I thought I read somewhere that Dawn liquid soapcould be used to make weed killer stick better. Any ideas or input? Thanks
cheap surfactant?
crete
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It depends, surfactant rates are calculated based on the volume of liquid--not on the square feet. If you are going high volume, (like 3 gal per thousand), the surfactant may cost more than the herbicide. In low volume, cost is not much of a factor. If you are high gallons and really cheap, like me, then the dollar store is your friend. A half bottle of cheap dish detergent is fine or maybe a cup of laundry detergent in 400 gallons. Sometimes it smells really nice. Of course you may have foaming problems--depends on your agitation.
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I have a local supplier that I get a 2.5 for like $32 or $35 and it works great. I tried it side by side with helena induce and had equal results with both on speed and total control but at half the price. Tried dish soap before and I will say that it helped but I prefer my typical 80/20 over that by far. How ever if i was in a bind I would use it again.
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Tractor Supply sells some that pretty inexpensive from what I remember the last time I bought some.
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Crete
I buy Joy in 64 oz bottles for $ 2.96 from Walmart and it works fine. I tank mix one 64 oz Joy in 200 gallons and get a 0.25% soap solution as my sticker. If I am going after Grubs, I will use two bottle of Joy per 200 gallons because the soap helps break ground tension.
BTW My total Chemical Cost to kill an acre of Fire Ants is under $ 10.00
Well, I can't speak to using a surfactant for spray uses, but I've used it for preventing water spots on photographic film, and the amount required varies greatly with the water hardness. Here on Long Island, our water is VERY soft, and I had better luck diluting my rinse aid at 800:1 instead of the 200:1 ratio on the label (this lower concentration was suggested for very soft water deep in the application notes). When mixed at the 200:1 ratio, I experienced a slimy filmy residue left on the surface after allowed to dry, but this would not be an issue in harder water.
If you really need to shop for surfactant in the supermarket, forget the dish soap, and get jet-dry. Dish soap foams an awful lot, and you need a lot of it to get results. Jet-dry is INCREDIBLY concentrated. It goes a LONG way, and won't foam if diluted sufficiently.
If you really need to shop for surfactant in the supermarket, forget the dish soap, and get jet-dry. Dish soap foams an awful lot, and you need a lot of it to get results. Jet-dry is INCREDIBLY concentrated. It goes a LONG way, and won't foam if diluted sufficiently.
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Another option would be laundry soap for HE washers since its sud free, it too is ultra concentrated.
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Joe
The Original Question was for a CHEAP SURFACTANT not an effective one. In my earlier post I said I use Dish Soap for Treating Fire Ants and Dish Soap is Effective treating Fire Ants and Grubs. Dish soap breaks Surface tension and allowing Insecticide to sink.
As for Foliar Herbicides, Nothing IMHO beats MSO or LI 700 as a surfactant. But MSO cost $ 15.00 a Gallon and LI 700 Cost $ 28.00 a gallon compared to under $ 6.00 a Gallon for Dish soap. Of course using these Surfactants means you can use less Herbicide and get the same response in a quicker time period. But the question was not What is the Most Economic or effect Surfactant and it is not my job to educate the unwashed masses.
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Dude.... Buy a REAL surfactant. And not the cheapest thing on the shelf either... I switched from Dawn Dish soap, to Hiyeild Surfac-820 (I think that's the name) and from there to a much higher priced surfactant... and it makes a HUGE difference in the effectiveness of my apps. My call-backs have fallen some 80% this year, even though my customer base has allready grown 30%... so $$$ talks
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Dish soap, just heard that on the radio from the local greenhouse.
:laugh:
That will be the day I use dish soap instead of LI700.
:hammerhead:
:laugh:
That will be the day I use dish soap instead of LI700.
:hammerhead:
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Young
Don't get so get so proud you fall fall on your tail. Surfactants do a special job and each one has a different advantage. There is nothing wrong and in fact a lot of Right in using Dish Soap over LI 700 on certain applications.
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I use Mr. Bubbles...
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LOL leave the lid off...... its a volcano. that might be a new idea bubble soak the lawns ?????
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Yes he should teach a course. At least he doesnt fish for arguments like a few others here. SA. Or wait
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That's funny. I think we should all go buy some Mr. Bubbles! LMFAO!
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