Doing Laundry in the Nine Days
- It is forbidden to wash or iron clothing, towels, bed linen, tablecloths etc during the Nine Days, even if one only intends to use them after Tisha B’Av. One similarly may not give clothes to a non-Jewish launderette during the Nine Days (SA 551:3, 5). However, there are a few exceptions:
- No clean clothes: One whose clothes have all become dirtied may wash them until the Shabbos before Tisha B’Av. Similarly, one may wash Shabbos clothes if one does not have any clean clothes for Shabbos (even if one has clean weekday clothes; MB 29, 32, Dirshu 41).
- Mourners: Some permit a mourner whose period of shloshim finishes in the week before Tisha B’Av (but not during the week of Tisha B’av) to wash clothing then, though others are strict regarding this (SA 551:15, MB 87).
- For Mitzva purposes: For mitzva purposes, one may wash clothes in the Nine Days where required – for example, a woman may wash white clothing where required for her 7 clean days, even during the week of Tisha B’av. (SA 551:3, MB 30)
- Giving to a Launderette: One may give clothes to a non-Jewish launderette before the Nine Days, even if they will wash them during the Nine Days (though one may not wear them freshly laundered in the Nine Days as we will soon discuss). Some opinions permit giving them clothes during the Nine Days with the instruction to only wash them after Tisha B’av, whilst others are strict on this. (SA 551:3, MB 34)
- Children’s clothing: It is permitted to wash the clothes of young children which regularly get soiled. It is advisable to consult with one’s Rav when one has children to determine if and when one may wash their clothes, as the poskim debate until what age one may wash children’s clothes and whether there is more room to be lenient in the week preceding Tisha B’Av (R 551:14, MB 82, Dirshu 103).
Freshly Laundered Clothing, Towels etc
- One may not wear freshly laundered or ironed clothes, or use freshly laundered towels, tablecloths, bed linen etc during the Nine Days. Similarly, one may not wear new clothes during the Nine Days, even if they do not warrant saying a Shehechiyanu. (SA 551:3,6, MB44-45);
- Contemporary poskim discuss whether one may wear freshly laundered undergarments and use clean hand or kitchen towels given our practice is to change them regularly for hygienic reasons, or whether they require preparation in the manner outlined above. Consult with a Rav for practical guidance where required
Preparing Clothing to be Worn in the Nine Days
- To prepare one’s clothing for the Nine Days so they are permissible to wear, the poskim recommend that one wear each item of clothing for a short period of time before the Nine Days such that it no longer feels ‘freshly laundered’. Some are of the view that wearing a piece of clothing for 30 minutes is sufficient for it to lose this feeling, other poskim require one to wear it for about an hour.
- If one did not prepare garments, towels etc in this manner before the Nine Days, many poskim permit one to leave the item on the floor for about an hour such that it gets somewhat dirtied and creased, or to trample on it a bit to achieve this effect (Dirshu 551:40, Piskei Tshuvos 551:16-17, fn103).
Wearing Shabbos Clothes in the Nine Days
- In the Nine Days, one may generally not wear Shabbos clothes (Rema 551:1).
- On Shabbos Chazon: The Rema rules that one does not even wear Shabbos clothes on Shabbos Chazon (the Shabbos preceding Tisha B’av), however, we practice like the Vilna Gaon who argues that one should, and we do so even if Shabbos falls on the 9th of Av. According to this practice, one may wear Shabbos clothes even if they are freshly laundered. However, one should not wear new garments on this Shabbos (SA 551:1, MB 6, 9, 45, Dirshu 3).
- Tablecloths, bedsheets: One may use freshly laundered tablecloths on Shabbos in the Nine Days but not freshly laundered bedsheets (MB 551:33, Shoneh Halachos 22).
- Bris: In the event of a Bris (even if it is not on Shabbos), the Mohel, Sandek, father and mother may wear Shabbos clothes. The practice is also for female kvaters (who carry in the baby from the mother) to wear Shabbos clothes but not male kvaters (SA 551:1, MB 3-4).
Purchasing Clothing and Household Items in the Nine Days
- One may not make or purchase new clothes in the Nine Days, even if they do not require Shehechiyanu on wearing them and even if one only intends to wear them after Tisha B’av.
- Significant home purchases: Similarly one should not buy significant pieces of furniture, or fancy utensils for the home. (SA 551:7, MB 11, 49, Dirshu 52)
- Sales: If there is a sale during the Nine Days where prices are significantly reduced and if one were to wait until after Nine Days one would miss the sale, one may purchase, but not use new clothing, furniture or utensils (MB 551:11, PT 27).
- Wedding related purchases: If necessary due to time constraints, one who is getting married after Tisha B’Av may buy clothes etc for the wedding even during the Nine Days, if it is a wedding where the Chassan has not yet fulfilled Pru Urevu (MB 551:14, 46, Dirshu 26).
