DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 502 KB)
Using Baby Wipes or Moistened Toilet Paper on Shabbat

The Halacha of "Sehita" (squeezing) forbids extracting absorbed liquid from a material on Shabbat. The question thus arises as to whether one may use baby wipes to clean an infant on Shabbat. The wipes have liquid absorbed in them which is then extracted when one presses the wipe against the child’s skin. Seemingly, this would be forbidden due to the Shabbat prohibition of "Sehita."

In truth, however, one who uses baby wipes on Shabbat has authorities on whom to rely, provided that he wipes gently and does not squeeze liquid from the wipe. If one looks carefully at a baby wipe he will notice that there is liquid even on the surface, which has not been absorbed into the material. It is certainly permissible to use that liquid for cleaning the baby, since it does not have to be extracted from the wipe. Therefore, one may clean a baby with moist wipes on Shabbat, provided that he uses only the liquid on the surface, and does not press down to extract the liquid that is absorbed.

For that matter, an adult who wishes to use moist wipes for cleaning himself on Shabbat may do so, provided that he does not press down to extract absorbed liquid.

By the same token, it would be permissible to moisten ordinary toilet paper with water and use it for cleaning oneself after using the restroom. Once again, one must ensure to wipe gently so that he does not extract any absorbed water. He must also ensure to use only a small amount of water, because if the tissue is saturated, water will inevitably be extracted during wiping. But as long as a person moistens the paper only slightly and wipes gently, he may use moistened tissue paper on Shabbat. Moistening tissue paper does not violate the Shabbat prohibition of Melaben (laundering), since tissue paper is disposable and nobody is careful to maintain its clean appearance. The only potential problem with moistening toilet paper is "Sehita," a problem which, as mentioned, one can avoid by using a small amount of water and ensuring to wipe gently.

Summary: One may use baby wipes or moistened tissue paper for cleaning on Shabbat, provided that he wipes gently such that moisture absorbed in the wipe is not squeezed out. One may moisten toilet paper with a small amount of water on Shabbat.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
In the Event One Does Not Have Pre-Cut Tissues in the Restroom on Shabbat
Is It Permissible to Make Ice Cubes on Shabbat
May a Non-Jew Carry from the Synagogue on Shabbat to a House for a Seuda?
Is It Permissible To Hold Dog Leash or Allow Dogs To Wear Tags on Shabbat
Hiring a Hazan, Ba’al Keri’a or Ba’al Teki’a for Shabbat or Yom Tob
Receiving Compensation for Work Done on Shabbat-2
Receiving Compensation for Work Done on Shabbat
Renting Hotel Rooms to non-Jews for Shabbat
May One Remove a Mukse Item from the Shabbat Table?
The Mukse Status of Tefillin on Shabbat
May One Continue to Handle a Mukse Item After It Was Already Picked Up?
Is it Permissible to Move Utensils and Furniture Without a Reason on Shabbat?
Is It Permissible to Use A Mukse Type Item on Shabbat To Perform A Permissible Function
Is It Permissible on Shabbat in the Public Domain to Carry a Child Who Refuses to Walk?
Is It Permissible to Read Documents and Letters on Shabbat?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found