Do you rinse your substrate before putting it into your tank?

I do not, no. Too much time to be honest

Yes, substrate should always be washed. You'll want to remove all that dust that's going to clog up your system when it gets sucked up. This will make your water less cloudy too.

Yes, I wash everything before putting it in the tank. Most bags will tell you to rinse until the water runs clear. Even soil and sand are recommended a few rinses before putting it in a tank with fish or plants.