Rambam Hilchos Avel 6 (13) refers to washing with sand:
ומכבס כסותו במים אבל לא בנתר ולא בחול
He may wash his clothes in water, but not with soap or using sand.
Is there an explanation of the cleaning power of sand and how was it used?
asked Sep 6, 2017 at 15:26
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3Probably as an abrasive?– Double AA ♦Sep 6, 2017 at 15:58
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@DoubleAA Dry or with water?– Avrohom YitzchokSep 6, 2017 at 16:12
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Not sure. You may have better luck asking on History for info about historical laundering methods.– Double AA ♦Sep 6, 2017 at 16:12
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Thank you - posted history.stackexchange.com/questions/40081/washing-with-sand-how– Avrohom YitzchokSep 6, 2017 at 16:18
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Is this on topic? It sounds like a science or laundering question.– DanFSep 6, 2017 at 16:54
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1 Answer
As explained in the parallel thread on History.SE, sand is an abrasive. I’ll let them do the talking for me:
Sand is an "abrasive". As such, it is good for dislodging/removing dirt, etc. trapped in clothes.
But after you do this, you have to wash out the sand.
Soap does a similar job in a different way (using "chemical," rather than "mechanical" means).
