If I have enough for a full load will wash similar colors together, warm to hot water and fast wash if I have smaller amounts. Better to wash first then if there is a problem you know it before hand. I now surge cut ends before washing. Don't usually buy precuts so not a problem.

[QUOTE=Beachbound;5911481]I don't mean to beat a dead horse here but yesterday as I was getting fabric measured the saleslady got a funny look on her face. She said that she felt something between the layers. Slowly she folded back the top layer & was relieved to only find a piece of grasslike weed.

Once at our local fabric store I lifted up a bolt of fabric to move it out of the way. A mouse nest tumbled onto the floor! I always wash my fabrics now!

And it will continue to be until the end of time . . . :D

I wash precuts also, but differentlly, they get soaked in a washbasing in a liquid like dreft and had swished. Then rinsed and they can be either spun dry in a salad spinner or laid flat on a towel to dry.

Well I might as well enter my 2 cents. I always wash ALL my fabric, (yardage and pre-cuts) in HOT water and a HOT dryer. Many times my pre-cuts as the yardage have come out different sizes. I do this because of all the reasons stated. Even before I retired I did this. I have no problem going the extra mile. I usually try to purchase extra fabric when I can for this reason. Some fabrics tangle in the washer some don't. Those that do I just untangle. I may be crazy but I find it calming to prepare my fabric this way. We all are going to do what we are going to do no matter what has been said. We know that this poor horse will continue to be beaten in the future so just have fun quilting and do what works for you. Happy quilting all. BrendaK

You can add cockroaches to the list. Those nasty things hide in all sorts of places.

It's the reason cardboard boxes are never allowed into our house: baby roaches love to hide in those tiny air channels in the cardboard. Learned about that the first time we went sailing in the Mediterranean.

I've been pre-washing my fabric since forever for the original reason many of you have: allergies. :(

I always prewash fabric that are FQs or off the bolt for all the reasons stated but have not done much with precuts. I have presoaked precut batiks in very warm water and a bit of soap and it was very time consuming. I really should be more conscientious and should make more of an effort with the precuts.

I do the same!

Batiks are made in Bali, out in the sunshine. When you find crusty bits on a batik it's bird poop. I was a manager at JoAnn a few years ago and every once in awhile I would find yellow crusty bits on a batik. But I've found the same crusty yellow bits on LQS fabrics as well, so it's not just JoAnn fabrics. Fabrics are filthy, my hands would be gray at the end of a shift. Yes, you want to wash ALL fabric when it comes into your house. You never know where it's been.
I sure hope they do something to fabric bolts before they enter the country. Some of the insects found in other countries are lethal!

Thank you for the idea to put precuts in lingerie bags, I hadn't thought of that! I bought some Moda Double Chocolate charms just last night, so I'll throw them in the wash today.

Smart dog! We wondered what was eating the leftover dog food and such in our outside utility room...it was mice! There were 10 of them!! They like peanut butter! So they made nests in my prewashed, ready to use fabric...so back to the plastic storage tubs after another washing and drying. UCK!

ewwww...thanks for letting us know!!! I always wash anyway but will share this with friends who don't!

I think I will begin washing fabric when I get it.

I seldom wash my fabric. I like the sizing in it. Makes neater cuts. Just my opinion.

Each of us does what makes us comfortable.

I do not pre-wash because I like the sizing in the fabric and life is too short to spend hours ironing and starching fabric before I cut it. I have never found anything bizarre in my fabric in about 55 years of sewing and I'm not going to start getting paranoid now.

However, every quilt I make is washed at least once, with colour catchers, before I give it away. I have a bunch of feline quilt inspectors, so cat hair is endemic in my house. Plus, I love the feel of a good new clean quilt before I give it away.

Yep; I pre wash it all. Went to a quilt shop once and found all sorts of littleones running around with snotty noses and wipping on the fabric. So-----I wash it all. I had pre ordered my fabric and it was already cut and bagged for me when I got there, thank goodness; but you never know. I usually try to stay away from any quilt shop with children running around like that plus the candy and cookies they had. Grand opening is fine but not all the time. I even wash my hands before looking at fabric or touching any of it. People in my guild don't wash their fabric; they say they want it crisp. I would hate to make a quilt and give as a gift and then wash it and the fabric run. Embarrrrsssssssiiinnnnngggggg!

Now that is one I didn't think about & the funny thing is that I stopped eating at the ice cream stations at buffets because of the kiddies with dirty fingers grabbing the goodies as they passed by. I smiled at them cause it was funny..mom never even looked at the kids but I decided to pass :p

Excuse me?
You don't have mice in America, or what?

I wash everything new, even underwear, blouses, slacks, etc. Not sure where it's been and who tried it on.
I always wash quilt fabric due to bleeding.

I cracked up laughing when I read this. Yes, we Americans can be so full ourselves sometimes!

oh dear! I surely didn't mean any offense. Yes we have mice and roaches and bed bugs and even lots of snotty nose kiddos. :D

I don't pre-wash my fabrics. I wash my quilt tops before I hand-quilt them. The reason is that I shop for fabric every 3 months and I always buy 3 yards of each selection. I spend around $300 to restock cause I sell my quilts. I also buy my white and cream by the bolt. I don't have the time to wash and iron that much fabric. I shop at only 2 places and I have never found anything other than fabric in my bags. Maybe I've just been lucky.

I serge the cut edges of my purchased fabric, then throw it in the washer to get rid of any chemicals as well as the sizing. Warm water, cold rinse, no fabric softener. I dry it in the dryer for a few minutes, then hang it over the line. Then i spray it with my own concoction of spray starch--to get that sizing back in. When it's almost dry i iron it. With the spray starch,cutting becomes a breeze.when i see a serged piece of fabric in my stash, i know it is ready to use.

Many years ago when my children were small, I went to purchase a coat at a discount store. Just before trying on one...Someone had just tried one one and a snake was in the sleeve of the coat they tried on. So I don't care what you buy, you need to have it cleaned before putting on or next to your body...it is just too dangerous.

I do the same thing! The serger is 1/4" and works as a great seam guide.

Been washing my fab for years. Alergies for me too.

Not my thing to say the least. One other reason I take all my fabric out once a year and re-fold every piece. It also gives me the chance to check out all the cabinets. I live sorta in the country with a state park bordering my own personal woods. Fortunately I have not found any critters in my fabrics. It still send chills down my spine.