May one touch items other than his clothes prior to washing, such as his glasses or alarm clock?
It is permitted for one to touch all items that were not listed above in the Shulchan Aruch. Thus one may turn off his alarm clock or put on his glasses prior to washing. However there are Poskim which rule one is not to touch any item prior to washing and hence according to them one is to wash before touching his alarm clock or glasses.
- Seder Hayom states: Prior to touching one's clothing or any matter and item he is to wash his hands; Divrei Yatziv 1:2 states this was the custom of his grandfather the Divrei Chaim of Tzanz; Zechor Leavraham [of Toldos Aron] it states that the Toldos Aron would not turn off his alarm or wear his glasses until he washed. [See Piskeiy Teshuvos 4:5] ↩