Q. The Minhag is that women do not wash clothing on Rosh Chodesh.
I, the husband, do the washing in our home. Is it OK if I hang the washing on the porch where it can be seen by the neighbors, or do I have to avoid the Mar'is Ayin that they might think my wife washed them?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 417: 1) writes that it is a good minhag for women to avoid doing melochos and work during Rosh Chodesh. Remah (ibid.) adds that if the minhag is to avoid doing only some melochos and not others, we have to follow the minhag. Biur Halocho (ibid.) mentions that the tradition remotes to the days of Moshe Rabbenu and quotes from Yerushalmi and many Rishonim and Poskim that invoke people to follow it.
Mishna Berura (4) cites different minhogim regarding which day of Rosh Chodesh is included. Also Poskim write that minhogim disagree whether it applies also at night (Biur Halocho ibid.)
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that taking into account the many variables that may permit the actual washing (see also next question regarding using washing machines), including, as in your case, that it could be done by the husband, there should not be any real issue of ma'aras ayin.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised By Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
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