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The Pros And Cons Of Using Laundry Detergent To Kill Weeds
By SANDY BAKER
Powdered laundry detergent can effectively destroy weeds and limit moss growth; however, adding any type of chemical into your garden must be done cautiously and in a targeted way.
Identify all the ingredients in your laundry detergent to ensure none are toxic to pets, wildlife, and groundwater before using it and potentially harming your garden’s ecosystem.
Some ingredients, like borax, can be used in small amounts to spot-treat weeds without causing much damage, but large amounts can harm nearby grass, soil, plants, and even animals.
Some gardeners recommend diluting detergents to as little as 10 ounces to 2 ½ gallons of water and applying that to an area of no less than 1,000 square feet to minimize risks.
Choose ingredients based on the type of weed you need to kill, and use higher concentrations in a limited area, applying it directly to the weeds and avoiding other plants.
Avoid using soap, detergent, or chemical-based products where children and pets can access them, and where possible use natural products and herbicides that are safe for your area.