Which dishes need immersion, how to prepare them, the blessing, and how to immerse — plus how to find a keilim mikvah.
A keilim mikvah is a small immersion pool used for dishes and kitchenware rather than for people. Many communities maintain one alongside the family mikvah, because a community keeping kosher needs both.
Tevilas keilim is the mitzvah of immersing certain food utensils before they are used. A utensil needs immersion unless it has been in Jewish ownership from the start — so a pot, a set of cutlery or a glass baking dish brought home from a shop is the ordinary case.
In general terms, and by way of example rather than as a full list:
Metal utensils that come into contact with food require immersion.
Glass utensils require immersion as well.
Wood, plastic and paper generally do not require immersion — though coated and composite items raise real questions.
A sink, a bathtub or a bucket will not do: it has to be a kosher mikvah.
Electrical items raise their own questions. Ask your rav.
Ask your rav. In some places a natural body of water is used.
Many shuls and family mikvahs have one. See Find a mikvah.
Mikvah Tahara Association often builds keilim mikvahs alongside family mikvahs, because a community keeping kosher needs both. If your community needs one, get in touch — you can also see the mikvahs currently being built around the world.
The categories above are the general picture and the exceptions are numerous — a rav will resolve any particular item in about ten seconds. This page is an explanation, not a halachic guide and not a ruling.
