I always pre-wash. I HAVE to get the chemicals out of the fabric before I can use it. What I have trouble understanding is this, why is it so hard to throw the fabric in the washer. It's just like a load of towels or clothes. I throw the fabric in the washer,put some detergent in and walk away and do something else until the machine is done. Then I throw the fabric in the dryer,and again walk away and do something else. It really is not that hard of a job to pre-wash the fabric. When you take the fabric out of the dryer, it's clean and soft and ready to use.