עברית
Halachot and Customs
Is it permissible to use the same sponge for cleaning dairy and meat dishes?
Question
Hello,
Of course, I use two sinks for dairy and meat dishes and observe the halachic rules of separation between dairy and meat.
My question is,
When it comes to cleaning the dishes with dish soap,
Do I need two separate sponges for each sink (that is, one sponge for dairy dishes and one for meat dishes)
or can I use one sponge for cleaning both the dairy and meat dishes?
Thank you very much
Answer
Hello,
Even though halachically one does not need to designate a sponge exclusively for cleaning meat dishes separately from dairy dishes, since the water removes all food residues, many people have nonetheless adopted the practice of dedicating one sponge for dairy dishes and another for meat dishes, and this is a good custom.
Sources: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Yalkut Yosef (Yoreh Deah 175:5).
Best regards,
Hillel Meirs
