definitely the Shout color catcher sheet! So easy to find at discount stores and even at the supermarket. I use one every time I pre wash my fabrics, and I put all kinds of colors together and have never had a problem.

I have heard of using a salad spinner for small pieces of fabric.

I trim the edges of my fabric with pinking shears to eliminate a lot of the fraying then put them into the white mesh bags used for washing delicates - if it is a large piece or if I have several large pieces I sew them into a pillow case - then wash on normal all together with color catchers - works very well - so far everything has worked out well - once they finish washing I take them out of the bags - trim any frayed edges and put into the dryer - I worry about different fabrics shrinking at different rates once in a quilt so I want them preshrunk before I start sewing with them - btw - the mesh bags can be found at Dollar Tree stores 3 for a dollar most times - this is one of the best bargan stores around if you have one nearby and haven't tried it yet do - you won't be disappointed

I usually throw it in with some towels. I don't usually care if a color bleeds onto them, especially my older ones.

You can pretest your fabric for bleeding colors. Put an inch square in a bowl of water and see if it runs. Use the temp water you would pre-wash your fabrics in. I only wash cheap Walmart fabric and other fabrics that I tested and they ran. I just don't understand the big deal about washing fabrics. When the quilt is quilted part of the look is the puffiness and that all that happens when the fabric shrinks.

what is a color catcher and what does it look like

With the Shout color catcher sheets, you can wash a whole load of mixed colors. They are great! You will find them with the dryer sheets and other laundry aids in the grocery store or Walmart.

A color catcher looks similar to a dryer fabric softener sheet - comes in a box like them too - and "absorbs" any colors that run out of the fabrics you are washing.

I have only ever had a brilliant batik run on me, and I was suspect of it from the start so washed it by hand in the laundry tub - took about 8 separate rinses before it stopped.

I'll wash like colors together, with the color catchers, and have never had a problem.

Yup! I'm too broke to run a load for each piece of fabric.

BTW, if you are an adult living at home and using a lot of energy, are you pitching in on the water, gas, electric bills? If you can't afford to, be grateful for a home and be frugal with the resources in that home.

I use Retayne and wash all colors together and no problem, even wash white with reds. You can buy it at quilt stores and probably Joann's. Use (1) tsp. per yard of material. It is great!!! betty jo in Tn.