Finding a cleaner in Germany

[Littleoakhorn]

I live in Germany and I'm looking for a cleaner. I've done the usual asking around for recommendations but nobody has a cleaner with space for another client. What's the next step? Do I keep an eye on notice boards, place an advert, go online, find an agency??? I'm not sure of the normal approach here.

[Schwabischeweihnachtskanne]

I don't think its nearly as common to employ a domestic cleaner for an ordinary household in Germany as in the UK - you can try posting an add on Toytown for your city if you are in a city (there are employment offered and wanted boards) and agencies exist - also mainly in cities though.

Have you tried Betruet.de - I think that would be the default on-line option. I've never used it myself though and I think you have to pay to answer adverts but not to post adverts... eBay Kleinanzeigen is also an option.

If you put Putzfrau and your city name into a search engine you will also get agencies - //www.putzchecker.de might be worth looking at... (just quickly put those search terms in).

Obviously you won't have personal recommendations that way.

You could also put an advert up in the entrance to your local supermarket - not Aldi... but the non-discount supermarkets usually have boards up in the entrance where you can put small ads up for free, and there are sometimes cleaner wanted ads there (I've never seen a cleaner advertise that way though, except looking for a mini job as a cleaner rather than a few hours a week... maybe that is just our area!)

If you live in a city you will find somebody eventually - if you live rurally my guess is that you won't unless you have enough cleaning work to employ somebody on a mini job basis!

[Katsite]

I've read good things about bookatiger.com. Otherwise ask around your neighborhood or schools, clubs etc

[MangosteenSoda]

There were usually some handwritten ads up in Rewe and Tegut near the main doors- people looking for and offering help.

We found someone online. I can't remember the name of the website though. Couldn't use any of the supermarket ones because they were all in German and I couldn't speak any German when I first arrived. The person we found online was from Brazil and also spoke Spanish, so I could communicate with her. Couldn't find anyone who spoke English- not sure if that's an issue for you or not?

Where abouts are you? If coincidence strikes and you're in FFM or the Taunus, I'll send you our lovely formerly cleaner's number. She did an excellent job and was good with the dog.

[Littleoakhorn]

Thanks all, that's really helpful. I'll send dh off to edeka and rewe as the next step then. Failing that I'll try online. Dd starts at kindergarten in a month so I'll ask there if we haven't found anyone by then.

Mango I'm in NRW, near Köln, but thanks for the offer