Laundry During the Nine Days — A Preschool Teacher Whose Clothes Get Dirty
Question
I work in a daycare with children who are a year and a half old, and I sit next to them during breakfast. Every day they get my clothes dirty with cheese/cottage cheese (dairy), banana (pareve), and the like. Am I allowed to wash my clothes during the Nine Days?
Answer
Shalom u’vrachah
There is no general allowance here as there is regarding children, where the Sages did not institute the decree at all.
Rather, in this case one should prepare enough clothes in advance and be careful that they not get dirty. However, if it happened that all the clothes became dirty, it is permitted to wash them in a pressing situation, like someone who has no garment to wear.
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