Question:
Sometimes my clothes become dirty on Shabbos, can i clean them? Also is one permitted to fold away clothing one is no longer using that day on Shabbos?
Answer:
Laundering garments is a subsection of Bleaching, Melaben (one of the 39 principle labors which may not be done on Shabbos). While laundering usually entails the use of water and/or cleaning agents, removing dirt from a garment even without these may also fall under the Halachic prohibition of laundering.
If one’s garment became dusty on Shabbos, if one isn’t concerned about the dust on the garment (and would wear it without cleaning it) one may gently shake it out, or gently hit it with one’s hand or dry rag, but one may not shake it out vigorously, rub it, or use a brush.
The source to the discussion over these halachos comes from the following gemora and rishonim.
The Gemora Shabbos 147a, says that one who shakes out his garment has committed a Biblical violation of Shabbos. The Gemora limits this one who shakes out a black new garment which one is concerned about. Rashi explains that there is a Biblical prohibition of Melabain (laundering) to shake out the garment from the dust that was on it, whereas, Tosfos argues that shaking out dust isn’t laundering. Tosfos, therefore, explains that the Gemora means there is a Biblical prohibition to shake out a garment from the dew which was it. Similarly, the Ritva argues on Rashi that because he says that Melabain (laundering) isn’t relevant if there’s no liquids involved.The Beiur Halacha quotes the Shiltei Giborim who asks how Tosfos could permit shaking dust out of a garment if one intends to clean it even though no liquids are used. The Beiur Halacha answers that Tosfos only permitted shaking it out without cleaning it directly, however, all agree that rubbing it with one’s hand to clean it is forbidden.
Halacha for Ashkenazim: The Shulchan Aruch 302:1 sides with Tosfos that there is a prohibition to shake out a garment from dew that was on it, but there is no prohibition to shake out a garment from dust that was on it. The Rama, however, writes that it’s proper to be concerned for the opinion of Rashi not to shake out a garment from the dust on it. Mishna Brurah 302:6 writes that one may rely on the lenient opinion to ask a non-Jew to do it. Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 15:28 rules like the Rama and Mishna Brurah that one may not shake out a garment from the dust on it, however, if it is a garment which one doesn’t usually care about having dust on it, one may shake off the dust gently. He explains that one who shakes off the dust vigorously reveals that he is concerned about the dust. He adds that hitting it gently with one’s hand or a dry rag is the equivalent of shaking it out.
Halacha for Sephardim: In general they side with the Shulchan Aruch and permit shaking out a garment to remove the dust from it. The Or Letzion (vol 2, 24:1), however, writes that we are concerned for the opinion of Rashi and the Rama and so one should only shake out a garment from the dust that’s on it if one does so in an abnormal manner, such as if one uses one’s sleeve. The Ben Ish Chai (Shana Sheniya Vayechi 8) and Kaf HaChaim 302:8 agree with those who are strict for the Rama.
There is a dispute among the Rishonim whether or not removing dust or other dirt particles from a garment is considered Laundering. Some hold that removing any speck of dirt from a garment, even if it is not absorbed into the fabric of the garment but is merely lying on its surface [like a feather or a loose thread], is Biblically forbidden since the garment is being transformed from “dirty” to “clean
A second opinion maintains that removing any dirt, whether it is absorbed into the fabric [like dust] or not, is totally permitted, since a dusty garment is not considered dirty and removing the dust is not considered Laundering. (Tosafos, Shabbos 147a)
A third, middle-of-the road view, holds that only dust which is trapped between the fibers of the fabric may not be removed, while dirt which lies on the surface, may
The basic halachah follows the middle-of-the-road opinion forbidding one to remove dirt that has been absorbed into the fabric (Rama). Shulchan Aruch ha-Rav and Aruch ha-Shulchan strongly recommend that one be stringent and follow this view [but do not absolutely require it].The Chayei Adam and Mishna Brurah, however, are of the opinion that the basic halachah is in accordance with this view and one may not be lenient.
In theory, there may be some dust which lies completely on the surface of the garment and is not absorbed into the fabric. In practice, however, this is almost impossible to determine.
The middle of the road opinion allows removing a feather or a loose thread that has landed on the garment (Rama). A minority view rules like the first opinion that even feathers and threads are prohibited.
Some Poskim are concerned with the issue of Muktzeh (See Shulchan Aruch ha-Rav 302:3). To avoid the problem, the dirt can be removed indirectly or via his body; Sha’ar ha-Tziyun 337:7. Other Poskim, however, are not concerned with the Muktzeh issue. |