563. Wet Clothes

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. 80:35 If a person who was walking got rained on (or if he fell in the water - Mishnah Brurah 301:161) and his clothes got wet, he may continue walking to his destination. When he takes off his clothes, he may not spread them out to dry. This is true even if they were only wet from his perspirstion. One may certainly not spread his clothes opposite a fire; even if he is wearing them, he may not stand opposite a fire in a place that is very hot. Similarly, one may not shake the water from his clothes. Regarding a garment that one is concerned about getting wet, one may not even carry it after taking it off, because of the likelihood that he will come to wring it out.   80:36 If a person is walking on Shabbos and he comes to a stream, the preferable way to avoid it is by jumping over it if possible, even if it's wide. This is better than walking around it, which will lengthen his journey. One may not walk through the stream so that one doesn't come to wring out his clothes. One may not walk in a place where he can slip and fall into the water because if his clothes become wet, he will come to wring them out.