7. The order of bathing and washing hands: [1]
Bathing: When bathing ones entire body one begins with washing [and placing shampoo[2] on] his head, as the head is the king of all the limbs. One then washes [and soaps] his right hand[3] first and only then proceeds to his left.
Washing hands: When washing hands one is to first wash his right hand. The same applies regarding applying soap.
Miscellaneous laws associated with bathing:
Avoiding scorching water:[4] One who is accustomed to pour very hot water on his skin can lead to leprosy.
Drying one’s face: See Chapter 4 Halacha 10
Drying one’s feet: See Chapter 4 Halacha 10
Question: [Wednesday, 19th Adar, 5781]
What is the order of drying one’s body after a shower? I know that in general you’re always supposed to proceed the right side when getting dressed and undressed and even in the shower so I was wondering if there is also a certain order to be followed when drying one’s body after the shower.
Answer:
You should first dry your right side and then the dry your left side. [It is however unclear if one should first dry his entire right side [arm and leg] and then left side, or if one should first dry his right arm and then his left arm, and then his right leg and then his left leg.]
Explanation: The law which requires one to precede his right side over his left side when getting dressed and undressed, and likewise when bathing, is an offshoot of the original law which states that one should always precede his right side for everything, and therefore drying oneself after a shower is no exception, and one is thus to honor the right side by drying it from the cold water first.
Sources: Admur Kama 2:3-6; Basra 2:4; Basra 2:4; In the Basra 2:4 Admur writes to wash the right hand first. However, in Kama 2:6 the word hand is omitted and perhaps it refers to the entire right side of the body; that it is to be washed first.
[1] Kama 2:6, Basra 2:4; M”A 2:4; Ben Ish Chaiy Vayishlach 17
The Aruch Hashulchan 260:3 writes that after washing the head one is to wash the heart, right hand, left hand, right leg, left leg. The same applies regarding the order of applying soap.
Other Opinions: The M”A ibid brings the Darkei Moshe which writes that he has not seen people being careful in the order of bathing and smearing. The Kaf Hachaim 2:8 brings the Mateh Yehuda 2:5 which suggests that perhaps the reason for this is because back then it was not common to bathe every day and hence it was not considered a matter of respect to precede one limb over the other. Nevertheless he concludes that one who is careful in this is blessed.
[2] Based on Kama ibid that also when anointing one is to precede the head.
[3] In the Basra ibid Admur writes to wash the right hand first. However in Kama ibid the word hand is omitted and perhaps it refers to the entire right side of the body; that it is to be washed first.
[4] Admur in Hilchos Shemiras Haguf ;;Vehanefesh 9