Okay, only been quilting for 4 years after I retired from teaching. I wash the fabric when I bring it in the house. After all the yeas and nays for both washing and non-washing. I decided that every time I have washed the fabrics (I use warm water wash and warm water rinse) using color catchers, there are always colors on the color catchers. When I wash the charms and fat quarters (in mesh bags) and fabric, I run everything through through the dryer for 10 minutes on low and take them out, hand press the small pieces and hang the larger pieces on a plastic coated hanger to dry completely. Then, I either put them on my fabric boards or get them laid out for the next quilt. I starch and steam iron everything before it is cut!. After reading about some of the chemicals used, the factories they are made in, and the other conditions they face before they get to me, I will wash before I start to use them.