If you do go to a laundry mat, be ware of people like me, hehehaha, but some people do dye items in the washer (could leave color behind in washer) and even put their car floor mats and leave lots of sand behind, or black marks from the rubber part of the mats. Dog beds, lots of hair left in washer and dryer. I have seen some where a screwdriver or pocket knife or something has made a rough spot in the drum of the machine. Just check the machines well first. You surley don't want to "pick" the fabric in the quilt with a rough piece in the metal of the machine. You might want to run a set of old bed sheets to give it a test. NIGHTMARE! Do I sound paranoid? And you have a lovley quilt.