Pesach cleaning
Apr. 3rd, 2003 10:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magidCleaning for Pesach is a huge job, but one that is less large than some people make it. The goal is to make sure that you don't have any chametz (non-kosher-for-Passover food) in your possession, not necessarily to do spring cleaning as well, though many seem to include that, which means, of course, extremely exhausted people at the seder, which is less than ideal.
I'm on a rather right-wing (Jewishly) mailing list that I've been too lazy to take myself off of, especially since every so often there's something I rather like. Today, there was a guide to Pesach cleaning, by the Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Cohanim, R. Shlomo Aviner, that emphasized what must be done rather than what may be done. I was glad to see another rabbi emphasizing the minimum in this case, rather than the maximum, even though there are things that are not as I do them...
How to Do Your Pesach Cleaning Happily in Less than One Day - A Halachic Guide Yeshiva Ateret Cohanim Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva
Being away for the holiday
If you are going away and no one will use the house at all during the holiday, you may close up all the rooms which will not be used, sell all of the chametz, and do no Pesach cleaning at all. If some part of the house will be lived in on Pesach, that part alone must be cleaned. If one leaves his permanent home before the eve of B'dikat Chametz, he performs the search wherever he is that evening. If he is still at home, he should clean the smallest room of chametz. Of course, there must be no chametz left in that room to be sold. Later, he must also perform the B'dika with a bracha in the rooms in which he will live during Pesach - if no one else has done it for him.
[It would be nice to be able to afford to go away for all of Passover, but that's not how my life seems to go...]
Chametz smaller than a k'zait [lit. "like an olive," or, an olive's worth. Also the smallest quantity of food one makes a blessing before eating.]
Rooms into which chametz is not normally brought need not be thoroughly cleaned, as the chance of finding a piece of chametz the size of a K'zait (3 centimeters or a little over an inch square) is negligible [I love how volume is measured in surface area...]. Chametz which is less than this size may not be eaten of course, but it is not included in the D'oraita [Biblical, rather than rabbinic] prohibition of "bal yeira'eh" (Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim, I:145, Mishna Brura, and Chazon Ish), especially if one has sold his chametz. Usually, only rooms in which children are allowed to bring sandwiches or cookies are likely to contain such big pieces of chametz.
Incidentally, one must take care not to hide large pieces of chametz before B'dikat Chametz [the search for chametz the night before Pesach], in case one of the pieces should get lost (Responsa Yechave Da'at 5:149).
[This is particularly interesting, since pretty much everyone I know does, in fact, hide chametz to find in their search. Some people always use a particular number of pieces, such as 10, so that it's easy to know whether one has found them or not.
Why do they hide the chametz? Well, the house is pretty well cleaned at that point, getting all the chametz out, and there's a positive commandment not only to search, but to burn what is found (the next morning). So to make sure there's something to dispose of, have to make sure there's something found on the search.]
B'dikat Chametz
One must only search for chametz in places in which there is a reasonable chance of finding chametz. It is nearly impossible for an inch square of chametz to be hidden inside a book! If there is a chance that the book has chametz in it, it must be thoroughly checked. However, most books do not need to be cleaned or checked. Cleaning and checking a sample is sufficient.
[I know people who try to open every book before Pesach; they are people who own a reasonable number of books, too. I do not eat over books during the year, being far too much of a perfectionist about the condition of my books....]
It is customary not to place books which have not been checked for chametz on the table during Pesach.
Parenting and Pesach
When your children are on vacation, it's better to spend the time with them, playing, preparing for the Seder, taking family trips, etc., and to do the heavy cleaning some other time - preferably spread out over the whole year. We were freed from slavery when we left Egypt, and should not allow ourselves to be too tired to enjoy the Seder and the Pesach holiday. Husband and wife share their lives, their children, their home, and their Pesach cleaning! If the husband is on vacation too, this may be a good time to leave him with the kids, and give the wife a vacation! Our first priority is to try to make the Seder an unforgettable, inspiring experience for all.
