Daily Halacha - Morning Rising, 23rd of Tishrei 5778

Is one required to wash hands after touching shoes?

One who touches shoes or sandals must wash their hands. However, one who puts on or removes socks, as long as they don't have sweat or dirt, does not need to wash. Similarly, touching shoelaces does not require hand washing [Yalkut Yosef Siman 4].

Must one wash hands when waking at night to relieve oneself?

One who wakes at night to relieve themselves and intends to return to sleep immediately, if it is difficult to wash hands with water, may clean their hands with something that cleans in order to recite the Asher Yatzar blessing. They can rely on washing their hands later when they wake up in the morning.

One who wakes in the middle of the night to prepare food for an infant must wash their hands properly even though they will return to sleep afterward [Yalkut Yosef Siman 4].

Ach Tov VaChesed - Daily Halacha