Originally Posted by
ghostrider
I prewash everything before I store it. Like colors together, gentle cycle (reduces fraying), hot water (maximizes shrinking), no soap (not necessary), no dryer sheets (they interfere with the bonding ability of fusibles if I decide later to use them), and then just fold for storage. I don't iron until I'm ready to cut for a project.
I've used this system for over twenty years with no regrets at all.
This is exactly what I do too, except that I do add some soap to the wash. I figure it might help get some of the chemicals out. Like someone else said, I don't plan on babying the quilt, so I don't want to baby the fabrics along either!
I try to only damp-dry the fabric in the dryer and then hang it for that last bit of drying. If I completely dry it in the dryer, I seem to end up with creases that don't want to come out with the iron later. But if I hang it up damp, it dries much flatter.