I put my precuts in a small pillow case (travel pillow) and then wash them. I let them dry on a laundry rack.

I am reaching the same conclusion, Tartan. My issue is not so much the colors running as it is that the strips are often cut wonky and I lose between 3-5 (minimum) per strip set.I dislike wasting anything. And not prewashing which gets out the excess chemicals and color and allows shrinkage to happen before sewing. Mainly I buy yardage now. Sync,I made a beautiful quilt and it was handquilted by the Amish. The first time I washed it (before knowing about Color Catchers, etc.) the cranberry red bled. The quilt is pretty much toast and stays folded in the closet. Sad. I didn't even think to look to see if the red bled before drying it in the dryer. Lesson learned.

I always assume that reds will run. No matter what company produced them. I have stopped using precuts because they are not cut accurately.

I have a problem with pre cut charms that have the "pinked" (zig zag) edge. When I pair it up with the 5 inch squares that I cut, there is always a fabric shortage on the "pinked" squares

Those pinked squares are to be measured by the tips of the pinking. Then they are more accurate. Lay your pinked edge over the other fabric so you can see the other fabric through the pinking.

I don't use very many precuts but thanks for the head's up

I know there are differences of opinion, and I'm glad for those who don't have troubles with precuts. I have purchased a very few on sale, but even then they were expensive compared to yardage. I like buying a little extra fabric for my inevitable mistakes. I like knowing that I'm not going to have much more shrinkage after the quilt is washed because I've prewashed and preshrunk all the fabric. I'm also not going to have to worry much about colors bleeding. With yardage I'm not limited to pattern choices except by my abilities. I don't think it takes much time to cut strips or squares, and I don't have worry about them being cut off square. I've also been disappointed in the choices of fabrics in some layer cakes and charm packs. With one layer cake, there were 4 fabrics that didn't fit in any way with the other fabrics. There was one that didn't match any color and others that were juvenile patterns put in with rich reds. I've decided precuts are not for me.

I am not a pre-washer. I throw in a couple of color catchers and have always had good luck. I have a red, white and blue flag quilt. I know it has been washed before at least twice. It hangs high on the wall in my entry foyer and is hard to get down to wash. Beside you can't see the dust on it up that high. I washed it recently and the red bled onto one of the white fabrics. (there are 6 different whites) I got help from on this board. I rewashed it with ox-clean and it came out fine.

I understand that the 5 inches is measured from the tip of the "pinking". When I match it up with my blocks that I have cut (exactly 5 inches square) I am losing the fabric between each tip. When I'm sewing my (not always exact) 1/4 inch seam it's easy to have a seam that doesn't hold. I don't know if I am explaining this correctly. Anyway....no more pinked charms. I have some in my stash and will use them when I need 4 1/2 in squares.

That is a good idea! Should have thought of that too.