Shivah Neki'im: The Seven Clean Days and Their Bedikos
6 min read · October 22, 2026
After a successful hefsek taharah, a woman counts seven clean days — the shivah neki'im. They begin the morning after the hefsek, and on the night after the seventh she goes to the mikvah.
Counting
A hefsek on Thursday afternoon makes Friday the first clean day and the following Thursday the seventh. Mikvah night is Thursday night — after tzeis, once the stars are out.
How many bedikos
Lechatchilah a bedikah is made twice on each of the seven days — in the morning and before sunset. Some keep one a day, before sunset. At the very least a bedikah on day one and on day seven is essential: without them the seven are not counted. Keeping one in the middle as well — day five is commonly chosen — is widely advised, because then an eighth day can stand in for a forgotten seventh.
If a bedikah was missed
Whether the count stands depends on which bedikos were made. Ask your rav before going to the mikvah; do not assume.
If a bedikah is not clean
A stain or a bedikah that prohibits during the seven ends the count. A new hefsek is made, and the seven begin again.
After a birth
After a birth, the seven clean days cannot end before the days of the yoledes: in the common reckoning, the seven cannot begin before day 7 for a boy or day 14 for a girl, so the earliest tevilah is after day 14 or day 21.
This guide explains the general rules and the common customs. Where poskim differ it says so — it does not rule. For your own questions, ask your rav.
Questions
- When do the seven clean days start?
- The morning after the hefsek taharah. The night after the seventh day is mikvah night.
- How many bedikos are made during the seven clean days?
- Lechatchilah two a day, morning and before sunset. Day one and day seven are essential; many keep one in the middle as well. Ask your rav.