Maybe this is just me because I am new, but I pre-washed some fabric last week and it came out of the dryer with edges that were falling apart.

Does this happen to you? What do you do about it?

Do you mean unraveling?
You can use pinking shears or a pinking blade on your rotary cutter.
Some members serge the edges.
Some clip each corner of the fabric to minimize the fraying.
Some wash smaller pieces in lingerie bags

I do a zigzag stitch as close to the edge as I can get. Prevents the tangled mess some! I've thought about picking up some pinking shears as well.

When I prewash I take a pair of scissors with me when I take the fabric out of the washer and cut all the strings off then.

I also zig zag stitch the edges. I tried pinking shears, but still got a mess. So I sew and it comes out fine. A little time spent in prep saves so much in aggravation later.

I just sew a straight line as close as I can to the edge. I still get the occasional strings, but cut them off before I put it in the dryer.

A serger is perfect for this very thing. Just serge across cut edges and no raveling in washer or dryer. If you don't have a serger cutting a small triangle off at the corners helps a lot. If I'm washing small pieces I also use a lingere bag.

Clipping the corner a bit really works! I don't understand why it works, but it does. I forget sometimes though and end up with strings.

I don't normally wash my fabrics, quilt makers are a bit divided on this topic. Here is an article I wrote on the subject that may be useful.
http://www.stitchingcow.com/about/us...uilting-fabric
If you do decide to wash, use a gentle cycle and place in a pillow slip or washing bag. This will also help.
Warmly Lenna

I don't usually wash my fabrics but when I do this works.

I don't wash my fabrics in the machine, I just soak in the wash tub, bounce them around a bit, wring by hand and hang in a shady area to dry. I don't seem to have any problems with unravelling.

I have zig zagged the edges. I recently started washing fabrics on the handwash cycle, and dry them on the sweater rack that fits in my dryer. (attachment that came with it.) I had very little raveling.

If it's cotton, or a cotton blend, I wash, dry, and press--no surprises later. I serge the cut edges, I have also zigzagged, both work fine. Good luck :)

I don't wash it.

I soak to test color fastness and usually use a stabilers in a pot of 140 water first. I change water till water is clear then dry on line and that is when fraying happens for me.

I got a ripply, zig zag blade for rotary cutter and that works great but I always cut edges.

If you don't wash, when done, I would recommend a product to remove excess dye in washing machine.

I use my pinking shears on the cut edges.