From cleaning to laundry, nursing to DIY, here’s our pick of companies that make life in the UAE that little bit easier.

1. Green Truck

What they offer: Recycling services

How much? Dhs100 per month

The lowdown: If you want to live a more eco-friendly life, sign up with Green Truck. For Dhs100 a month, they offer a weekly pick-up service where they collect all your recyclable materials, separate them at their headquarters and send them to local factories for use as raw materials.

Good to know: The service is available across a host of Dubai communities, though it’s best to contact the company directly to check when it operates in your area. The Green Truck team will then provide a free green bin for you to collect your plastic, paper, glass and metal, and arrange a convenient weekly pick up time.

Contact: Tel: (04) 8852434. greentruck.ae

*MORE: A guide to getting things made in Dubai*

2. Green Steam

What they offer: Interior and exterior car cleaning services

How much? From Dhs130 for a sedan and Dhs150 for a 4X4

The lowdown: When your car is in need of some serious TLC, Green Steam will come to your home or office and steam clean it on site, removing dirt, germs and odours in an environmentally friendly way. The most basic package is the platinum service, which includes cleaning the car inside and outside, polishing your tyres, steaming the carpets and sterilising the A/C system.

Good to know: Download the free app and use your phone’s GPS to pinpoint the location of your car. That way you don’t even have to be there and hang around while your car gets cleaned – you can just go about your day.

Contact: greensteamgcc.com

3. Washmen

What they offer: A dry cleaning and laundry service with pick up and delivery

How much? Prices start at Dhs9 for cleaning and pressing T-shirts, blouses and trousers.

The lowdown: Washmen’s service is centred around a free app, which we recommend downloading right away. Use it to set up a convenient time to have your clothes picked up and dropped off, and include any important care instructions.

Good to know: The minimum spend is Dhs45, and there’s an All You Can Wash bag option with a flat rate of Dhs79 (pressing not included). First time users get a promo code that they can then share with friends.

Contact: Tel: (04) 5588191. washmen.com

*MORE: 30 outdoor activities for families with little ones in Dubai*

4. Handy Scandy Home Services

What they offer: Help around the house for the DIY-challenged

How much? Dhs50 for a call out fee plus Dhs200 per hour

The lowdown: Self-proclaimed ‘handy Scandy’ Bjorn is a long-term Dubai resident who recognises that one of the more challenging aspects of expat life is getting the little things that need doing around the house done well. Whether you need assistance putting up shelves, fixing frames to the wall or just assembling some flat pack furniture, Bjorn is your man.

Good to know: Bjorn speaks fluent English as well as Swedish.

Contact: facebook.com/scandinavianhandyman

5. Jim Will Fix It

What they offer: DIY, window cleaning, painting, plumbing, A/C repair and more

How much? All quotations are done on an individual basis, depending on the job

 The lowdown: With its instantly recognisable purple vans, Jim Will Fix It is one of the most well-established home service companies in the city. Whether your place needs a fresh coat of paint or your air-conditioning needs repairing, this team will be able to help. They also offer a one-year warranty on all parts fitted.

 Good to know: Jim Will Fix It supports local charities, including K9 Friends and the Dubai Centre for Special Needs, so watch out for promotional days on which proceeds from your repair will go to a good cause.

Contact: Tel: (04) 3402338. jimwillfixit.ae

*ALSO: 50 ways to make life in Dubai easier*

6. Busy Bees Dubai

What they offer: Cleaning services for the home, including a deep clean for when you’re moving house. They offer babysitting services too.

How much? Dhs40 per hour for cleaning, Dhs50 per hour plus the cost of a return taxi for babysitting (Dhs60 on Fridays).

The lowdown: Take the stress out of moving into a new home by booking a cleaning service with Busy Bees. They specialise in deep cleaning, polishing and disinfecting, leaving every inch of your place spick and span. They also have affordable babysitting services from 7pm onwards.

Good to know: Busy Bees offers a free inspection service where the team evaluates how many hours it will take to deep clean your house, and give you an estimate on the cost. All products are eco-friendly.

Contact: busybeesdubai.com

7. Helpling

What they offer: Helpling’s online platform helps you book a cleaner online

How much? From Dhs35 per hour

The lowdown: Helpling isn’t a cleaning company so much as an online marketplace that matches customers with the right cleaners. All you do is enter your location, choose a time and specify how long you’ll need a cleaner for, depending on the size of your apartment or house.

Good to know: You can add optional extra chores, such as ironing, window cleaning and oven cleaning, for a small fee when you book. Keep in mind, you’ll need to provide the cleaning materials too.

Contact: helpling.ae

8. Malaak

What they offer: Maternity nursing services at home.

How much: Prices vary depending on hours. Contact Malaak for more info.

The lowdown: It’s common knowledge that parenthood and sleepless nights go hand in hand, but you don’t have to suffer alone. Malaak provides professional maternity nurses, babysitters and sleep trainers to help new mums and dads get through one of the most challenging stages of parenthood. You can book a maternity nurse for day shift or a night shift, for 10 to 12 hours, from five to seven days a week.

Good to know: Malaak also offers support and training to help mothers that are new to breastfeeding.

Contact: Tel: (04) 4538164. malaak.me

9. Churchill

What they offer: On-site professional cleaning of your upholstery, air-conditioning and more

How much: Prices vary depending on service. Carpet and rug cleaning starts at Dhs12 per square metre and upholstery starts at Dhs90 per seat.

The lowdown: Even if your house gets a weekly tidy up, there are certain areas that need a proper deep clean from time to time, whether it’s a sofa or mattress that’s seen better days or a dust covered A/C duct. That’s where Churchill comes in. All the cleaning is done on site, and the prices are reasonable too.

Good to know: The minimum charge per visit is Dhs295 in Dubai and Dhs1,000 outside of Dubai.

Contact: Tel: (04) 3236686. churchill-gulf.com

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