I prewash everything brought into my home. In fact it goes straight to the laundry shed before it goes into the house. I can't tolerate the odor that comes off new fabric and after what I saw at a big box (woman wiping her very sweaty brow, neck and pits), I make sure to wash. I sort first flannel, knits, muslin, then theme (holidays) color. I try to do it like laundry. I also do this on my cutting table (for measuring) and easy folding or using the comic books or for fat quarters. I don't cut pieces until I need them. If the fat quarter piece is a little larger than it should be (a little wonky) it still becomes a fat quarter (trim later). my fabric used to sit on shelves in a very light room. Some not so great fabrics to work with were used to cover the other fabric to prevent fading.