March 12, 2021, 10:32 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Sunday is a day of rest in Germany–not without reason are stores closed on the seventh day of the week. This means no work and simply putting your feet up. However, many use the day to clean, which includes vacuuming. Is that allowed on Sunday?
During the week, many people don’t have time to tidy up their homes. That’s why Sunday is often used to catch up on cleaning, including vacuuming. While dusting or mopping shouldn’t bother anyone, vacuuming is a different story. The noise it creates could disturb neighbors on their day of rest.
Overview
The Legal Situation for Vacuuming on Sunday
It is not legally prohibited to vacuum on Sundays, even though a full day of rest is observed. The noise from a vacuum cleaner falls under the usual (and also permitted on Sundays) room volume. However, this must not be exceeded.
Note: You must also observe the midday and nighttime quiet hours. The specific times can vary by state.
- Typically, midday quiet hours are from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., as noted in the machinery and noise protection regulations, which vary by state.
- Nighttime quiet hours generally run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., often regulated by state noise protection laws.
Also interesting: Should you dust before or after vacuuming?
House rules or rental agreements may also specify individual quiet hours. It’s best to check both before grabbing the vacuum on a Sunday.
Also interesting: How loud is room volume, anyway?
Where Legal Quiet Hours Apply
4 Tips to Reduce the Noise of Heat Pumps
Rules for Vacuuming on Sunday
If you decide to vacuum on Sunday, you should also follow these rules:
- While you may vacuum indoors on Sundays, observing quiet hours, it is generally not allowed outside. This applies to both Sundays and holidays.
- It’s best–especially if relations with neighbors are already strained–to coordinate with them to avoid disputes. Agreeing on a time that works for everyone, even on a Sunday, can help.
Also interesting: 8 Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes When Vacuuming
Is Vacuuming Allowed on Holidays?
Not only on Sundays but also on holidays, noise disturbances are prohibited. However, vacuum cleaners, typically under 65 dB, are not loud enough to be considered noise. In fact, functioning vacuum cleaners are generally no louder than room volume.