Daily Halacha: Folding Laundry and Making the Bed on Shabbat

Is it permitted to fold laundry and put it away on Shabbat?

If someone set up a clothes drying rack in their home before Shabbat and wants to clear the laundry, the first choice is to remove the clothes and place them in a bag.

However, if there’s no place to put the bag, then it is permitted to fold the clothes and put them in their usual place, as long as it’s done in a way that doesn’t involve regular folding with the intention of storing them for weekday use.

If a person has a pile of clothes, towels, or tablecloths, they are also permitted to organize or sort them on Shabbat. Doing so does not violate the rule of preparing on Shabbat for weekdays.

If you choose to fold them, it should be done in a way that doesn’t appear like weekday-style folding—not overly neat or precise. In that case, it’s permitted.

Is it permitted to make one’s bed on Shabbat?

It is not permitted to make a bed on Shabbat if you do not plan to use it again during Shabbat. The reason is that this would be seen as preparing for after Shabbat, which is not allowed.

However, if you plan to lie down on the bed again during Shabbat, or if the bed is in a place where people pass by (like a guest area or living room), then making the bed is allowed for the sake of honoring Shabbat and keeping the area presentable.

Similarly, placing a tablecloth on the table is only allowed if the table is in a space where people will pass or use it during Shabbat. If the table is in an unused area and the cloth is for later use, it should not be placed on Shabbat.

From “Ach Tov V’Chesed – Daily Halacha” by Hidabroot