I wash everything small before using it--underclothes, sheets, towels. I wash outer clothes after I wear them, probably because I can't wait to be seen in them. The "bleed factor" mentioned above on dark items is one reason I've learned (nothing like permanent dye in 'strange' places to convince one, I think!), and the fact that unwrapped items (especially) have been touched and tried on by who-knows-how-many people. I used to iron pillowcases. Then again, I used to iron, period. --Cat.