many experts argue that it is not the most effective method to kill the wild plants .
That is because vinegar is acidic in nature and may damage your patio slabs and other surfaces which are made of limestone or concrete. Vinegar may cause gastrointestinal issues in pets who lick it off those surfaces. While many gardeners spend hours on their hands and knees trying to dig them up, it turns out there's a much quicker and easier solution - and it's all thanks to a household item you'll already have in your kitchen.
more smart hacks A frustrated gardener who struggled to keep the "weeds in check" sought for some advice on getting rid of weeds on the poplar Facebook page on the Gardening Hints and Tips . She wrote: "I’ve seen lots of posts lately about the use of white vinegar and salt for weed killing. "I have a gravel-covered drive and can’t seem to keep the weeds in check, even using the recommended weed killer for paths.
"Would they work on the drive, or is there something better? There are no other plants in the vicinity, and it's not like I would be planting anything on the drive in future .” Most read in Fabulous Many experts quickly commented on her post, suggesting she use laundry detergent instead. One person said: "I used to use vinegar on my alleyway, and it worked, but washing powder was better for me.
” Another expert added: "Laundry powders are amazing on gravel weeds. You can see the results almost instantly.” A third homeowner wrote: "I had success with some cheap detergent powder and boiling water.
” Gardening expert Tom Clifford agreed that using detergent is a more effective solution. And using one scoop of detergent could cost users as low as 54p. Tom said: "Strong chemical weed killers, although effective, can often be harmful to your patio surface, especially if it’s made from delicate stone.
"Washing powder offers a gentler option that shouldn’t harm your patio surface but will effectively kill weeds." KILLER PRODUCT But how exactly does the household product work at killing weeds? One of the main ingredients in washing powder is something known as boron, which is toxic to plants and will cause them to wither and eventually die, according to Ideal Home . Not only that, but the soaps in the laundry detergent strip the weeds of the natural oils that help to protect the leaves.
Once this protective coating is destroyed, the weeds are then a target for the likes of boron, which will kill them in an instant. Fabulous previously told how Steven Bell, the Managing Director of Paving Shopper, also championed washing powder for getting rid of weeds . “Laundry detergent is an affordable and efficient way to tackle moss," he explained.
''The beauty of this approach is that it requires no scrubbing; nature does the heavy lifting with the help of rainfall.” Read More on The Sun He went on to explain that you simply need to scatter the laundry detergent over the mossy patches when they're dry, before letting the rain wash it away. ''This method is straightforward and kind to the environment, posing no threat to the adjacent grass or plant life,” he added.
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