i guess i'm bad...i toss them in the wash...hot water and synthropol; wash it, dry it, then i run water through it at the sink to see if there is any color, if it is red (which is the biggest culprit)i take a white piece of muslin or paper towel and rub it on the fabric to see if any color comes off on the cloth; if it does i wash it again. if it still comes off i do not use it unless it is a dark quilt that it will not be noticable or for wall hangings.