Netilat Yadayim: Electric Dryers

One of the requirements of the netilat yadayim before eating bread is that one’s hands be completely dry before reciting the blessing on the bread.[1] In fact, ensuring that one’s hands are dry is a vital component of the mitzva of netilat yadayim. This is because water on one’s hands has the ability to be metameh, to render the food that one touches, impure. Another reason is that drying one’s hands after washing them gets them even cleaner than washing alone.[2]

The blessing for netilat yadayim is to be recited after one washes one’s hands but before one dries them. This further demonstrates that drying one’s hands is a fundamental component of the mitzva.[3] We are taught that one who eats bread without properly drying one's hands is considered to be eating impure food.[4] According to many authorities, one should specifically use a cloth to dry one’s hands. This is because a cloth is the best way to remove any dirt that might remain on one’s hands after washing them. Indeed, a good washing followed by a thorough cloth drying ensures that one’s hands are as clean as possible.[5] It is important that one’s hands be completely dry before eating.[6]

One should not allow one’s hands to simply air dry on their own after washing netilat yadayim. It follows, therefore, that one should not use an electric dryer to dry one’s hands either, as that is essentially a form of air drying.[7] In extenuating circumstances, however, one may use an electric dryer to dry one’s hands or simply allow them to air dry on their own.[8] There are a number of authorities who rule that it is completely permissible to use an electric dryer for netilat yadayim, but most authorities disagree and frown upon doing so.[9] One who has no choice but to dry one’s hands with a dryer, or to let them air dry on their own, should wash with a generous amount of water --and even consider using soap – in order to ensure that one’s hands will be as clean as possible.[10]

One should not use one’s shirt, or any other article of clothing that one is wearing, to dry one’s hands.[11] In an emergency, however, one is permitted to use an article of clothing to dry one’s hands. Even then, one should avoid using one’s shirt. This is because we are taught that using one’s shirt for drying one’s hands can lead to “forgetfulness.”[12] It is interesting to note that one who dips one’s hands into a mikva or other natural body of water for the purpose of netilat yadayim is not truly required to dry them at all.[13]

[1] OC 158:12.

[2] Mishna Berura 158:46.

[3] Tosfot, Pesachim 7b.

[4] Sota 4b.

[5] Shulchan Aruch Harav, OC 158:17; Kaf Hachaim, OC 158:87.

[6] Aruch Hashulchan, OC 158:17.

[7] Shraga Hameir 4:2; B'tzel Hachachma 4:141, 5:32:4.

[8] B'tzel Hachachma 4:141, 5:32:4; Az Nidberu 8:52, 9:64; Rivevot Ephraim 3:103; Kinyan torah 3:19.

[9] Otzar Teshuvot (Klein) 105.

[10] B'tzel Hachachma 4:141.

[11] Mishna Berura 158:45.

[12] Aruch Hashulchan, OC 158:17; Kaf Hachaim, OC 158:87. See also Rivevot Ephraim 1:126.

[13] Tosefta Yadayim 2:1; OC 158:13; Mishna Berura 158:46.