Children's Clothes
There may be cookies in your kids' pockets. Even the crumbs must be cleaned, since a child may put his hand into his pocket and then into his mouth. However, it is unnecessary to check any clothes that are put away and will not be worn now. Running the clothes through the washing machine will not necessarily get rid of all the crumbs. The clothes must be checked.
[I assume that running my clothes through the washer will get out any chametz, but that may also be a function of not putting cookies in my pockets :-)]
Toys must also be checked. However, you may put some or all of the toys away and buy new toys for the holiday! That serves a double purpose of saving work and making the children happy.
Medicines and Toiletries
These may contain chametz, such as wheat germ oil and alcohol derived from wheat. Close all the cabinets, sell the chametz, and buy Kosher L'Pesach.
[There are lists of medicines and toiletries that are kosher/not kosher for Pesach. I tend to put away toiletries, get a new toothbrush and toothpaste, but I don't have any way to take different prescriptions during Passover... I should look, but don't, to see if my usual prescription has chametz in it. The pills are tiny...]
Furniture
Sofas and Chairs: Clean in all the crevices. This is an interesting opportunity to find all sorts of lost possessions.
[For some. I'm pretty darned sure that there's no toys hiding in my sofa...]
Dining Room: Chairs should be wiped if they are dirty. The table should be kashered with boiling water, Alternatively, it may be covered with several layers of plastic and cloth tablecloths.
[It's pretty easy to wipe off the chairs. With a wooden table, I do not use boiling water (surprise!), but do put on a layer of plastic, with a tablecloth on top of that. Well, I have to take the layer of plastic from last Passover off first, though.]
High Chair: If it is plastic, it may be immersed in a tub with boiling water and cleaning agents. Clean the cracks with a stiff brush. It is unnecessary to take the chair apart.
Kitchen
This room must be thoroughly cleaned, and not one crumb of chametz left.
It is preferable not to kasher a dishwasher. If necessary, use disposable dishes.
[I have never decided about my dishwasher even after I kashered it, dairy/meat, etc. It makes a handy wine rack, though, holding up to 13 bottles horizontally...
I use all disposable dishes during Passover. It's not environmentally sound, but for just over a week a year, it hasn't yet been worth it to me to buy two new sets of dishes. I have some pots, some implements for cooking, and every year end up getting one or two things more (a second bowl would probably be a good thing), but in general, I have very little for Passover.]
If you do not have a self-cleaning oven, it is best not to kasher it. Seal the oven and buy baked goods. [I've never heard this before. As a friend put it, the rabbi is a man. Of course, I'm lucky enough to have a self-cleaning oven, so this doesn't affect me directly. Oh, and the "buy baked goods" part: baked goods aren't really the issue with having an oven for Passover, for me. I want to be able to cook a chicken, or fish, or roast veggies...] The stovetop should be replaced, or special Pesach burners should be purchased if possible [I'm sure people do this. I don't.]. If not, clean, and cover with as much aluminum foil as possible. Use aluminum foil that is thick enough not to tear, but thin enough to bend and shape. The control knobs should be wiped clean.
The refrigerator and freezer must be defrosted and thoroughly cleaned. It is best to eat up all chametz before Pesach, but if expensive chametz food products are left over, they may be wrapped up well, labeled "Chametz", stored in the back of the freezer/refrigerator, and included in the list of chametz sold before Pesach [Actually, the rabbi who arranges the selling of chametz locally doesn't hold that one can sell part of a space. So either I clear out the freezer entirely, or sell it. I do the latter, since I have a lot of ingredients in my freezer. This means I don't have ice cream during Passover, and I have to buy meat reasonably close to when I'm going to cook it. Not a big deal.]. If you have an old refrigerator with cracks and crevices that are hard to clean, you should cover the shelves, door, etc. with plastic.
Dishes, shelves, and drawers that will not be used on Pesach may be sealed, and need not be cleaned [Despite this, many people take everything out of cabinets and clean them before putting things back inside and closing them up for the holiday.]. Incidentally, there are parts of the kitchen that it is easier to paint than to wash. [Not for me..]
