My experience was............It that special quilt or shirt or pillow or any item has either monetary or sentimental value don't leave it in your elder's room. It will walk or be damaged. I chose to do my father's laundry when he was in assisted living to save money. But I heard of others in the same facility who had items go missing or be damaged by washing. These folks are thinking sanitation when walking, so quilts get washed weekly. How do I now, I have donated quilts to a hospice center where a niece works and offered to repair damaged quilts. I get about 4 o4 5 ever two months that have been damaged by washing. It breaks my heart to see lovely hand work damaged by harsh detergents and such frequent washing that they have holes and bindings worn to threads. So sad, but I repair them and return them because the patients love that little touch of home in their rooms.