I spent too many years, prewashing fabrics & ironing. if I don't have to do it and I can use a color catcher that is what I am going to do! Each to their own I guess. I want to enjoy what I am doing and I have yet to have anything bleed but a batik piece in a scrappy quilt. Not a fan of batiks myself and less now, I like my process that I have in place and no plans to change it. It works for me. I don't mind the cost of color catchers, they do the trick for me. As I said each to their own.