I always wash before gifting, my fabric is kept in cabnets unless I have my hand on it, if I leave the room, for ANY REASON, I have large towels to cover anything I have out, Otis thinks she is part dog and grabs fabric and runs! When not in use my machines are kept covered, we live in a very dusty area, I dust every day during spring summer and fall, the wind blows all the time. Even my LA has a cover that covers everything, machine and table, so if I have a Quilt on it and need to leave the room I just flip it on. You get used to it, it becomes a habit like brushing your teeth every morning you don't think about it, you just do it.