Question:
Leaving the dishes on Shabbos after the meals bother me, is there any permitted way of washing them?
Answer:
One may not clean dishes or even gently wipe a countertop with a sponge because gripping the sponge will inevitably cause liquid to be squeezed out where one’s fingers grasp the material. However, using a sponge which has a handle or a vinyl back one may gently wipe a countertop but it is still forbidden to wash dishes.
One shouldn’t use a dry sponge to wipe up a spill unless the sponge has a handle or vinyl back.
One may not use a wet brush to scrub if the brush’s fibers are soft and dense. However, if the fibers are stiff, sparse, and made out of synthetic material one may use that brush for scrubbing. Similarly, a plastic mesh or wire mesh may be used for scrubbing only if the fibers are thin and the netting is widely spaced. However, one may not use a mesh if the fibers are closely packed; for example, one may not use a steel wool pad. To determine whether the fibers are considered dense or sparse one should conduct the following test before Shabbos: Immerse it in water and upon removing it if the water drains out immediately the fibers are considered widely spaced, however, if water stays absorbed it is considered densely spaced.
A wet sponge is Muktzeh Machmas Issur and may only be moved if the space it is occupying is needed. When moving a wet sponge one should do so gently so as not to squeeze out any liquid. However, a dry sponge or a wet sponge which has a handle or vinyl backing aren’t muktzeh and may be moved for any necessary purpose.
It is forbidden to place dishes in a dishwasher on Shabbos even if it is on a timer and won’t turn on until a specified time.
If one doesn’t need to clean dishes because one has others or the like see the Hachana page whether it is permitted to clean them.
Initially one should clean the dishes before Shabbos out of Kavod Shabbos.
With regarding to clearing the table on Shabbos the following practical halachos apply.
It’s permissible to clear the table even after Seudah Shelishis so that the room looks presentable unless one knows that will not use that room until the end of Shabbos (which is common if Seudah Shelishis finishes late).
One may use a rag or towel to wipe up a spill if the rag or towel is able to soak up the entire spill without needing to wring it out. One may also use many rags at the same time if together they can absorb the spill.
One may not wipe a surface such as a counter or table top with a wet cloth. However, if a counter is sticky one may sprinkle water on the surface and then wipe it clean with a dry rag but it’s preferable to used a paper serviette .When necessary one wipe a surface very gently using a saturated rag or wet wet serviette.
It is permitted to rub and clean a plastic tablecloth on Shabbos with liquid soap. However, if part of the tablecloth is made from material it is forbidden to clean on Shabbos.
If a small quantity of liquid spilled onto the table on Shabbos, it is permitted to wipe the table using a dry cloth provided there is no squeezing involved. However, it is forbidden to wipe it using a cloth if there was a big spill of liquid. One must use a plastic cleaner.With regarding to folding a table cloth or any thing for the meal, It is forbidden to fold garments on Shabbos unless one has no room in the closet for them or wants to reuse them during the same Shabbos.According to many opinions, one may fold clothing not on its creases. |