Question: Does just "entering" a bathroom trigger a requirement to wash our hands? What is the Halachic "status" of a bathroom these days?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch states[1] that upon exiting a bathroom, we are required to wash our hands, even if the bathroom was used for "other purposes" (other than relieving oneself)[2]. This is because, an "evil spirit" exists in "unclean places"[3]. If one entered the bathroom for another use, (other than the bathroom’s main function), one may say a Bracha or learn Torah without washing the hands[4]. However, if one relieved himself, a Bracha cannot be recited, since the hands are unclean and we are not permitted to speak of kedusha with unclean hands[5].

What constitutes an "unclean place" with regards to Halacha so as to forbid words of kedusha such as Krias Shema? Halacha[6] defines an unclean place as any area where the waste has to be cleaned out[7], and where the "seat absorbs the filth which leaves bad fumes"[8].

Our Bathrooms might be consider "clean" with regard to Halacha.

1)      The Gemara[9] cites an example of a bathroom in which the waste disappears down into a "tunnel" and therefore is considered a clean place and words of Kedusha may be said near it[10].  Based on this, there are poskim[11] which hold that our bathrooms don’t have the Halachic status of an unclean place and therefore we dont have to wash our hands upon leaving it. However, there is a distinction between the bathrooms that existed during the time of the Gemara, and our bathrooms[12]: In our bathrooms, the waste is not washed down right away; it needs to be "flushed". As such, there is a period when the room contained waste and bad fumes might still remain, which halachicly would make it an unclean place.
2)      Our toilets are made of non absorbent materials[13]. However, sometimes there still remains some waste in the toilet.
3)      There is halacha that a bathroom used for other purposes is not considered an unclean bathroom[14], and since most of our bathrooms have other uses such as a sink or laundry etc, they do not have the halachic status of a bathroom.

L’halacha: Most poskim hold that our bathrooms have the status of an unclean room l’chumra[15], and therefore one should not say words of Kedusha near it. However, if one used it for other purposes one does not need to wash his hands[16]. Even in extreme circumstances, such as washing the hands for davening or eating, one is permitted to use the bathroom sink. My father hk”m was particularly machmir on this issue and told us to wash our hands when using the bathroom, even if just to put something away.

Daily inspiration:

Holiness is a state of mind. Our perceptions and feelings are the catalyst to our outlook on life and impetus for our actions. When we retain a pure and holy perception, our actions are alike and we strive for higher and better. When our perception is impure, it results in descending actions and a loss of drive.     

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[1] שוע"ר סי' ד:י"ח

[2] פרמ"ג משב"ז סי' ד משנ"ב סי' ד:מ עי' בבאור הלכה סי' תרי"ג ד"ה ואם

[3] שוע"ר מהדב"ת סי' א:ז קצוה"ש סי' ב:י"א משנ"ב סי' ד:ט

[4] פרמ"ג סי' רכ"ז א"א סק"ב משנ"ב שם סקי"א (עי' סדר ברכה"נ אדה"ז פי"ג:י"ז)

[5] שוע"ר סי' צ"ב ועי' באור הלכה שם ד"ה צריך לרחוץ

[6] שוע"ר סי' פ"ג:ד

[7] שם

[8] שוע"ר סי' פ"ז:ב עי' באור הלכה שם בתחילתו

[9] ברכות כ"ו:

[10] שוע"ר סי' פ"ג:ד

[11] שו"ת זקן אהרון ח"א סי' א' שו"ת בצל החכמה ח"ב סי' ז' עי' שו"ת ארץ צבי ח"א סי' ק"י –י"א

[12] חזו"א סי' י"ז שו"ת חלקת יעקב ח"א סי' ר"ה

[13] שו"ת מנח"י ח"א סי' ס' עי' שו"ת משנת שכיר עי' שוע"ר סי' פ"ז

[14] שוע"ר סי' פ"ז:ב

[15] עי' שו"ת מנח"י שם שו"ת יבי"א ח"ט סי' ק"ח ועוד

[16] שו"ת בצל החכמה שם