Repairs and chores

Mülltrennung is taken seriously, and neighbours notice. The usual split is Restmüll, Biomüll and Altpapier, plus a bin or sack for packaging. Bin colours and collection days differ by town, so check the local calendar. Old furniture is Sperrmüll: you book a pickup or wait for the set date. Whatever is left goes to the Wertstoffhof yourself.

One noun, two genders: die Leiter is a ladder, der Leiter is the person in charge. streichen means to paint walls. spülen covers washing the dishes and flushing the toilet.

kaputt is the all-purpose word for broken: Die Waschmaschine ist kaputt. When the Wasserhahn is what tropft or the Abfluss is verstopft, tenants normally tell the landlord before calling a Handwerker, since repairs to the flat are mostly the landlord's job.

Before you reach for the Bohrmaschine: Sundays and public holidays are quiet days, and drilling then is a reliable way to meet your neighbours. aufräumen splits: Ich räume die Küche auf.