Have you ladies with the allergies thought of wearing thin gloves... maybe a pair similar to the gardening ones so many of us wear????? If you MUST feel it (and most of us want to) then only feel the ones you finally decide to take.
As to washing before putting away... It avoids problems with shrinking and with bleeding colors.... BUT DON'T LET IT DRY ALL THE WAY. Every time I lose track of what I'm doing and let fabric overdry I spray it with water and put it back in on the lowest setting. Then I drap it over a rack (folded if necessary) and put it away. NEVER need to iron it.
Try it, you'll like it!