Q. So we’re going out of town for a simcha immediately after Tisha b’av (after netz minyan on Wednesday). The bar mitzva is Wednesday night. Would my cleaning lady then be allowed to do our laundry on Monday or on Tisha B’av after chatzos so that we have what to wear on our trip? (I won’t be staying by family; we are being put up, so I don’t really feel comfortable asking to use their machines)

A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that in need it is best to launder Motzei Tisha Beav even if you do it yourself instead of using a Gentile on Tisha Beav, erev Tisha Beav or during the week when Tisha Beav occurs. If that cannot be done, it would then be better to launder using a Gentile on the week prior to Shabbos Chazon. Any laundering is restricted to what you actually need and cannot be postponed until after Tisha Beav.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a