I always wash all my fabric before I use it - I want to get rid of the chemicals sprayed on it to keep the bugs away as well as catch the extra dye that comes off. The jelly rolls, FQs, charms all get hand washed in the sink with super hot water and hung to dry, bigger yardage goes in the washing machine. I will wash and rinse as many times as necessary to get clear rinse water - 21 times is the record so far. I prefer to hang everything to dry...I spray it with starch while it's wet and when it's dry it is so easy to iron. I wait to iron it until I'm an ready to cut it.