I wash all fabric as soon as I get it home. Cool water, light soap. My washer does not have a gentle cycle. I let it agitate for 1-2 minutes and turn off the washer while the fabric soaks. Drain the water and spin. Do the same process for the rinse cycle.
I then usually hang the fabric over the shower curtain for drying.
Even my dryer is too hot. This is for cottons because that is all I use.