Where I live it's difficult to find a decent bed spread so I make quilts to fit my queen bed. I have a bed skirt and measure where I want the drop and add a little to allow for shrinkage when quilting. So far I've had no problem washing in my front load washer. My little dog sleeps with me and while she is kept clean, I still cover the quilt in the evening with a sheet. Or, you could just roll your pretty quilt down on the bed and only use it in during the day for show. While I have a long way to go to be a really good quilter, and stick to easier patterns, I do like to enjoy what I've done so far.