1. To clean a wound, one may use disinfecting liquid, since its purpose is primarily to protect from infection, which is permitted on Shabbat (R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Shulchan Shlomo, Refuah). Soaking the cotton or gauze in liquid is not permitted since that violates the melachah of melabein (laundering) (Shulchan Aruch 302:9). One should apply the liquid directly onto the wound and then use cotton or gauze to clean it (Halachos of Refuah on Shabbos, p.326).

2. If there are any foreign particles on the wound, one may remove them using tweezers. Although the tweezers may be considered muktzeh and normally not be moved, it is permitted since the utensil is being moved for a purpose which is permitted (kli shemelachto l’issur l’tzorech gufo) (Shulchan Aruch 308:3; Halachos of Refuah on Shabbos, p.326).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.