I used to wash and press my fabrics but that got to be such a drag. So now I have unwashed and washed in the same quilt and I haven't found any problems with it. I wash all my quilts using the color catchers before giving them to the recipents as they are all gifts. Only one quilt ever bled and someone here told me to wash it again though its been in the dryer too. The stain came out just fine to my relief. It was a quilt for my mother no less. I also starch my fabrics these days before cutting so if they're going to bleed or shrink, some of it will have already happened.