I do not wash the quilt after I finish it. I don't use starch or spray glue or regular glue in the construction. It either goes right on the bed it was made for or out to the person it was made for. I pre-test any suspicious fabric before construction so I don't worry about bleeding. I have never had any seams unstitch, so I don't worry about that either. No one I made quilted things for have any allergies, so that is also not a concern, but if there was allergy concerns that might be a consideration....If it is "my" quilt, it probably won't get washed for at least a year, just air dry or fresh air dry along the way.... BTW, I have a wallhanging that is still on a wall that was made over 10 yrs ago....never washed, just aired out yearly....not tired of it yet, but when I do, I will replace.........Have seasonal ones that I change off yearly and they to just get airfluffed........We each do what we are comfortable with