Here is a list of herbs that can replace one or more household chemicals. The herbs are listed in alphabetical order according to their Scientific names.
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- Chop up one or two leaves and mix into the compost for speedier composting.
- Chives (Allium sativum)
- Let leaves draw in water. Drain and use the water to spray against lice and blight.
- Garlic (Allium schoenoprasum)
- Let leaves draw in water. Drain and use the water to spray against mildew on potatoes.
- Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)
- Boil the root in water. Dilute the root infusion with four times as much water and spray apple trees with it.
- Wormwood and Mugwort (Artemisia absinthum) and (Artemisia vulgare)
- Use dried powdered leaves against moths. Make a strong decoction and use as a disinfectant in the home. A weaker decoction can be used to spray established plants to deter insects.
- Mustard (Brassica )
- Smelling pots and pans can be cleaned with a few crushed mustard seeds and some water. Rinse well afterwards.
- Chamomile (Chamaemum nobile) or (Anthemis nobilis)
- Make a decoction and shower young plants with it to strengthen them. This plant will also speed up composting, just like Yarrow.
- Costmary (Chrysanthemum balsamita) or (Tanacetum balsamita)
- Put dried leaves in a linen sachet to keep insects away. If linen is washed with a decoction of this plant, it will smell very good.
- Pyretrum Daisy (Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium) or Pyrethrum cinerariifolium)
- This plant is used commercially as an insect killer. It kills both good and bad insects and fish, but is almost harmless to mammals and quickly deteriorates in nature. It is effective against lice, ants, mosquitoes, moths, cockroaches, and fleas, for instance. Use gloves (contact may cause allergy) and spread the powder out where you want it after the sun has set. The active ingredient deteriorates too fast in sunlight to be effective during the day. If you want to spray with it, you need to mix it with alcohol because the active ingredient isn't soluble in water. Mix 100-g (3.5 oz) powder in 1.5-dl (0.6 American cup) denatured alcohol, mix this with 50 liter (53 American quarts) water and spray as needed.
- Horsetail Equisetum arvense) or (Equisetum hiemale)
- This herb can replace metal polish and steel wool. To polish metal make a strong infusion of 25-g (0.9 oz) of the herb per 6-dl (2.5 American cups) water. Let draw in the water for at least two hours and after that, simmer in the same water for 15 minutes. Strain the water from the plant and pour over metal objects. Let the objects lay in the infusion for 5 minutes, then remove them and dry with a soft cloth. If the object is too large to immerse in water, polish it with a rag soaked in the infusion. Dry it off, and polish with a soft dry cloth. The stem is covered with tiny quartz crystals, which gives it a sandpaper-like surface, ideal to scrub pots and pans with. Grab a handful of stems and rub against the surfaces. Wash off with water to remove green stains.
- Dropwort and European Meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris) and (Filipendula ulmaria)
- The flowering tip gives a very nice, sweet scent to linen closets.
- Sweet Woodruff or Waldmeister (Galium odoratum) or (Asperula odorata)
- Dried leaves keep insects away. Put them in linen closets and underneath rugs.
- Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
- The sunflower plant needs a lot of water and thus is ideal to plant on soggy ground or by the house to keep the ground around the house dry. The marrow in the stalk can be burned and used to replace potassium fertilizer. This, however, is best accomplished by turning the marrow into paper or textile, and then burn it.
- Elecampane or Horseheal, Scabwort, Wild Sunflower (Inula helenium)
- Instead of burning incense (which contains animal products), roast the root of this plant over hot coals to give a room a good scent.
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- This herbs is commonly used for its good scent, but can also be used to keep insects away. Rub your skin with fresh flowers and pin a bouquet of the flowers to your shirt to keep insects away from you. You can use the dried stems as incense and to light fires with.
- Bay (Laurus nobilis)
- Put leaves of bay in your flour containers and amongst dried fruit to keep weevils away.
