bearisgray

I would wash the fabric in a sink, bucket, or large kettle.
Swish it, rinse it - and then get rid of the excess water by draining it in a colander, salad spinner, rolling in towels, or on the spin cycle of the washing machine.

You can spread the damp pieces out on a towel, or hang them on plastic hangers. i have a wood drying rack that works well.

If there is a lot of fabric, just do one color at a time.

Actually, just put one color in a container at a time - if there is a bleeder, it won't be that big of a deal if red runs on red.

The washing process can be done with very little agitation and if there is shrinkage or bleeding - wouldn't you rather know BEFORE - rather than after - you used it for something?

I agree - washing the pieces is a bit of a bother - but if one thinks about it - the whole process of making a quilt is "a bit of a bother " when one can buy ready-made things for a fraction of the cost.