Do you feel like you're fighting a losing battle with driveway weeds? Nothing can make a house look more ratty and unkempt than weeds growing in the driveway or sidewalk. It seems that the joints and wood in the cement breed ideal conditions for weeds to flourish. And they stand out a lot more against the light colored cement than in the lawn.

Our first attack usually consists of trying to pull them out, but all that does is break them off. The result? Pruning, which means they come back thicker than before.

So next comes the store-bought weed killer with its harsh chemical makeup. With the growing awareness of environmental issues this does raise the question of safety and degree of impact on our surroundings.

Not to worry, folks, there is a natural alternative, one that you can make yourself from ordinary household ingredients which are in use every day. All we're talking about here is the following: Salt, liquid detergent and regular vinegar.

Combine them in the following manner: Dissolve one cup of ordinary table salt in one gallon of regular vinegar (5% acidity) then add slowly one tablespoon of any dishwashing liquid that you happen to have on hand. Vinegar comes in two kinds, white and regular and as they both consist of acetic acid diluted with water to 5% strength we have used both in our formulation and with equal results. Also, the exact proportions of the mix don't appear to affect its workability.

Put the mixture into a spray bottle and squirt the weeds until they're thoroughly wet. Around two days after spraying you'll see the weeds turning brown and eventually drying up.

And there you have it, folks. A weed killer that really does work. So well in fact, that you need to be very careful not to get it anywhere near the lawn, because it kills anything green that comes in contact. And the ground beneath the cement will be barren for a couple of years. This recipe is intended strictly for driveways and level sidewalks only.

We finally won the battle with our driveway. with just an occasional quick squirt once in a couple of months or so for the tiny weed we may have missed. So there you have it: an all natural weed killer that works while remaining friends with our environment. And, in saving money the price is always right!

Here's to green and healthful living.