I wash every quilt I give before it goes out. I use ORVUS paste, which is a pure soap with no detergent. I bought a big container of it at Fleet Farm, which will last me a lifetime, for 1/10th of what the same thing is at a quilt shop sold as a "quilt wash." I offer it to many of my quilt recipients. I wash in tepid water (fabrics have been prewashed with ORVUS & dried before cutting) and hang over a rod to dry. ORVUS is the soap used for cleaning farm animals and for fine washables. It has no bleach, scents, phosphates or color enhancers. I tell the recipient how to wash the quilt and provide a pillowcase-type coordinating bag for storing it.