Washing Hands After Bathroom With Gloves

Does one need to wash hands after urinating if he was wearing gloves the whole time?

The Shulchan Aruch (או”ח סי’ ז סעיף ב) writes that one who urinates without dirtying their hand, need not wash netilat yadayim after. However, the Shulchan Aruch writes elsewhere (או”ח סי’ ד סעיף יח) that one who enters a bathroom must wash their hands when leaving, regardless of if they used the bathroom or not. The Mishna Berura (שם ס”ק מ) explains that there is ruach ra – bad spirit – which goes on a persons hands when entering a bathroom. There is some debate among the modern day Poskim whether our bathrooms have ruach ra or not. Common custom is to treat our bathrooms as if they do have ruach ra.

Therefore, if one urinated in a bathroom, even if they were wearing gloves, it is best to wash their hands when leaving. If they were not in a bathroom, there is no obligation to wash hands.

All the best

RABBI SHAY TAHAN