People think vinegar is a "friendly" way to clean...but as you see, it's not. Skip the vinegar and add a little Clorox to the water. The chlorine largely dissipates into the air....but vinegar keeps the soil acid for a long time. And try Simple Green instead of dish soap...maybe you won't even need to add Clorox.

I'm going to try soaking the ground (great idea!) and when clear of earthworms I'll try the Simple Green, which my sister also recommended. Thanks!

I use TSP and have seen no adverse effects on the flora and fauna.

From what I know of TSP, it is no longer widely used because of ecological problems it caused.

I believe you are thinking of STTP and not TSP.

Trisodium phosphate?

From "This Old House" - Old formulations of cleaning solutions, household-cleaner additiveUp until the 1960s, TSP was the key ingredient in most household cleaning solutions, especially for tough jobs like cleaning siding and concrete. It has been banned in many states but is still sold in some places as a degreaser. TSP is also sold as an additive for cleaning products because it is no longer included in modern formulations. In fact, the EPA still recommends the product for removing lead paint dust because it binds with lead and turns it into lead phosphate—though lead phosphate is now under scrutiny as a possible carcinogen. But mainly ecological concerns have led to a decrease in the use of TSP; phosphates, the main ingredient in fertilizer, can lead to the depletion of oxygen levels in water. In humans, concentrated amounts of the chemical cause difficulty breathing, swell the throat, can lead to vision loss, and can burn the skin.

STTP is a phosphate and is no longer used because of ecological concerns. It is a powder and you can purchase it at Amazon or the chemistry store but you won't find it already included in a cleaning product. You can still purchase TSP. I have seen it at our local hardware store.

Here is an eco-friendly cleaning brush that works great for cleaning vinyl siding (www.sidingbrush.com). No chemicals required so it's safe for plants...and earthworms. Good luck.

Tracey, it's actually better to do this when the soil is really dry because earthworms will go deep down in the soil to a level where there is moisture. If you soak the soil, worms will be right below the surface. I live in rainy Seattle & have tons of earthworms & nightcrawlers & many of them are right below the surface whenever the soil is moist. The nightcrawlers often forage at dawn & dusk & can be seen pulling decaying leaves into their burrows. I avoid spraying anything that could harm them until at least 1 ft of the top layer of soil is really dry (4-6 weeks without rain & without watering). They go deep down in the soil to where there is moisture. The deeper they are, the better chance you have of not harming them because the soil above will act like a filter.

I only water if worms start surfacing to dilute the irritant & then I water heavily (I collect the worms that surface & move them to another area & then use a sprinkler).