A microwave oven may be kashered by not using it for 24 hours, cleaning it thoroughly, and boiling water in it for half an hour. All food cooked or baked in it on Pesach should be placed in a covered utensil. [I haven't yet kashered my microwave for Passover. This year I might, though there are only three days in the middle (and hopefully a day or two beforehand) on which to use the microwave.]
It is best to cover the workspace around the sink etc. with heavy duty aluminum foil (after wiping it clean). If this is not possible, it may be kashered by cleaning with bleach in all the crevices and then pouring boiling water from an electric kettle that is still boiling. (This is best done by 2 people working together.) The sink may be cleaned and kashered or covered in the same way.
A toaster cannot be properly cleaned or kashered. It should be put away with the chametz. [What would I be toasting on Passover?]
The body of a large mixmaster, blender, food processor, etc. may be cleaned and covered with plastic (leaving air holes open). Beaters and bowls must be kashered or replaced. It is preferable by far to buy a new, small one just for Pesach.
Kashering dishes
This is a tremendous amount of work. It is preferable to buy new dishes. [This is what pretty much everyone I know does; they have four sets of dishes. Storage space is critical...]
Cars
They must be thoroughly cleaned, including all compartments, under the rug, etc. But there is no need to use a lot of water or to take the car apart [I just love this. I never thought about pouring boiling water in my car, nor taking it apart. I keep wondering if he saw a chance for humor here...]. In general, a pliers is not an essential tool for Pesach cleaning [Not to mention hammers, drills, saws...]. Chametz that is inaccessible without taking the car/house apart will not be seen or eaten on Pesach.
Chumrot: Being Especially Strict
If you know that you are being stricter than halacha requires, and you choose to be so strict, you are to be commended. However, if this becomes too hard to continue, you may perform "hatarat nedarim" [releasing one from vows]. In general, we should not force ourselves to take upon ourselves "chumrot" unless we really want to.
Summary
In light of what is written above, it should take about an hour to clean the house, another hour for the dining room, and two-three hours to kasher the kitchen [No mention of the car...]. In short, about one day! [Many, many, many people spent a hell of a lot more than a day on this job... Last year I was lucky enough to have help (Thanks, Tigerbright!), since I was one-handed at the time, and I definitely went for the minimum. This year, despite two-handedness, I'm still aiming for the minimum.]
Anything more than that is just making ourselves tired and irritable with the children - and that is definitely not setting a positive example! Our memories of Pesach should not be of a reign of terror.
Involving the whole family in the Pesach cleaning and making it a happy, exciting experience is our goal. We should set our priorities before we begin, and finish cleaning the kitchen and dining room before we clean what is not chametz in the rest of the house.
The Shulchan Aruch writes: "Every person should sweep his room before B'dikat Chametz, and check his pockets for chametz." The Mishna Berura adds: ”It is the custom to sweep the whole house on 13 Nisan [the month in which Pesach falls], so that it will be ready to check immediately after nightfall on the 14th." Anything more than that is a chumra, and should not come at the cost of health and happiness.
Even if you do more than I have outlined here, just knowing that it is a chumra reduces the stress involved. I am not advocating poor housekeeping, just noting that not all dirt is chametz. Cleaning should be spread out over the whole year, so that we and our families do not suffer before Pesach.
We wish you all a HAPPY and kosher Pesach. We must celebrate the Seder rested and happy, so that it inspires us and our children with faith in G-d the Redeemer of Israel.
f
I'm on a rather right-wing (Jewishly) mailing list that I've been too lazy to take myself off of, especially since every so often there's something I rather like. Today, there was a guide to Pesach cleaning, by the Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Cohanim, R. Shlomo Aviner, that emphasized what must be done rather than what may be done. I was glad to see another rabbi emphasizing the minimum in this case, rather than the maximum, even though there are things that are not as I do them...
