Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 337

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 337 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1The Laws of Sweeping the House and Something Done Unintentionally, 4 Seifim: Something that one didn't intend to happen is allowed as long as it is not a definite consequence of the specific action (psik reisha). Therefore, a person may drag a bed, chair, or bench, whether it is big or small, provided that he doesn't intend to make a rut. One is permitted to sprinkle the floor because he does not intend to level the depressions [of the earth floor], rather he just doesn't want the dust to rise.
2. 2It is forbidden to sweep the house unless the floor is stone. There are those who permit this even if it is not made of stone. Rem"a: There are some who are stringent even when it is stone (the Tur in the name of the R"i and Mordechai at the beginning of Perek Kol Kelim and Rabbeinu Yerucham Part 13 and the Sma"g and Sefer haTrumah). This is the practice, and one should not act differently. However, it is permitted to have a non-Jew do such (Rabbeinu Yerucham Part 13), or to sweep using clothing or a garment or a soft bird feather, because they do not fill in the crevices (the Agur). It is forbidden to brush clothing off using brooms made of woodchips, because the chips will break (Hagahot Alfasi Perek Hazorek).
3. 3One may not put oil on the floor, nor may one wash the floor, even if it is made of stone.
4. 4One should not turn a barrel on the ground upright, because it is heavy and he will definitely fill in crevices in the ground in the process. This is a definite consequence of the given action (psik reisha).

License: CC0