I don't wash my hand quilted quilt in the washer..I wash it when needed at least once a year because I rotate them. I wash mine in the bath tub with some detergent that does not have bleach in it. I soak it for a day then quish it up and down then rinse it twice. quish most of the water out, place in a plastic laundry basket and let the water drip out by squeezing it. Then I place over chairs out side in the sun. To protect the colors I place the backing up.
I know that is a lot of work but since I don't hand quilt, and I paid alot of $$$ to have it quilted I want to really that care of it. The other quilts that I have machine quilted go in the washer in the gentle cycle.