How to Do Your Pesach Cleaning Happily in Less than One Day - A Halachic Guide Yeshiva Ateret Cohanim Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva
Being away for the holiday
If you are going away and no one will use the house at all during the holiday, you may close up all the rooms which will not be used, sell all of the chametz, and do no Pesach cleaning at all. If some part of the house will be lived in on Pesach, that part alone must be cleaned. If one leaves his permanent home before the eve of B'dikat Chametz, he performs the search wherever he is that evening. If he is still at home, he should clean the smallest room of chametz. Of course, there must be no chametz left in that room to be sold. Later, he must also perform the B'dika with a bracha in the rooms in which he will live during Pesach - if no one else has done it for him.
[It would be nice to be able to afford to go away for all of Passover, but that's not how my life seems to go...]
Chametz smaller than a k'zait [lit. "like an olive," or, an olive's worth. Also the smallest quantity of food one makes a blessing before eating.]
Rooms into which chametz is not normally brought need not be thoroughly cleaned, as the chance of finding a piece of chametz the size of a K'zait (3 centimeters or a little over an inch square) is negligible [I love how volume is measured in surface area...]. Chametz which is less than this size may not be eaten of course, but it is not included in the D'oraita [Biblical, rather than rabbinic] prohibition of "bal yeira'eh" (Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim, I:145, Mishna Brura, and Chazon Ish), especially if one has sold his chametz. Usually, only rooms in which children are allowed to bring sandwiches or cookies are likely to contain such big pieces of chametz.
Incidentally, one must take care not to hide large pieces of chametz before B'dikat Chametz [the search for chametz the night before Pesach], in case one of the pieces should get lost (Responsa Yechave Da'at 5:149).
[This is particularly interesting, since pretty much everyone I know does, in fact, hide chametz to find in their search. Some people always use a particular number of pieces, such as 10, so that it's easy to know whether one has found them or not.
Why do they hide the chametz? Well, the house is pretty well cleaned at that point, getting all the chametz out, and there's a positive commandment not only to search, but to burn what is found (the next morning). So to make sure there's something to dispose of, have to make sure there's something found on the search.]
B'dikat Chametz
One must only search for chametz in places in which there is a reasonable chance of finding chametz. It is nearly impossible for an inch square of chametz to be hidden inside a book! If there is a chance that the book has chametz in it, it must be thoroughly checked. However, most books do not need to be cleaned or checked. Cleaning and checking a sample is sufficient.
[I know people who try to open every book before Pesach; they are people who own a reasonable number of books, too. I do not eat over books during the year, being far too much of a perfectionist about the condition of my books....]
It is customary not to place books which have not been checked for chametz on the table during Pesach.
Parenting and Pesach
When your children are on vacation, it's better to spend the time with them, playing, preparing for the Seder, taking family trips, etc., and to do the heavy cleaning some other time - preferably spread out over the whole year. We were freed from slavery when we left Egypt, and should not allow ourselves to be too tired to enjoy the Seder and the Pesach holiday. Husband and wife share their lives, their children, their home, and their Pesach cleaning! If the husband is on vacation too, this may be a good time to leave him with the kids, and give the wife a vacation! Our first priority is to try to make the Seder an unforgettable, inspiring experience for all.
Children's Clothes
There may be cookies in your kids' pockets. Even the crumbs must be cleaned, since a child may put his hand into his pocket and then into his mouth. However, it is unnecessary to check any clothes that are put away and will not be worn now. Running the clothes through the washing machine will not necessarily get rid of all the crumbs. The clothes must be checked.
[I assume that running my clothes through the washer will get out any chametz, but that may also be a function of not putting cookies in my pockets :-)]
Toys must also be checked. However, you may put some or all of the toys away and buy new toys for the holiday! That serves a double purpose of saving work and making the children happy.
Medicines and Toiletries
These may contain chametz, such as wheat germ oil and alcohol derived from wheat. Close all the cabinets, sell the chametz, and buy Kosher L'Pesach.
[There are lists of medicines and toiletries that are kosher/not kosher for Pesach. I tend to put away toiletries, get a new toothbrush and toothpaste, but I don't have any way to take different prescriptions during Passover... I should look, but don't, to see if my usual prescription has chametz in it. The pills are tiny...]
Furniture
Sofas and Chairs: Clean in all the crevices. This is an interesting opportunity to find all sorts of lost possessions.
