Background of Ramie

Ramie fabric, which is pronounced Ray-me, has actually been in use for thousands of years. In fact, ramie is one of the oldest known vegetable fibers. It is a bast fiber, meaning that it is actually derived from the stems of plants.

Ramie hails from a family of plants known as nettles. These types of plants are quite hardy and are perennials. The plant tends to produce numerous stems with no branches. Stems of ramie can grow to a substantial height ranging from three feet to eight feet.

Ramie is sometimes known by different names. China grass, which is true ramie, is also sometimes referred to as white ramie. Some of the most prolific producers of ramie are Taiwan, China and Korea as well as India, Brazil and the Philippines.

Flax is a similar type of fiber; however, the process that is used to separate ramie fibers is actually different from the process that is used for separating flax. A chemical treatment must be applied to ramie, unlike flax. Caustic soda is usually used in this process in order to remove the pectins and gums that are common on bast fibers. This process can take time, which is one of the reasons that ramie has not become as widely used as many other textile fabrics.

The Properties of Ramie Fibers

Ramie tends to be white in color and contain a large amount of luster. It also contains a high amount of resistance to molds and bacteria, which can be quite advantageous. As is the case with many cellulosic fibers, ramie is also quite absorbent. Ramie also possesses a large amount of resistance to abrasion. In fact, in many ways it is stronger than flax or linen. These benefits have made ramie popular for certain uses.

In many cases, ramie is blended with other types of fibers because of its degree of strength, luster and absorbency. When ramie is combined with a high-quality cotton the luster, color and strength becomes even more pronounced. Ramie also does quite well when combined with wool, as the natural shrinkage of wool can be minimized while also adding lightness. The low strength of wet rayon can be offset when it is blended with ramie.

Cleaning Ramie

Due to the fact that ramie is commonly blended with other fibers, the full content of the fabric should be taken into consideration when considering cleaning methods. If the fabric in questions contains another type of fiber, the restrictions of that fiber for the purposes of cleaning must be considered to prevent damage. For example, a wool/ramie blend could be easily cleaned using a method that is water-based. You may find a cleaning code on such fabrics which indicates the acceptability of wet cleaning of this type of fabric. This is typically denoted with a W. As is the case with other cellulosic fibers, ramie has an excellent strength when wet so wet cleaning poses no problems.

Of course, it is always a good idea to test any fabric first to be certain of a cleaning method before proceeding if you are not certain of the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Spot Cleaning of Ramie

Ramie fabrics also tend to do well with spot cleaning, provided that pre-testing is performed. Both dry cleaning solvents as well as water-based cleaners can usually be used with no problems. To be certain; however, always perform a spot test.

Chemicals which are strongly acidic in nature must be neutralized completely before they are used on ramie fabrics. If these types of chemicals are not thoroughly neutralized, there exists the strong risk of long-term damage in the fabric.

Ramie fabrics are perfectly capable of lasting for a number of years, provided that they receive appropriate care. When such fabrics are vacuumed on a regular basis, the build-up of soil can be greatly reduced; making it much easier for ramie fabrics to be cleaned. If ramie is used in the production of cushions, they should be flipped and rotated on a regular basis to minimize any fading concerns. When these guidelines are followed, there is no reason that ramie fabrics as well as ramie blend fabrics should not have a long and useful life.