I vote for using, washing, using, washing, etc. I used to give my DSIL potholders for Christmas, but when one was needed, she said they were too pretty to use. My solution - I found the ugliest pot holders I could find and gave them to her for Christmas. She laughed and now I can always find a pot holder at her house. Mine are so well used I am not sure what is stain and what was the original color on some of them.