I always prewash and machine dry to hopefully prevent bleeding of colors on a finished quilt and also to avoid having the fabric shrink once sewn; a friend recently suggested using the delicate machine cycle which I've been doing since then - much less raveling on the ends! I read that someone starches after washing. I often starch as I'm using it but try not to store it with starch on it as I've read several times that this encourages insects who like to nibble on the starch. eewwwww