I have an old top loading washer plumbed up outside my back door which I use for washing quilts and fabric as my front loader is too small for my quilts. I've never had a problem with the batting seperating etc, my quilts wash and wear just fine but then I usually do quite close allover quilting so perhaps that's the key. I do use a woollen wash detergent but it is one easily found in the supermarkets and is nothing "special". My exception to this is I advise when I gift a table runner that it be gently hand washed in cool water and laid flat to dry then ironed/pressed.