Since I starch most of my fabrics when I go to use them, if they're going to bleed, they'll bleed in my starch solution as I dip them. Then since I have to pressed them, again if they're going to shrink a lot, some of that will be taken up with the pressing. I rarely wash before use though. Just my thought on the subject. I used to wash/press when I brought them home but that got tiring. Back then I'd serge across the cut edge so I knew it had been washed prior to use. I've used some of those with the unwashed fabrics with no ill effects...............so far.