I always prewash my quilt fabrics and then wash the completed quilt. It takes time to complete a quilt and dust, pet hair, my hair, and my hands (which always seem to sweat 3/4 through a seam) will make the quilt dirty without trying. So I wash it before it goes anywhere. I wash in the machine with regular laundry detergent, on the gentle cold cycle. Then I throw it in the dryer on NO HEAT until just damp. I then finish drying it flat and smooth it out (squaring it a bit with my hands) and let it finish drying (up to two days). It is not overly puckered and a bit softer after this treatment. And I do include washing instructions when I gift a quilt.