Which cloth may a woman use for a hefsek taharah? Everything here applies equally to the bedikot of the seven clean days.

Two criteria — material and color

The Gemara sets two conditions that qualify a cloth for a bedikah: material and color.

The source in the Gemara

Masechet Niddah (17a) teaches that the household of King Munbaz is mentioned favorably for several practices, one of them that they used mila parhava for bedikot. Rashi explains this as cotton wool, or soft clean cotton wool. Shmuel likewise said the cloth for bedikot should be of pakulin or soft wool. Rashi explains that this too is cotton wool.

As for color, the beit midrash of Menasheh taught that bedikot may not be performed with a black cloth, a red cloth, or linen. But it is explained that although new linen cloth is forbidden, an old white linen garment, which has whitened further with use, is permitted.

The Beit Yosef explains that although the plain sense of the Gemara suggests only black and red are problematic, it is clear from the Rishonim that in practice only white is acceptable.

The Shulchan Aruch rules that a bedikah may be performed with:

  1. Cotton wool
  2. Soft white clean wool
  3. An old white linen garment

(On linen, Rashi explains that an old linen garment is whiter than a new one.)

Today — b”H far simpler

Today it is far simpler to confirm that a cloth is fit for a bedikah, since cloths manufactured specifically for bedikot are common and readily available. In Israel especially, they can be bought at pharmacies and even at some supermarkets.

What to do when no bedikah cloth is available

A woman may be unable to obtain bedikah cloths in time to perform a hefsek taharah. What is the solution?

The best solution

Cut a white undershirt (or any other white cotton item that is easily replaced) into squares and use them as bedikah cloths. Another option is to leave the shirt whole and launder it after use.

Rav David Yosef’s leniency

Rav David Yosef (son of Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l) wrote that b’dieved a colored cloth may be used, as long as it is not red or black. A woman who has to do this should ask afterwards.

A baby wipe

Where that is not possible, some poskim permit using a baby wipe b’dieved. Others do not, since the wipe contains chemicals that could in theory affect the color of the discharge.

Cotton wool

Another option is cotton wool on its own, though some poskim do not recommend it, since cotton wool is highly absorbent and blood may be absorbed to the point that it is not visible.

A tampon — no

It is almost universally agreed that a tampon may not be used for a hefsek taharah. The reason: the material is compressed, and it cannot realistically be pressed into the folds and crevices (see the article on how a hefsek is performed).

The single exception is a bride who is not religious and will not perform any other bedikah. Such a case calls for specific halachic guidance.

Practical halachah — summary

A hefsek taharah must be performed with a white material. One of three:

  1. Cotton wool
  2. Soft white wool
  3. An old white linen garment

With commercial bedikah cloths available today, that is the easiest solution.

If a woman cannot obtain bedikah cloths, lechatchilah she should cut a white undershirt (or another easily replaced white cotton item) into squares and use those.

Where that is not possible, she can use a baby wipe, cotton wool, or a colored cotton garment (not black and not red), and ask afterwards, since some poskim would not permit these even b’dieved.

A tampon is not suitable for a hefsek taharah.

Another product on the market — Edit

A few years ago a product called Edit came onto the Israeli market. It is essentially a bedikah cloth on an applicator: instead of wrapping the cloth around her finger, the woman places it on the applicator. It is generally less preferable than the standard method of a bedikah, because it is hard to confirm that the bedikah reaches the folds and crevices. But some women find bedikot difficult to perform, and for them the Edit is a lifesaver.