While working on cars, there are always plenty of automotive chemicals that you will need to discard when changing out fluids. Brake fluid is a common fluid that is commonly changed and disposed of. But instead of just disposing of it or throwing it out, did you know there are a few other uses for it?
When it comes to weeds, plants, and grass, brake fluid is one of the most toxic automotive fluids out there. Brake fluid will definitely kill weeds if they are exposed to it, along with any other grass or plants in the area.
In a study, brake fluid was actually considered to be the most toxic to plant life when compared with automatic transmission fluid, and antifreeze otherwise known as coolant. If you don’t have any weed killer available, then using brake fluid is a great alternative.
What Does Brake Fluid Do to Grass/Weeds?
In the study shown above, brake fluid is one of the worst chemicals that you could put on your plants or grass. Once your grass or weeds is exposed to brake fluid, they should completely be dead within about 4 days. The grass or weeds will slowly turn into a thing almost spiderweb like string, rendering them dead.
This is mainly due to the toxicity of brake fluid. Unlike other chemicals like coolant or transmission fluid, brake fluid actually kills plants with exposure. Some other chemicals will cause stunted growth, but not always kill.
Exposing your grass/weeds to brake fluid is a surefire way to get rid of them. Just let it be known that you won’t be able to grow any form of plant life in that area once it is exposed to brake fluid. The toxicity that brake fluid leaves behind can make it so you won’t be able to have any plant life for weeks
How to Use Brake Fluid to Kill Weeds
If you are going to be using brake fluid to kill your weeds, we recommend doing it in a controlled area. Many people will use their brake fluid to kill the weeds in between the cracks of cement on either their front driveway, porch, and backyard patio slabs.
Simply pour a small amount of brake fluid along the cracks where weeds are present. you will not need to oversaturate the area, just make sure it is exposed to it, as if you were going to water the weeds, except you are using brake fluid.
We do not recommend using brake fluid to kill weeds among your flowers or grass that you do not want damaged. Pouring brake fluid in the soil where both flowers or grass is present with the weeds will most likely cause a small area of the soil to be contaminated and nothing will be able to grow.
How Long Does it Take for Brake Fluid to Kill Weeds?
It will take about 4 days on average for brake fluid to completely kill weeds. we recommend putting a little bit of brake fluid on the weeds everyday for 4 days to ensure that the weeds are completely killed.
If you notice weeds starting to grow back in a few weeks, just repeat the process of placing brake fluid on them for about 4 days. We don’t recommend using brake fluid as your primary source of grass or weed killer due to its toxicity to the surrounding soil.
In the long term, it’s always best to use some sort of weed killer that is specifically designed to kill weeds or grass.
What Liquid Kills Weeds Permanently?
There are quite a few liquids that will kill weeds, but unfortunately there is not a liquid that will kill weeds permanently. Any type of weed killer or liquid used to remove weeds will eventually start to wear off, and the weeds will start to grow again.
Here are a few other liquids besides brake fluid that will kill weeds:
- Household Bleach
- Vinegar mixed with Dish Soap
- Epsom Salt mixed with Dish Soap
- Weed Killer
Removing weeds permanently isn’t possible, but managing and preventing their growth is. Using preventative measures like setting up landscape fabric or placing mulch in flower beds and around plants will help reduce the chances of weeds growing.
Mulch and landscape fabric both help by reducing the amount of sunlight that exposed areas of soil can receive which will effectively limit the growth of potential weeds in and around your garden.
Does Brake Fluid Kill Plants?
Brake fluid will definitely kill plants. Brake fluid is just as toxic to plants as it is to weeds and grass. If you are trying to eliminate weeds around your plants, then it is not recommended to use brake fluid as this will contaminate the surrounding soil.
We recommend using a weed killer like Round Up which can be found on Amazon. This spray comes with a protective shield that you place directly over the weeds to protect your vital plant or vegetable life. Kill weeds without damaging your garden or plants.
Final Thoughts
Regularly working on cars can leave you with an excess of fluids to throw. Whether the excess fluid is brake fluid, transmission fluid, or even coolant, don’t be quick to throw them out. All these toxic fluids are actually effective at killing grass and weeds.
When it comes to fluids, brake fluid is the most toxic when it comes to plant life. Pouring brake fluid on weeds, grass, or plants will pretty much ensure that they will be dead within about 4 days of exposure.
Remember to always be smart and safe. We don’t recommend using brake fluid in the soil near any type of plants that have vegetables or fruits on them. We highly recommend using a weed killer with a protective shield that will just kill the weeds without contaminating all of the soil around it.