[For some. I'm pretty darned sure that there's no toys hiding in my sofa...]
Dining Room: Chairs should be wiped if they are dirty. The table should be kashered with boiling water, Alternatively, it may be covered with several layers of plastic and cloth tablecloths.
[It's pretty easy to wipe off the chairs. With a wooden table, I do not use boiling water (surprise!), but do put on a layer of plastic, with a tablecloth on top of that. Well, I have to take the layer of plastic from last Passover off first, though.]
High Chair: If it is plastic, it may be immersed in a tub with boiling water and cleaning agents. Clean the cracks with a stiff brush. It is unnecessary to take the chair apart.
Kitchen
This room must be thoroughly cleaned, and not one crumb of chametz left.
It is preferable not to kasher a dishwasher. If necessary, use disposable dishes.
[I have never decided about my dishwasher even after I kashered it, dairy/meat, etc. It makes a handy wine rack, though, holding up to 13 bottles horizontally...
I use all disposable dishes during Passover. It's not environmentally sound, but for just over a week a year, it hasn't yet been worth it to me to buy two new sets of dishes. I have some pots, some implements for cooking, and every year end up getting one or two things more (a second bowl would probably be a good thing), but in general, I have very little for Passover.]
If you do not have a self-cleaning oven, it is best not to kasher it. Seal the oven and buy baked goods. [I've never heard this before. As a friend put it, the rabbi is a man. Of course, I'm lucky enough to have a self-cleaning oven, so this doesn't affect me directly. Oh, and the "buy baked goods" part: baked goods aren't really the issue with having an oven for Passover, for me. I want to be able to cook a chicken, or fish, or roast veggies...] The stovetop should be replaced, or special Pesach burners should be purchased if possible [I'm sure people do this. I don't.]. If not, clean, and cover with as much aluminum foil as possible. Use aluminum foil that is thick enough not to tear, but thin enough to bend and shape. The control knobs should be wiped clean.
The refrigerator and freezer must be defrosted and thoroughly cleaned. It is best to eat up all chametz before Pesach, but if expensive chametz food products are left over, they may be wrapped up well, labeled "Chametz", stored in the back of the freezer/refrigerator, and included in the list of chametz sold before Pesach [Actually, the rabbi who arranges the selling of chametz locally doesn't hold that one can sell part of a space. So either I clear out the freezer entirely, or sell it. I do the latter, since I have a lot of ingredients in my freezer. This means I don't have ice cream during Passover, and I have to buy meat reasonably close to when I'm going to cook it. Not a big deal.]. If you have an old refrigerator with cracks and crevices that are hard to clean, you should cover the shelves, door, etc. with plastic.
Dishes, shelves, and drawers that will not be used on Pesach may be sealed, and need not be cleaned [Despite this, many people take everything out of cabinets and clean them before putting things back inside and closing them up for the holiday.]. Incidentally, there are parts of the kitchen that it is easier to paint than to wash. [Not for me..]
A microwave oven may be kashered by not using it for 24 hours, cleaning it thoroughly, and boiling water in it for half an hour. All food cooked or baked in it on Pesach should be placed in a covered utensil. [I haven't yet kashered my microwave for Passover. This year I might, though there are only three days in the middle (and hopefully a day or two beforehand) on which to use the microwave.]
It is best to cover the workspace around the sink etc. with heavy duty aluminum foil (after wiping it clean). If this is not possible, it may be kashered by cleaning with bleach in all the crevices and then pouring boiling water from an electric kettle that is still boiling. (This is best done by 2 people working together.) The sink may be cleaned and kashered or covered in the same way.
A toaster cannot be properly cleaned or kashered. It should be put away with the chametz. [What would I be toasting on Passover?]
The body of a large mixmaster, blender, food processor, etc. may be cleaned and covered with plastic (leaving air holes open). Beaters and bowls must be kashered or replaced. It is preferable by far to buy a new, small one just for Pesach.
