How to Make Natural Vinegar and Dawn Weed Killer With Hot Peppers
If your garden is anything like mine, come spring, it goes from “winter chill” to “jungle vibes” overnight and not in a cute, lush-tropical kind of way. I’m talking crabgrass between the stepping stones, dandelions breaking through cracks in the patio, and mystery weeds that weren’t invited but came anyway.
I’ve tried the store-bought sprays, but some of them smell like a science experiment and leave me side-eyeing the pets and pollinators.
So, I decided to mix up my own, and wow, this vinegar and Dawn weed killer with hot pepper means business.
Bonus: it’s easy, cheap, and kind of fun to make.
Natural Armor Weed and Grass Killer All-Natural Concentrated Formula
Tools and Materials:
- 500ml of white vinegar (5% acidity)
- ¾ teaspoon of Dawn dish soap
- ½ of a small pepper or
- ¾ teaspoon of ground pepper like cayenne
- A small mixing bowl
- Strainer or cheesecloth
- A funnel
- Empty spray bottle or garden sprayer
- Gloves (hot pepper warning!)
Disclosure: Hometalk may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via Amazon links in this article but at no cost to you.
Why Vinegar, Dawn, and Hot Peppers?
Before we jump into the recipe, let’s talk about why these ingredients work so well together:
- Vinegar: The acetic acid in vinegar works to dry out and burn the leaves of the weeds, causing them to die.
- Dawn Dish Soap: The soap breaks down the protective wax on the weed’s surface, allowing the vinegar to penetrate more effectively.
- Hot Peppers: Whether fresh or powdered, hot peppers contain capsaicin, which can irritate the weed’s tissues, making them more vulnerable to the vinegar’s effects. The spiciness can also act as a repellent to pests, which is a nice bonus!
1. Mix Your Ingredients
Pour your vinegar into your mixing container. This forms the acidic base of the solution, which helps break down the weeds’ leaves on contact.
Lawry's Casero Cayenne Pepper
Next, add your ground peppers.
Using Fresh Peppers Instead?
If you’re opting for fresh hot peppers instead of powdered, you’ll need to simmer them first.
Roughly chop half of a small hot pepper (like a jalapeño or chili), and simmer it in about ½ cup of the vinegar for 10–15 minutes to release the capsaicin.
Let it cool, strain out the solids, and then add that spicy vinegar to the rest of your mixture. This helps infuse the solution with potency while preventing your spray nozzle from getting clogged.
End off with the Dawn dish soap.
Stir it into the vinegar and cayenne solution to help it stick to the leaves once sprayed.
Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so it fully blends.
2. Fill Your Spray Bottle
Carefully pour the solution into your spray bottle or garden sprayer. Make sure to leave a little room at the top to prevent spillage when you screw on the cap.
3. Apply the Weed Killer
Now comes the fun part: spraying! On a dry, sunny day, apply the solution directly to the weeds you want to eliminate. Be careful to target only the weeds and avoid spraying desirable plants, as vinegar can burn them.
Pro Tip: If you're concerned about protecting other plants, you can use cardboard to shield them from the spray. Simply place the cardboard around your target area to block any overspray, and then go to town on those weeds!
JohnBee Empty Spray Bottles
4. Wait for Results
Give it a day or two, and you should start seeing results. The weeds will begin to wilt and brown, and after a few applications, they should be gone for good!
How to Make a DIY Vinegar and Dawn Weed Killer
We covered the whole process— with hot peppers, why it works, and how to use it safely. It's easy, effective, and super satisfying to spray.
The best part? You're not relying on harsh chemicals. You're making something powerful right in your kitchen that actually works.
If you try this recipe, leave a comment below and tell me how it worked for you! Got a favorite DIY gardening trick? I’d love to hear that too.
Comments
Join the conversation
-
Using dish soap, vinegar and salt works fantastic for weeds coming up through the pavers-and don’t come back, ever!
-
yes
tnx
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
How do you get rid of feas and ticks in the back yard
How can you kill weeds, but not grass?
rodents taking all my tomatoes, will this help with that