with the threat of bed bugs every where, I either wash as soon as I get home, or toss in freezer for a few days and then wash and dry for 30 min. Remember getting those critters when I was a kid (long time ago) and I do not want them again. no no no no no.......

Eeeeeks! I didn't think about that! Too bad they don't make "Critter Catchers" that you would just throw in your fabric shopping bag (or any shopping bag--or bed--or pin to your child, or yourself) and wait 24 hours and no more pesky bugs. Wouldn't that be nice!

For the most part if you purchase a quality fabric at a quilt shop it will shrink less than what you might purchase at JoAnn's or WalMart (yes there is a difference in quality). To wash or not to wash is usually a matter of personal preference. One word of caution though, if you are prewashing to make sure a fabric does not bleed, some darker colors, (especially reds), continue to bleed even after pre-washing. If I test a swatch and a fabric bleeds I treat the fabric with Retayne rather than pre-washing.

I always wash - I, too, had a bad experience with some red fabric. I also use cotton batting and my quilts still get that wrinkly appearance after their first wash. (which I love!)

I have never pre-washed, and only had one quilt that bled. You might try making a table runner or small quilt without pre-washing and see if you like the effect.

I'm not sure why you would pre-wash in HOT water. I would NEVER wash a quilt in HOT so I see no reason to pre-wash in HOT. It's just asking for trouble. I do test some fabrics - reds, batiks - a small piece in a white bowl w/hot tap water. If it bleeds I will pre-wash in WARM water w/a color catcher in the machine. I have had very few fabrics bleed at all including batiks.

One question on this as well - I wonder if bleeding has to do w/what type of water you have - hard- soft - well water? Just wondering... Regardless of the type of water you can pretty much guarantee shrinkage w/HOT water and 100% cotton fabrics!

3 days in a freezer works too. but I still do the washing smile

Why?
Because no matter how definite you are that your quilt will get total TLC, there are times it will not. Accidents do happen .... whether if be something we do ourselves? or someone else who is laundering.

And yes, the shrinkage is one of the purpose of pre-washing ... along with checking for bleeding ... and anything else which may happen in the process. Abuse it with hot and also hot dryer ... and know what that worse case scenario is all about!
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No, the well water or town, hard or soft ... not going to make a difference in this situation! It's all water!

I've only recently started washing my fabrics. First cuz I accidently found out how much a fabric shrunk and I wasn't happy with the results.

2nd, when washing the fabrics cuz of first reason, found how much some of the fabrics were bleeding, even when using 2-3 color catchers.

Been thinking of buying Dharma Co.s version of Synthropol and Retayne but not happy how high the shipping cost was. Gotta consider it some more and will probably give in considering the cost and peace of mind of quilts not turning from white to pink etc.

My MIL made a wonderful quilt for me when I was going thru chemo more than 10 years ago. This was b4 I became interested in quilting. She made the quilt entirely of a dark blue calico print except for some large white blocks on top where she hand embroidered flowers. To my horror, the first time I laundered it ... the blue bled so badly, the white blocks are no longer white. And now since I know about color catchers and use them each time I launder that quilt ... it STILL bleeds! The water is always blue and the blocks will never be white again.

I never considered the wash/don't wash debate when I started quilting a few years ago and so I didn't wash. I now have a nice sized stash all neatly wrapped on comic boards and displayed in a huge antique pie safe. No way I'm unwrapping all of that, washing, ironing and rewrapping. I will probably pre wash or soak reds, blues and blacks after reading this thread, though.

I will have to say that using water on something that is not necessary is something that I couldn't do. We are carefully rationing our rainwater at this time due to drought. We only have about 12,000 gallons left right now so wouldn't even consider prewashing.