Preserving Clothes From Silver fish, Mites and Fungus by Using Neem Leaves.

A Full Grown Neem Tree

Neem Tree Branch with Leaves and Fruits

Normally silk Sari, Sari with Jari work, Woolens, chiffon and other delicate clothes  require delicate handling and protection from silver fish, mite which eats away the fiber and thus rendering the dress unusable.Fungus causes musty smell in the clothes. Naphthalene balls are most commonly used as it evaporates and the vapors do not allow the silver fish ,mite and fungus to breed. But using naphthalene has its own disadvantage as it leaves strong odor on cloths and causes discoloration of the metallic (silver and gold) work (Jari, Zardosi) of the clothes. Nature has provided us with a wonderful anti-pest and anti-fungal plant "Neem". So next time when you are keeping away all the woolens and your other delicate dresses, use Neem leaves.

Direction for protecting clothes form pests by using Neem:

• Pluck fresh green neem leaves.

Fresh Green Neem Leaves

• Shade dry the Neem leaves.

Neem Leaves being shade dried

Shade dried Neem Leaves

•  Take a cloth big enough to wrap your dress.

• Spread the cloth on a plane surface.

• Spread handful of dry Neem leaves on it.

• Place your dress on the leaves.

• Spread handful of dry leaves on the dress.

• Wrap the dress with the cloth and store.

• Even if you do not use the dress for 2-3 years the dress will remain fresh, unaffected by silver fish or any pest, without any odor or discoloration.

• Dry Neem leaves do not leave any color on the clothes

Tips:

• Dry the Neem leaves in shade else the essential oil of the leaves will evaporate reducing the potency of Neem leaves.

Suggested Variations:

• If you do not like the mess created by leaves dropping out while taking out the dress for use, make the pouches and place the pouches one at the bottom of the dress and one at the top of the dress.

http://housekeepingexpert.blogspot.com/2012/10/preserving-grains-using-neem.html

• Pouches can be kept in the pocket of trousers and jackets,

• Pouches can be kept in the Books and clothes Almirah, the musty smell which develops in the Almirah during rainy season will not develop and mite/silver fish will not infest the clothes and books.

Neem Cure for lice and dandruff ( Anti-Lice and Anti-Dandruff oil made from Neem)

Oil Made from Neem

Oil made from Neem

Neem has pesticide and germicidal property because of the essential oils present in it. This property makes Neem extremely useful in our house hold. For small children it is quite common to get hair infested by lice. To get rid of lice and dandruff , oil prepared from Neem is  a very good natural cure without any side effect to the skin or hair. This oil also helps in making hair shiny and soft and reduces hair fall.

A gift from god to humanity NEEM TREE

 Making Time: 20 min.

 Amount: 175 ml.oil

Ingredients required for Making Anti - Lice Oil:

• 20-25 Fresh Neem Leaves

Fresh green leaves of Neem

• 15-20 Neem fruits

Leaves and Fruits on Neem Tree

Neem Fruits

• 200 ml. Coconut oil / Mustard oil / Sesame oil

Directions for making anti-lice oil:

• Wash the leaves and fruits of Neem and make a paste of both by grinding in a mixer/grinder.

Paste of Neem leaves and Neem fruits

• Take oil in a thick bottom wok /pan.

• Add the paste of Neem leaves and fruits in the cold oil.

Paste of Neem leaves and Neem fruits mixed to cold oil

• Cook on low flame till all water evaporates and the solid separates at the bottom.

Cold oil and paste of Neem Leaves and Neem Fruits being cooked on low heat

• The color of oil will change to greenish.

• Cool the oil.

• Filter and store the oil in a glass bottle.

Oil made from Neem

• Throw away the solid left behind.

Direction for using the anti-lice oil:

• Apply the oil on the scalp and hair.

• Give a nice massage to the scalp.

• Cover the hair with a cloth or bath cap.

• Leave for 2-3 hrs.

• Wash the hair and scalp with mild shampoo using warm water.

• If possible boil 10-15 Neem leaves in 1 lt. of water till the water reduces to half. Mix this Neem water in 15 Lt. warm water and use this water for washing the hair.

• Lice will die and get washed off.

• Repeat this every 7 days for a month, to get rid of the lice infestation completely.

• This oil can be stored for as long as you want.

Tips:

• The oil should not be hot when paste of leaves and fruit is added to it.

• Always cook on low flame.

Suggested Variations:

• If the fruits are not available then only leaves paste can be taken