two quilt shop owners have told me the same thing--that most fabric doesn't bleed and to do a "test" first--I rub (very hard) white paper on the fabric and if NO color on the paper, then it's good--if a color (even a hint) I wash. I end up seldom needing to wash. I don't have issues with the sizing in the fabric so not allergy sensitive, although know quilters that must wash for that reason. I do wash my quilts in cold water (wash everything in cold) and use color catchers and rarely any color on them. I steam (heavy) my yardage before cutting so shrink it then.