Cleaning a Tallis
 

I've been cleaning out my "old room" at my parents place, taking the stuff I never had room for, or forgot about even though I haven't lived at "home" for years. Anyways, I came across my Tallis in my old dresser. It's been in it's case, but it smells kinda musty, since it hasn't seen the inside of a Synagogue in 15 or so years. I've let it "air out" but it hasn't helped. I have Googled and everything I find says you can wash it on gentle cycle, but I'm afraid of it getting tangled. I don't really want to pay to dry clean it. I was thinking Dryell would be ok.

I'm hoping with our fairly large Jewish contingent that someone here would have some first hand experience with cleaning one. I'm not sure what it's made of, I just know it's not wool.

Well you can always start by hand washing it with some woolite.

It's against Jaweh's will to clean a tallis. You must burn it with cedar wood, and spread the ashes in a river.


Sorry.







Or maybe Ghoulish Delight is right. I forget which.

http://mytalit.com/2009/02/13/cleaning-your-tallit/

Came across that page.

Though it seems odd that there's a website devoted to tallit.

Thanks Cherny. I'm not sure how I didn't come across that site during my search.

I think I'll try the hand washing method in Woolite. Not sure why I didn't think of that before I posted. Thanks GD!

I can tell you how to clean Mel Tillis.

Well, if you're chain of causality is correct, I would say take it into a synagogue.

If I'd known that synagogues cure mustiness I have an uncle we'd have forced to convert.

That reminds me of the old joke where the rabbi tells the priest how he solved the synagogue's rat problem.

I skimed and had to re-read but was gonna post - "Be sure to remove the batteries first."

Try sealing it in a bag with a few Bounce sheets (use the actual name brand ones). It takes about a week to two weeks, but it can totally refresh fabric and remove odors without damaging it. I've actually used that method to remove embedded cat urine odor in some items, and it's worked.

Which reminds me of another option - dry cleaning bags that you put the garment in and run through your dryer.

How's that go again?

A priest is complaining to a rabbi about the rat problem in his church. The rabbi says, "We had a problem like that about ten years ago. But I dealt with it."

"What did you do?" asked the priest.

"It might not work for you," said the rabbi.

The priest insisted.

"Okay," said the rabbi. "I put out a trail of cheese, and the rats followed it up onto the bimah. When all the rats were there, I bar mitzvahed them. I haven't seen them since."

^^ LFMAO

Ha! If there's anything Jews do, it's write down religious instructions. :)

Ya, well organized religion isn't really my thing but my Tallis holds some pretty strong sentimental value and while I may never wear it again, I don't want to ruin it.

I consulted my Rabbi, and he says:

Yeah, to be honest, I've never heard of washing a tallit any way other than dry cleaning. And there was a time when I was among family that wore their tallit every day.

Interesting. Thanks.

Not sure when I'd find myself in the Pico/Robinson area but if I do I'll be sure to bring it with me.

Call a local synagogue, they might know a place.

Or Febreze it.

Listen to the Rabbi.

No. Argue with the rabbi.

No. You argue with the Rabbi.

Consider it done.

You're a towel!

If it's just a little musty and not dirty, spray it lightly w/some Febreez and hang it outside for an afternoon.

It's a Tallis, man