After a UK spring with warm weather and the odd shower, many are finding their patios overrun by stubborn weeds. From dandelions to chickweed, these unwelcome guests plant themselves firmly between paving stones.
Yanking them out by hand is always an option. However, it’s a tedious and often painful task that can wreak havoc on your joints. In a bid for help, one woman took to the ‘Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips’ online community to seek advice on banishing weeds from her patio slabs.
Posting to the group, she said: “Hi, does anyone know how to get rid of weeds between patio slabs? I think I have seen something about white vinegar. Many thanks.”
The number of suggestions she received was overwhelming, but the standout answer involved using salt on its own or paired with vinegar and dishwashing liquid.
One person recommended: “Big tub of cheap table salt is about 30p last time I looked. Dissolved some in water and use that after you’ve pulled what you can up then it goes straight to any roots… [they] stay away for ages.”
Another advised: “Salt and white vinegar. Tip is to do this on a warm sunny day, works a treat.”
Someone else shared their approach: “I poured boiling water on them and sprinkled salt on. Definitely shrivelled them up.
“I then grabbed a gardening tool resembling a wire brush with a long handle, and tackled the cracks where the weeds had been flourishing but were now brown and dried up, easily removing them. It was both affordable and straightforward.”
Salt is a powerful weed killer, as it disrupts their water balance and effectively dehydrates them. The application of salt creates a barren zone, preventing the growth of weeds and other plants in that area for some time.
Shoppers can find table salt at bargain prices, with Waitrose offering it for 75p, Sainsbury’s for 69p, and Ocado for just 40p.
Mrs Hinch fans have also put forward alternative solutions such as boiling water, white vinegar on its own, and using a weed burner.
One person shared her method: “I have a portable weed burner that works well.”
Someone else suggested another simple solution: “Boiling water works a treat. Try it.”
And a third offered her advice: “White vinegar works overnight. Also safer for pets.”