I have changed my mind about washing precuts. I have always washed yardage for these reasons:

• I don't like surprises - strange shrinkage, bleeding.
• I want to minimize the chemicals in my life.
• I want clean fabric and don't want the dirt, germs, and dust that accumulates on fabric.
• If I put the effort into making a quilt, I don't want my quilt to change dramatically after the first wash.

Previously, It just seemed easier to use the precuts as is. Guess what, I really don't like the feel of unwashed fabrics. And all my reasons for washing yardage are also true for precuts!

Before using precuts, I am now soaking and using the salad spinner trick. I am happier and I like the results.

I usually prewash large pieces of fabrics but one time I washed a bunch of 10" squares and they all had some shrinkage to them. They were about 1/4" smaller than my other 10" squares. Just speaking from experience.

I am actually more worried about colour bleed or colour transfer. I rinse my fabrics in hot-as-my-hands-will-stand water. If a fabric bleeds colour, it gets more treatment. BTW that also takes care of shrinkage. Small stuff is laid out to dry or ironed dry. Big stuff is thrown in the dryer.

I think of 'precuts' like 'prefab' meals from the grocery store. Okay but not as good as home made. You bought a shortcut but you did not get the quality of product that you expected.

I NEVER wash anything that is not yardage. If you want to use the precuts to save measuring and cutting, you will exchange it for pressing and squaring up from the rather severe fraying.

I don't pre-wash my small cuts. Yardage is only prewashed if I am sending it out in a swap. I will wash first the cut into the size I need..

Handmade wringer?
 

Snooze2978 - I haven't heard of a wringer in forever. How did you make it, and how big is it?

I'm also more worried about the color bleed. I rinse pre cuts in hot water. If there is any bleed, I rinse again. When I think I have all the loose color out, I put them on paper towels just to make sure there is no more bleed.

I rarely buy precuts so it's not that much of an issue with me. I prefer to make my own strips and squares. No pinked edges to deal with and no off grain cuts. Just works better for me.