I wash for all the same reasons. And most of the time I am happy with the results. I did learn a lesson on one quilt I made for my daughter. I didn't prewash the fabric as it was the good stuff, and I like that new look. I worked for days on the quilting part. I did little leaves with veins and then curly vines. I found out after the washing that I really need to loosen up on my quilting. Before the wash I could see the leaves and everything looked great. After the wash, the leaves I worked so hard on disappeared into the crinkly. Not all happy about that. My daughter loved the quilt anyway, at least I think she did. But all that work was wasted after I washed the quilt. Of course I guess it was better that I did it and not that my daughter thought she ruined her quilt after she washed it.