die  Endreinigung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɛntˌʁaɪ̯nɪɡʊŋ/

🧹 What exactly is 'die Endreinigung'?

The German noun die Endreinigung refers to the final, thorough cleaning of premises. This typically occurs at the end of a rental agreement, after construction or renovation work, or at the end of a stay (e.g., in a holiday apartment).

It usually involves more than a regular weekly cleaning and aims to leave the property in a clean, ready-for-handover condition.

Since the word ends in "-ung", it's feminine: die Endreinigung.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Die Endreinigung

The noun "Endreinigung" is feminine.

Example Sentences

• Die Endreinigung der Wohnung ist im Mietvertrag festgelegt. (The final cleaning of the apartment is stipulated in the rental agreement.)
• Nach den Bauarbeiten war eine gründliche Endreinigung notwendig. (After the construction work, a thorough final cleaning was necessary.)
• Die Kosten für die Endreinigung der Ferienwohnung betragen 50 Euro. (The cost for the final cleaning of the holiday apartment is 50 euros.)

📝 When to use 'Endreinigung'?

The term Endreinigung is used specifically for the last, final cleaning:

• When moving out: Tenants often have to perform or pay for an Endreinigung before returning the keys. The scope is usually defined in the rental contract (e.g., besenrein - broom-clean vs. fully cleaned).
• After construction: Craftsmen or specialized cleaning companies perform an Endreinigung (often also called Bauendreinigung) to remove construction debris, dust, and dirt.
• In holiday accommodations: The Endreinigung is often a mandatory fee charged at the end of the stay.

⚠️ Attention: An Endreinigung is usually more comprehensive than a normal 'Reinigung' (cleaning). It implies a final state.

💡 Memory Aids for Endreinigung

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine – like die Rettung (the rescue), die Meinung (the opinion), die Reinigung (the cleaning)... and therefore also die Endreinigung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the End of your stay! At the End, everything must be rein (clean, rhymes with 'shine') – the End-rein-igung (final cleaning).

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Potential Confusion

• Reinigung: (Cleaning) General term, not specifically referring to the end.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Vermieter den ausziehenden Mieter: "Haben Sie die Endreinigung gemacht?" Antwortet der Mieter: "Klar, ich habe am Ende noch mal alles richtig schmutzig gemacht!"

(Landlord asks the moving-out tenant: "Did you do the final cleaning?" Tenant replies: "Sure, at the end, I made everything really dirty again!")

📜 Poem about the Toil

Der Koffer packt, die Kisten schwer,
die Wohnung ist nun fast schon leer.
Doch eine Pflicht, die bleibt noch stehn,
man muss zur Endreinigung gehn!Der Staub der Wochen, weg damit,
ein letzter, sauberer Schritt.
Dann Schlüssel ab und auf Wiedersehn,
die Endreinigung ist nun geschehn.

(Suitcase packed, boxes heavy,
the apartment is now almost empty.
But one duty still remains,
one must go for the final cleaning!
The dust of weeks, away with it,
a final, clean step.
Then keys handed over and goodbye,
the final cleaning is now done.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich komme ganz zum Schluss,
wenn man woanders wohnen muss.
Ich mach' den Dreck vom Vormieter platt,
damit der Nächste es sauber hat.

Was bin ich? → Die Endreinigung

(I come at the very end,
when one must live somewhere else.
I flatten the previous tenant's dirt,
so the next one has it clean.

What am I?
→ The final cleaning)

✨ Trivia

Word Composition: The word "Endreinigung" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Ende: Meaning 'end' or 'final'.
• Reinigung: Meaning 'cleaning'.

Cost Factor: The cost of an Endreinigung can vary greatly depending on the size of the property, the level of dirt, and whether it's done by oneself or a company is hired. It's often a point of contention during rental handovers if the scope isn't clearly defined.