When the meal is over and it is time to clear the table and clean up, one must still take care to perform the necessary activities in a way that avoids Shabbat prohibitions.

One may put any leftover food into the refrigerator so that it will not spoil, even if it will not be eaten on that Shabbat. It is permitted to return food to the warming tray or another heat source only under the conditions outlined above (see p. 421).

It is permitted to remove any leftover food from the table in order to throw it away. The garbage bag should not be tied with a double knot, as this constitutes the prohibited labor of tying. With regard to giving food remains to animals, see the section dealing with caring for animals on Shabbat.

With regard to clearing the table at the end of the meal, there is a distinction between the middle of Shabbat, when there is still significant time left until the end of the day, and just before the end of Shabbat. When Shabbat will end shortly, it is prohibited to clear the table, as this is considered preparing on Shabbat for a weekday. In other words, if it is evident that in the short time remaining on Shabbat the table will not be used, then clearing the table is therefore not in honor of Shabbat, and it is prohibited.

If a few hours remain until the end of Shabbat, it is permitted to clear and clean the table, for two reasons: (1) There is a likelihood that the members of the household or guests will want to sit at the table during Shabbat; and (2) order and cleanliness themselves are considered a mark of respect for Shabbat and add to the pleasant atmosphere.

Nevertheless, even at a time when it is permitted to clear and clean the table, one must be careful about the following:

If one wants to wipe down a table, it should be done with a dry cloth. If one uses a wet cloth there is the problem that it may entail squeezing, which is a prohibited labor on Shabbat. Therefore, if liquid is spilled on the table, one should gently place a dry, absorbent cloth on it, and avoid pressing the cloth onto the liquid. According to some halakhic authorities, it is permitted to clean the table with wet wipes, but others are stringent and prohibit this.

Washing dishes on Shabbat is permitted if one intends to use them over the course of Shabbat. Even if there is no clear intention to use them on Shabbat, it is permitted to wash them, provided that a long time still remains until the end of the day and there is a possibility that they will indeed be used.

Even when it is known for certain that one will not use these dishes before the end of Shabbat, it is permitted to soak them in water with soap, in a container or in a sink, in order to prevent an unpleasant smell or so that the dirty dishes do not attract insects.

Using hot water from an electric boiler for washing dishes or any other purpose is prohibited, as this causes water to enter the boiler and become heated, which is considered a violation of the prohibited labor of cooking.

If one wishes to warm up cold water, so that it will be more comfortable to wash the dishes, one may fill a container with cold water and pour boiling water into it from the Shabbat urn, provided that the water in the container will not reach the temperature of yad soledet bo (45° C or 113° F). One may also act in the opposite manner: Fill a container with boiling water and pour into it a larger amount of cold water, to yield warm water. Here too, it is necessary to be careful to add a considerable amount of cold water at once, so that the temperature of the mixture will be below the temperature of yad soledet bo.

Washing dishes should not be done with a regular sponge, due to the fact that sponges absorb liquid, which one then squeezes out in the course of their use. Rather, one must use a special non-absorbent pad or “Shabbat sponge.”

With regard to operating a dishwasher on Shabbat by means of a timer that is set before Shabbat, some authorities permit this under certain conditions, and it is advisable to consult a rabbi about the details. In any event, it is permitted to place dirty dishes in a dishwasher in order to operate it after Shabbat, provided that one does not separate a jumble of dishes or cutlery into separate compartments in the dishwasher, as this kind of sorting is a sub-category of the prohibited labor of selecting.

One may wipe washed dishes dry with a towel.