Question: May one hang a wet raincoat on a washing line?
It is known that Chazal instituted certain decrees to prevent people from making mistakes. They envisioned that if people would see someone hanging wet clothes on a washing line on Shabbos, they might think that the clothes were also laundered on Shabbos, and may come themselves to wash clothing. They therefore forbade hanging wet clothes on washing lines. Another common rule is, that when the decree was to prevent a Torah violation, the decree applies itself even to the darkest of rooms, where no outside individual could possibly see.
Therefore, wet clothing may not be hung to dry on outside washing lines or inside lines, like the ones over a bath. Even a raincoat, wet from the rain, may not be hung up over the bath. However, one is permitted to put it in its normal place, for example, drape it over a chair, or place it on a hanger and hang it on a door.
Question: Does it make a difference whether it got wet from the rain or if it fell into a puddle?
It is irrelevant whether it got wet from the rain or because it fell into a puddle. So much so, the halacha is that even clothes moist from sweat may not be hung up on the line, for the same reason.
It does not mean that wet clothing must be bunched up and thrown in the corner. It may be draped over a chair etc, something one would normally do even if the clothes were not wet.
Question: How is one supposed to put wet clothing on a chair etc., if the clothing is muktzeh?
Answer: The Chofetz Chaim says that as one is removing his wet clothing, he may put them in the permitted places, but once he has let go of them, they are muktzeh. So, when coming in from the rain, make sure to put your drenched socks or trousers over a chair from the onset, and not on the floor, because if you did, there is not much you can do.
Question: How is one supposed to wipe up a mess on the floor on Shabbos?
Answer: We have two problems here: 1) not to use something that makes it muktze, because of mevatel k’li meheichanoas, and 2) one may not use a cloth one would squeeze. Therefore, one should use either paper napkins or rags which one does not usually squeeze out, and avoid all the issues.
