Boiling Water

• Boiling water makes an excellent weed killer.kettle and red tea-pot image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Boiling water is a very effective weed killer, especially for killing the roots that cause them to regrow. For this reason be very careful not to pour your kettle of boiling water onto roots of nearby plants. Water can run before it soaks in, so caution is advised.
  
  

Bleach

• Bleach can be dangerous and does burn plants. When using bleach as a weed killer, put about half a cup into your plant spray bottle and use it on the leaves of the weed you wish to kill. If it goes onto a plant you like, wash it off immediately and the plant should survive. Bleach eventually evaporates, so spilling it into the soil or onto other plants should not cause a lasting effect.
  
  

Vinegar

• Either white distilled or cider vinegar will work. Vinegar kills leaves, not roots. It is best used on young plants. If you spray and respray, eventually it will kill older more pesky weeds after repeat spraying. Add about half a cup of vinegar to your plant spray bottle to kill any invading weeds.
  
  

Salt

• Salt is extremely effective for killing weeds--and everything else.salt and pepper image by Rog999 from Fotolia.com
  
  Salt has been used to destroy whole regions of farmer's land, causing an inability to grow food for decades by military crop dusters in past wartime efforts. Use salt when you want to be sure the weeds don't return to a certain area (or anything else, for that matter). You can sprinkle pinches of salt directly onto the earth under your problem plants. Use caution, because salt will disappear into the soil with the first moisture, altering its pH values and causing no plant growth for a long time.
  
  

Newspaper

• This is a good way to recycle old newspapers. When you place a newspaper over a plant, it kills it. A short stack, (about four sheets) especially if you expect rain, will weigh down the plant. Step on the newspaper cover after you place it over the weeds. Rain will dissolve the paper over time, however the weeds should be gone before this happens if you put enough layers on top. Newspaper can also be used as plant mulch, and to hold water in the soil for less watering. Aim for soy based inks on the newspaper or magazines if you are working with food crops. Some commercial inks are known to be toxic.
  
  

Rubbing Alchohol

• Rubbing alcohol draws out moisture and causes it to evaporate. When sprayed on a plant it is very effective and can bring a quick death to the weed when used in strong solutions. Use one part rubbing alcohol to one part water. Again, do not allow the spray to mist onto other plants that are wanted. If this occurs, wash the plant immediately. Alcohol burns quickly so caution should be employed.