I always go to the laundramat for the very first washing since it tends to be the lintiest. We live in the country with everything draining into our septic system and I hate to have it pumped any more often than needed. Every time I wash my rag blankets during their lifetime, I do it here at home but I still stop a couple times mid-cycle and clean out the lint traps. I do alot of rag blankets...they are my favorites!