- Horehound or Common Horehound, Hoarhound, Marrubium, Marvel, White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
- Let the leaves soak in water and use the water to spray against tree caterpillars. Soak the leaves in milk and put the milk in a room to draw flies and kill them.
- Sweet Clover or King's-clover, Sweet Lucerne, Yellow Melilot, Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)
- Put dried leaves in your closets to keep moths away.
- Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis)
- The juice pressed from the leaves can be used as furniture polish if mixed with wax.
- Mints (Mentha)
- Fresh or dried leaves of mint make mice stay away. An extract of European pennroyal leaves (Mentha spicata) hides the scent of tobacco well. Leaves from spearmint (Mentha pulegium) keep ants and lice away from storage areas and closets.
- Sweet Cicely Myrrhis Odorata)
- Crush the seeds and use to polish furniture.
- Catnip (Nepeta Cataria)
- Put the dried plant in an old sock, tie it up, and use as a toy for cats (as a replacement for plastic toys). The smell of the plant makes rats stay away.
- Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
- If this plant is put in an open window, it will keep flies away.
- Marjoram and Oregano (Origanum)
- Mix powdered leaves or a strong decoction of marjoram leaves with furniture polish (see above for instructions). Use a decoction of oregano leaves in bath water for a relaxing bath. Use a strong decoction of oregano leaves as a conditioner.
- Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
- Use the seed as bait in rat traps.
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Twigs put in a vase freshens up the air in a room. Boil a handful of rosemary leaves in half a litre (2 American cups) of water for ten minutes and use the decoction to clean the bathroom.
- Sorrel or Greensauce, Soursuds (Rumex acetosa)
- The juice from the leaves bleaches rust, ink, and mold stains on fabric and wicker.
- Sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Dried leaves can be used to keep insects away from the linen closets. Burn the leaves on hot coals or boil them in water to disinfect a room. Rub your teeth with the leaves to whiten them.
- Lavender Cotton or French Lavender, Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus/S. incana)
- Put twigs of this herb in drawers, underneath rugs, in closets, and among books to keep moths and other insects.
- Bouncing Bet or Bruisewort, Fuller's Herb, Lady's-washbowl, Old-maid's-pink, Latherwort, Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
- Leaves, stems, and roots from this plant can be used to wash clothes with and to freshen up old fabrics. Put the plants in a large pot and add soft water (rainwater for instance), not tap water, so it just covers the plants. Bring to a boil and let boil for 30 minutes. Remove the plants and add the fabrics or clothes and wash them carefully.
- Winter Savory or Mountain Savory (Satureja montana/Satureia montana)
- Put twigs and leaves on the fire to scent and disinfect a room.
- Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
- This plant can be used instead of commercial fertilizer. It is especially good for tomatoes and potatoes. Soak leaves and let sit for four weeks, drain, and use to water the plants. Or harvest the leaves, cover the dirt with them, and let them wilt for at least 48 hours.
- Feverfew or Batchelor's-button, Featherfew, Featherfoil, Wild Chamomile (Tanacetum parthenium/Chrysanthemum parthenium)
- Put dried leaves in sachets and use in closets and elsewhere to keep insects away.
- Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare/Chrysanthemum vulgare)
- Gather the leaves into bouquets and hang up to keep flies away. Dried leaves can be spread put to keep mice and ants away. Mix the fresh leaves in your compost to increase the potassium level in the dirt.
- Thyme (Thymus)
- A strong decoction of the leaves can be used as a disinfecting agent in your home. Wash your hair with a thyme-rosemary decoction to get rid of dandruff.
- Garden Heliotrope or Allheal, English Valerian, German Valerian, Vandalroot, Great Wild Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
- The leaves have a good influence on the compost. The root is good to use in mice traps as bait. Soak the root and water your outdoor plants with the water to draw worms there.
- Mullein or Bunny's Ears, Flannelleaf, Jacob's-staff (Verbascum thapsus)
- Harvest the whole plant and put in your garden to keep deer out. Put in your home to keep rats and mice away. The dried stem can be dipped in tallow and used as a torch. It will burn for a long time and with a shimmering light.
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