Reviewed February 2024

Erev Pesach (after the time of Biur Chometz)

If you find chometz on Erev Pesach after the latest time for biur chometz:

• If you sold your chometz earlier that morning: You should move the chometz that you found to the place that you are storing the chometz that you sold.
• If you did not sell your chometz earlier that morning: You should burn it.

First Day of Pesach

• If you find chometz on the first day of Pesach: You should cover it with a utensil.

See below for further instructions for the subsequent days of Pesach.

Second Day of Pesach

If you find chometz on the second day of Pesach, or if you found chometz on the first day of Pesach and had covered it:

• If you sold your chometz before Pesach, or you said ‘Kol Chamira’ before Pesach, or the chometz that you found was less than a kezayis: You should cover it with a utensil if you find it on the second day, or keep it covered if you had covered it on the previous day.
• If you did not sell your chometz before Pesach and did not say ‘Kol Chamira’ and found more than a kezayis of chometz: You should flush it down the toilet.

See below for further instructions for the subsequent days of Pesach.

Shabbos Chol Hamoed

If you find chometz on Shabbos Chol Hamoed, or if you found chometz on the first or second day of Pesach and had covered it and the first day of Chol Hamoed is Shabbos:

• If you sold your chometz before Pesach, or you said ‘Kol Chamira’ before Pesach, or the chometz that you found was less than a kezayis: You should cover it with a utensil if you find it on Shabbos, or keep it covered if you had covered it previously.
• If you did not sell your chometz before Pesach and did not say ‘Kol Chamira’ and found more than a kezayis of chometz: You should flush it down the toilet.

See below for further instructions for the subsequent days of Pesach.

Weekday Chol Hamoed

If you find chometz during Chol Hamoed, or found chometz on the first or second day of Pesach and had covered it:

• If you sold your chometz before Pesach: You should move the chometz that you found to the place that you are storing the chometz that you sold.
• If you did not sell your chometz before Pesach: You should burn it.

Seventh Day of Pesach

If you find chometz on the seventh day of Pesach: You should cover it with a utensil.
See below for further instructions for the subsequent day of Pesach.

Eighth Day of Pesach

If you find chometz on the eighth day of Pesach, or if you found chometz on the seventh day of Pesach and had covered it: You should cover it with a utensil if you find it on the eighth day, or keep it covered if you had covered it on the previous day.

After Pesach

If you find chometz after Pesach, or if you found chometz on the seventh or eighth day of Pesach and had covered it:

• If you sold your chometz: You can eat it.
• If you did not sell your chometz, but you did bedikas chometz and said ‘Kol Chamira’ before Pesach: You should dispose of it without deriving any benefit. If doing so will result in a substantial financial loss, it is permitted to derive benefit.
• If you did not sell your chometz, and you either did not do bedikas chometz or did not say ‘Kol Chamira’ before Pesach: You should dispose of it without deriving any benefit.

Note that any automatic deliveries of chometz products should be cancelled before Pesach (for example, Amazon Subscribe and Save). If chometz arrives on Pesach, do not bring it into your house; ask your rav how to proceed.