Freshly-Washed Linens During the Nine Days

Q. What are the various halachos concerning the use of freshly cleaned towels, bed sheets, tablecloths and handkerchiefs during the Nine Days?

A. A fresh towel may be used during the Nine Days if the towel one was using became soiled (Kitzur Hilchos Bein Hametzarim p. 10:9).

Bed sheets may not be changed during the Nine Days (Mishna Berura 551:33) unless they are soiled. However, if a guest arrives during the Nine Days then one may place clean sheets on the bed (Shu”t Tzitz Eliezer 13:61).

A clean tablecloth can be used on Shabbos during the Nine Days (Taz OC 551:4).

A fresh handkerchief may be used only if the old one is dirty and unusable (Shu”t Rivevos Ephraim OC 2:555).

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.