Q. I've read that there could be a problem in cleaning a "soft plastic tablecloths" on Shabbat or Yom Tov. The Rabbi quoted said that it may be "laundering" to rub water vigorously on the plastic.
We often keep a fairly firm plastic tablecloth over the proper tablecloth on the tables in our sukkah. Before and after each meal we typically use a water-based liquid cleansing spray on the plastic tablecloth and then wipe it all down with napkins or paper towels. There are sometimes tougher bits of foods (usually a spill from some soup that has hardened) on the plastic that needs a bit of vigorous rubbing. Is this a real problem? Is there a different Halacha for the softer plastics that the kids play with and rip vs. the firmer plastics that I'm using? Any difference for Sephardim?
A. The prohibited melacha of melaben or cleaning usually applies to materials that absorb liquids such as fabrics and clothes. Washing dishes, pots and pans is permitted in cold water, when needed for that Shabbos. (O.H. 323: 6, in regards to leather shoes). It is permitted to rub and remove from a dry plastic tablecloth a dry stain with a dry cloth. (similar to O.H. 302: 6, Mishna Berura ibid. 26), but no wet cloth, napkins or paper towels should be used; neither should they be used to collect or clean spilled liquids, as you will come to squeeze the wet materials. You may however use a rubber squeegee or non absorbent material to remove or push aside spilled liquids from the plastic or water spilled for cleaning purposes. However, vigorous rubbing or “shifshuf” should preferable be avoided. See Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchoso (12: 41). See also Igrois Moshe (Y.D.
2: 79).
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that there is basically no difference in the various kinds of plastic tablecloths in regards to the above question or between the different communities who use them.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
Important Numbers
