Can anyone recommend a reliable cleaner? He/she should be willing to iron and cook something as well. Our place is small so I think half a day would be ok 2-3 times a week. I would prefer someone locally from arnavutkoy area and can be flexible about working hours etc.

Also, does anyone know of a ironing or laundry service?

Yakamoz

I've just given up myself and got a "maid" in.. When I was asking around everyone said to just contact the kapici of the building. Sure enough it seems his wife does the cleaning for a majority of the building and that's how it works in most places here.

On another note - does anyone know what a reasonable charge is for cleaning services? My kapici's wife is charging 50YTL for a day's work..

Sounds about right to me, unless your flat is 10m2 then about 7YTL would be right.

yakky, Ally has a good point, most kapicis will either have their wife, or someone they know who can clean.

that wasnt funny David, you are getting old.

I have a very good, English-speaking maid who cooks, cleans, irons, etc. and is looking for more work. I pay her 60-65YTL a week - don't remember. PM me if you're interested and I'll give you her number.

Amerlok, what's her travel boundries.

Let me know what you had in mind and I'd be happy to check with her and put you in touch. PM me with you number?

between ortakoy / ulus. if its ok for her let me know then we'll talk details.

OK with her. PM me your number and I'll put you in touch

Amerlok,

65YTL per WEEK? WOW that's REALLY cheap. That's usually less than what most maids charge PER DAY!
I'm surprised! I'd like her number too!

The going rate seems to be about 50YTL a day. How much are you paying Blush?

50YTL? Wow! When I asked around for a Turkish maid, it was about 60-70YTL per day!

I'm paying a bloody fortune cos:

- I live WAAAY out in the boonies (i.e Kemer!!) and not in the city center.

- My maid is not Turkish but has citizenship and therefore can work legally and not be hounded by the Jandarma.

- I didn't want a maid who smokes in my place, runs up my phone bill and eats up all the food in the fridge!

Wow - you're paying a lot Blush.
I have a Turkish maid who doesn't smoke, use the phone or eat me out of house and home. If I have meetings on the day she is here she stays late and babysits for 10YTL extra. Guess living in the boonies has some drawbacks.

i have someone who lives near Etiler - so definitely local to you. She charges 70 a day though; but apears to be working very hard during that period as everything gets done; plus there's no smoking going on either......PM me if you require more details....

As much as I hate and detest and abhor houscleaning, even more do I hate maids and houseboys who put my things where I can't find them for weeks and don't understand when I ask "where is this "very expensive item"? That's the only thing my late husband and I had fights about. But gee, whiz, one of ours kept putting the peanut butter in back of the fridge. Hubby had left it on the counter went we both went to work. And then there is the gruesome jellybeans in the tea pot story.....