A stipulation in Netilat Yadayim

Question

Is it possible nowadays to make a stipulation when washing hands that the washing should be effective for the entire day, as is brought in Siman 164, especially when going on trips and the like? Are there any special details that one must be careful about in practice?

Answer

Shalom u’vrachah

The Mishnah Berurah already wrote that one should not rely on the stipulation except in a pressing circumstance, such as one who is traveling and has no water. Even in such a case, if water becomes available to him along the way, he should not rely on the stipulation, and should wash again.

Source

Mishnah Berurah, Siman 164, se’if katan 2–3
Even not in a pressing circumstance — There are some poskim who wrote that one should not be lenient in this matter except in a pressing circumstance, such as when one is traveling and fears that he will not find water there. Likewise, when one is sitting in a wagon with a non-Jew, and they will not wait for him when he gets down to search for water, this is considered a pressing circumstance, even though he knows that there is water along that route; and it is effective when he washes in the morning and makes a stipulation. See further below, at the end of se’if katan 4, what is written about this:

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