Question:
Regarding proper cleaning after defecating in order to say brachos, etc., I have noticed two things:
1) After sweating, etc. that area seems to become dirty again – usually I use wet wipes and don’t have this problem. But when I don’t use wet wipes, I have felt it become dirty, and when I checked it, it was
(some ppl will notice this on their undergarments).
2) When cleaning myself I notice very small pieces on the tissue – perhaps the size of an asterisk mark (*).
It doesn’t smell and I think (but not sure) that it is naturally dry.
— Are any of the above problems?
Thank you!
Answer:
- The dirt in that area that comes from sweat is not a problem, as it is only dirt from excreatment that is problematic.
- If the peices that you are finding are only from sweat, then they are fine and you do not have to worry about them at all. In fact after you have cleaned yourself, you do not have to concern yourself with any feelings that you might have over there, unless you have good reason to suspect that it is from excreatment. If they from excreatment they should be wipped away, but you have to be careful not to get OCD about it, after wipping 3-4 times you don’t have to wipe anymore, ( This is from the Steipler zt”l) and you can assume that it is all taken care of already.
The Divrei Chaim 2:9 said that it’s enough to wipe 3 times.
The Stippler said: Karyana d’Igreta (1:373, 374, based on Divrei Chayim 2:9): One need not be paranoid to clean repeatedly until the toilet paper is clean. Chazal permitted a person only three rocks with which to clean oneself on Shabbos (Shabbos 81a). Granted, people used to be skilled at this. Nevertheless, it suffices to wipe five or six times with toilet paper and then with a little water. One gets as clean as people did in the days of Chazal. [This was a ruling given to someone with OCD; it is not clear if it applies necessary to everyone.]
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