I recently (well, sort of recently) got a front loader washer. Boy what a difference. I really think that to get rid of the excess dies, you need a lot of water, more than my front loaded supplies. I've been washing the fabric in the washer and hanging around to look at the the rinse water as it exits the machine. If there's color in the water, I re-wash in the laundry tub which I totally fill with water.