Washing the Mourner's Clothes by His Wife
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Question
If someone is sitting shiva (seven-day mourning period) after the loss of his father, is it permissible for his wife to wash his clothes to be used after the shiva?
Answer
It is forbidden to wash the mourner's clothes even by another person, as the prohibition of work for the mourner applies even when performed by others.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Siman 380 Paragraph 18 "If his work is in the hands of others, by contract, in his house, they should not do it; in the house of others, they may do it. And the Rema wrote, provided they accepted the work before he became a mourner"
And laundering is considered work, and it is forbidden for his wife to wash his clothes even for use after the shiva. As Ramban wrote and brought in the Tur: "Many wrote about laundering and leaving, and I say it is forbidden as work, both by oneself and by others, and if his garment is by contract in the hands of others, they launder it as usual, like other works in the hands of others by contract"