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What do you and what do you not have to check for Shatnez?

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3 Answers

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I think generally speaking, if you'd reasonably believe it could contain wool or linen.

I heard something about baseball mitts being a problem? Anyone hear of this?

From what I've heard, a garment that's entirely cotton and/or synthetic is incredibly unlikely to contain both wool and linen (but men's suits could still have lining or padding or the like ...?). Usually what people have checked (again, if I understand correctly) is clothing claiming a certain percentage to be either "wool", "linen", or "other" (which could be anything).

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Does anyone have any sources – Y.Stahl Aug 22 '10 at 19:01
I've heared once a lecture of someone from a Shaatnez Lab and he told same things: If the cloths contain wool or linen they should be checked (he didn't mentioned "other", but it seems reasonable to include it too). However, I don't remember the lecturer's name. – jutky Dec 27 '11 at 22:14
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http://shatnez.n3.net/ Here are a few:

Carpets/Rugs: May require testing. Wool carpets (wall-to-wall) and area rugs may be backed or reinforced with linen. Non-woolen rugs and carpets are not a problem. Services are available at most shatnez laboratories for those who wish to have their carpets tested.

Linen and Linen-look fabrics: Require testing.

Pajamas: Do not require testing.

Suits and Sport jackets, (Men's/Boy's): Require testing even 100% polyester and 100% silk suits.

Suits/Jackets (Women's): Only fully constructed suits require testing. "Linen-look" fabrics or those labeled as containing "other fibers" should be tested.

Ties: Linen and polyester ties with a textured surface ties need testing. Silk ties are generally free of shatnez, except for those from Spain (even 100% silk).

Trousers/Slacks/Pants: Those made in the USA have not been found to contain shatnez. All imported trousers should be tested. Any trousers which have a linen-look fabric should be checked, even if American made.

For more info- this site has an entire list with almost every item.

If anyone is looking for Hilchot Shatnez (in Hebrew) Yalkut.info-hilchot shatnez has the entire Yalkut Yosef Halachot. Also, it gives pretty much the same list as ST of America.

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Although just copying and pasting is not ok, its also not ideal to just have a link. Perhaps list some of the more common items, and then say that there are many more at the following link. – HodofHod♦ Dec 27 '11 at 20:03
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I think the accepted opinion holds that by an issur one should be choshesh for a "miut ha'motzoi", which I think R.H. Schachter defines as around 10%. So if you think the suit has a greater than 10% chance of being shatnez, you should get it checked. If so, I think only certain higher-end wool suits would be an issue. Some might hold one should check it even if its not a "miut hamotzoi" if its something that's very easy to do. Either way, once one suit from a line was checked, I don't see why there's any reason to check other ones. Its extremely unlikely that the manufacturer made a sudden change in the production of the same suit. So if there was a list of kosher suits, one could just check that.

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Re high-end wool suits: I have encountered many a shatnez-laden lower-end suit produced in the '50s, '60s and '70s. – WAF♦ Nov 24 '11 at 12:35
What about 100% wool (especially fine wool) sweaters? The likelihood that they also contain linen is extremely small, and whenever I do get them checked the checker generally looks at the tag, does a quick scan with his eyes, and hands it back to me saying it's fine (usually without charging, either). Is there a way for a lay person to recognize problem sweaters vs. good sweaters? If the label says 100% wool, can that be trusted as excluding linen (among all other materials)? – Seth J Dec 27 '11 at 19:21
@SethJ AFAIK if you have small percentage of certain material you do not obligated to report that on label. So, for example, if parts of wool sweater are sewn linen strings this info could be omitted from label. – jutky Dec 27 '11 at 22:20
@jutky Right, but then why does it seem like the checker barely needs to glance at it? Why, when checking suits, do they only check certain parts that are commonly problematic and not analyze every stitch? – Seth J Dec 28 '11 at 2:18
@SethJ I don't know what to tell you about the checker. But about suits, they check only certain parts where linen might be used. You don't have to suspect a problem in case of "מיעות שאינו מצוי". So, as far as I understand checkers more rely on common practices of suits production and not on labels marking – jutky Dec 28 '11 at 11:27
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