*Credit for this answer goes to my mum.*

When we (wife and I) moved into our current home 4 years ago, the front and back lawns were covered in [dandelions](http://extension.missouri.edu/p/IPM1007-40#Dandelion) (and other broadleaf weeds). I didn't want to go the [herbicide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbicide) route, and after speaking with my mum, she said the **only** way to truly get rid of (control) dandelions is to hand remove them (**important:** you need to remove root n' all) and recommended using a small hand garden trowel for doing so.

I didn't have a "small hand garden trowel", instead I bought a small (and cheapish) builders trowel and used that for 3 years:

![Dandelion remover - small builders trowel][1]

Then last year on clearance (paid $1) I picked up a [Fiskars Softouch Weeder](http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Yard-and-Garden/Weeders/Softouch-R-Weeder):

![Dandelion remover - Fiskars Softouch Weeder][2]

Both of the above hand-tools have worked well in removing dandelions (roots included).

* The first three lawn cutting seasons I pulled a lot! of dandelions, at least once a week I would walk the lawns and hand remove all the unwanted plants I saw (all of them went into a plastic bag for offsite disposal).

* During last year's lawn cutting season I noticed a big drop-off in the number of unwanted plants I was removing, except for crabgrass (but that's a whole other story).

* This years lawn cutting season I've only had to remove a handful of "small" (young) dandelions, this is to be expected as I can't control dandelion seed heads blowing into my garden (though I wish I could).

* Yes, getting any unwanted plant under control via an "organic" approach is going to take patience and time, but if you stick with it, you will see (excellent) results.

 * And bare in mind, even if you go a "non-organic" route, you're pretty much "forced" to continually use the chosen method if you don't want to see the unwanted plant(s) return.

If you wish to read more about how I approach "organic" lawn care, go here on SE:

* [What's an organic way to discourage crabgrass from a large "lawn"?](http://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/1390/whats-an-organic-way-to-discourage-crabgrass-from-a-large-lawn/1391#1391)

*Good luck!*


  [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/b4PKV.jpg
  [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/Ca72t.jpg