582. Leveling a Dirt Floor

In an introductory note to this chapter, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch writes that most Jews are already familiar with the prohibited labors of Shabbos and that he is only addressing common situations with which people may not be familiar. Clearly, the laws of Shabbos constitute an area requiring much greater study than this email alone will allow. 80:73 We may not sweep the floor on Shabbos, even when the floor is made of wood or stone. One may have a non-Jew sweep for him (since he does not intend to level holes in a dirt floor - Mishnah Brurah 337:10). If it’s done in a very unusual manner, such as by a feather duster (which would not level holes -MB 337:11), then even a Jew may do it. (Now that people no longer have dirt floors, we may sweep on Shabbos - Bi’ur Halacha 337:2 s.v. v’yeish machmirin.)

80:74 One may not use his foot to rub saliva into the ground but he may step on it (if it happens to be in his path - MB 316:51) without rubbing it. (As with the previous halacha, now that people no longer have dirt floors, it is no longer problematic to do this on a floor of wood or stone - MB 316:49.)