Originally Posted by
HouseDragon
I pink the edges (some unravel but most don't).
Most importantly, I wash by colour and throw in a colour catcher or two: wash on gentle with either warm or hot water with two cold rinses using Tide Free. If I'm washing a group of really dark colours, say purples, I throw in all the purple catchers. (see below*)
If the catchers are coloured after the cycles finish, I throw in an additional catcher and either "just" rinse again or rewash.
Ultimately, the FQs go into the dryer on "Low".
In between the extra rinses or re-washing, I also snip off any long strings. By the time the FQs go into the dryer they are string free. 
*BTW, colour catchers are reusable especially if you keep them separated by colour: they just get darker and darker. *LOL* They are actually quite pretty. 
Oh thank you so much Housedragon. (with a name like that I think I need you at my house) I had forgotten about the color catchers. Yep, that's a great idea. Will do all of the above and I know they will be fine. I just hate cutting stringy messes off my beautiful fabric!! thanks again to all! ps I think I will stitch or serge around them as I have pinked them in the past and they were still a mess.