I would wash with colour catchers and gentle soap. I would put it in the dryer for a few minutes to fluff the Minky but have it still damp to block out until dry. I block on a clean sheet on my spare room carpet with rust proof pins along the edges. I have it taut but not so stretched that the edges have bumps where the pins are. I can shut the door of the room to keep people out and I check on it over a couple of days.