“Why would you want to wash out the sweat and tears that you expended in tefilla?”
I change my underwear even if they get sweaty during tefilla. I don’t give it a second thought, no matter how holy they are.
“My shabbos talis is a 30-ish year old Munkaczer Turkish, and very yellow, but I would not give it up for any white new thing. It was woven on the oily clacking looms when they were still on Division St.”
Thirty years ago, the Munkaczer talis shop was on 13 Ave. and 38th Street, the weaving was done in the back room. I also miss them. My Munkaczer talis is 40 years old and still strong as ever. It’s yellowish but always clean and pressed because I love that talis.