Kashering dishes
This is a tremendous amount of work. It is preferable to buy new dishes. [This is what pretty much everyone I know does; they have four sets of dishes. Storage space is critical...]
Cars
They must be thoroughly cleaned, including all compartments, under the rug, etc. But there is no need to use a lot of water or to take the car apart [I just love this. I never thought about pouring boiling water in my car, nor taking it apart. I keep wondering if he saw a chance for humor here...]. In general, a pliers is not an essential tool for Pesach cleaning [Not to mention hammers, drills, saws...]. Chametz that is inaccessible without taking the car/house apart will not be seen or eaten on Pesach.
Chumrot: Being Especially Strict
If you know that you are being stricter than halacha requires, and you choose to be so strict, you are to be commended. However, if this becomes too hard to continue, you may perform "hatarat nedarim" [releasing one from vows]. In general, we should not force ourselves to take upon ourselves "chumrot" unless we really want to.
Summary
In light of what is written above, it should take about an hour to clean the house, another hour for the dining room, and two-three hours to kasher the kitchen [No mention of the car...]. In short, about one day! [Many, many, many people spent a hell of a lot more than a day on this job... Last year I was lucky enough to have help (Thanks, Tigerbright!), since I was one-handed at the time, and I definitely went for the minimum. This year, despite two-handedness, I'm still aiming for the minimum.]
Anything more than that is just making ourselves tired and irritable with the children - and that is definitely not setting a positive example! Our memories of Pesach should not be of a reign of terror.
Involving the whole family in the Pesach cleaning and making it a happy, exciting experience is our goal. We should set our priorities before we begin, and finish cleaning the kitchen and dining room before we clean what is not chametz in the rest of the house.
The Shulchan Aruch writes: "Every person should sweep his room before B'dikat Chametz, and check his pockets for chametz." The Mishna Berura adds: ”It is the custom to sweep the whole house on 13 Nisan [the month in which Pesach falls], so that it will be ready to check immediately after nightfall on the 14th." Anything more than that is a chumra, and should not come at the cost of health and happiness.
Even if you do more than I have outlined here, just knowing that it is a chumra reduces the stress involved. I am not advocating poor housekeeping, just noting that not all dirt is chametz. Cleaning should be spread out over the whole year, so that we and our families do not suffer before Pesach.
We wish you all a HAPPY and kosher Pesach. We must celebrate the Seder rested and happy, so that it inspires us and our children with faith in G-d the Redeemer of Israel.
f
Re: appliances
Date: 2003-04-04 10:41 am (UTC)I admit to a fascination each year with finding new and horrible kosher-for-Passover Things That Should Not Be.
Not only are we inundated with Things That Should Not Be, but we are also flooded with stuff from people who Miss The Point. It's not supposed to be the same as the other 51 weeks of the year! We can go without bread for a week; we don't need immitation breads and immitation cakes and immitation bagels and so on. You should be able to tell by looking at the dinner table that it's Pesach! And I don't just mean from the box of matzah. I really wonder about people who try to completely normalize this week so you can't even tell by observation...
Err, sorry about the rant. :-)
Bananas! They come pre-wrapped, for goodness sake! And they're fruits!
Craziness knows no bounds, it seems. I never would have thought to question bananas.
Re: appliances
Date: 2003-04-04 11:57 am (UTC)Rant away; that's about how I feel about it. Though there are some things that seem less strange to have imitations of; I've never really understood why mustard made it onto the list of kitniot, for instance. What I find fascinating about all the replacements is that that means lots of people are focusing on the lack in the holiday, can't have this, can't have that, must come up with replacements. And there are some things I won't eat on the holiday, but there are a lot more that I will. How about almost all veggies, and more fruits, and fish, and chicken, and nice cheeses? And for dessert there's all sorts of fruit things and chocolate. That takes me through the week just fine... Last year I ran out of Pesach before I ran out of different foods to make, and, strangely, didn't even use an egg. No one complained about my food, either (though I wasn't feeding hordes).
I know there are some people who have the tradition of not eating garlic on Pesach... I don't assume anything is too bizarre to end up on someone's don't-eat-that list...