I always do. My mother said she could never work in a fabric store because of all the fumes coming off the fabric from whatever they use in the printing process. I don't trust any manufacturer to have clean fabric. I wash whites and creams, too. You don't know where it has been or who has handled it. Besides, I don't like any surprises at the end. And I use color catchers in the wash of "raw" fabrics and Retayne. I always washed material for garment sewing, too. If you notice, some clothing says to wash before wearing.