Do you tip house cleaners? Do you tip a cleaning lady? How much do you tip? What is the proper cleaning service tipping etiquette? It turns out, the rule for tipping house cleaners depends on who comes to clean your home.
Should You Tip Your House Cleaner?
Many years ago I hired a cleaning service. At the time I wasn’t sure whether or not I was supposed to tip and if so just how much I should give. So I did what anyone might do in my situation. I asked the Internet for help. I posted these questions to my website:
- Do you tip house cleaners?
- Are you supposed to tip a house cleaning service?
- How much do you tip house cleaners?
- Do you tip a specific amount or a percent of the overall cost of cleaning?
Tipping house cleaners isn’t as straightforward as it seems. After a lot of research and a ton of comments here is what I learned.
Do You Tip House Cleaners?
Is it customary to tip house cleaners? It depends on who you ask.
Tipping house cleaners depends on a number of factors including how many people are cleaning your home and how often. It also depends on whether the person works for a large company or is self employed.
When I searched online I was surprised to find that most homeowners do not tip for cleaning services. It seems some folks provide a large tip around the holidays and some never tip at all.
There is a lot of variation in tipping etiquette for house cleaners. We all know how much we should tip a waitress or bartender, but how much should we tip for the house cleaners that clean our homes? This post will step you through the details.
How Much Do You Tip A House Cleaning Service?
How much do you tip a house cleaning service? If you are using a house cleaning service from a large company it helps to know how much a standard tip should be. Believe it or not the best way to find out is to email, chat or call the cleaning company directly.
You can ask whether customers are expected to tip and even how much is typically provided. Large cleaning companies will typically provide a dollar amount or a percentage of the service you purchased.
House cleaners from big cleaning companies like Amazon and Merry Maids don’t expect tips, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t leave one if you are inclined to do so. The same goes for house cleaning services purchased through Groupon.
Tips are not included in the price of services at places like Merry Maids. If you want to leave a tip, pay in cash or ask if there is a way to tip through the Merry Maid website or app.
Unfortunately, just because a large cleaning company charges a lot for services doesn’t mean they pay their cleaners a lot to clean homes. If you are unsure simply ask. The company will let you know whether or not it is customary to tip. Don’t be afraid to ask how much to tip as well.
Remember that most cleaners are working for minimum wage. A house cleaner or cleaning lady should be tipped the same way you would tip your hair dresser or waitress. These types of employees are often underpaid, so if you can afford to tip them please do so.
How much should you tip multiple house cleaners? If a crew of house cleaners arrive at your house it is perfectly acceptable to leave a $10 to $15 tip for all of them. You don’t need to tip each member of the house cleaning crew individually.
The location of your home will also make a difference in how much you pay a house cleaner. A cleaning lady in NYC will ultimately receive a higher tip than a house cleaner in Chicago, Toronto or Kansas City. It’s best to pay a percentage of the service rather than a flat tip. This is similar to the way you would pay a waitress or server.
Do You Tip a Self Employed House Cleaner?
Should you tip a self employed house cleaner or the owner of a cleaning service? Tipping a house cleaning service is very different from tipping an owner or self employed cleaner. A self employed house cleaner can set prices to the exact amount he or she wants to get paid. Tipping is not mandatory, so how much should we give?
A self employed cleaner or owner of a cleaning company can always raise prices to cover missing tips. They also earn the full amount for each home that they cleans. Tipping self employed cleaners isn’t as important as tipping cleaners who work for large agencies, but it’s still nice to tip them if you can.
If you use a self employed or independent cleaner to clean your home consider saving up for a large Christmas gift in addition to tipping each time they clean.
Do You Tip House Cleaners Every Time They Clean?
If you receive house cleaning services every week should you leave a tip each time? This is a question a lot of people ask. I think it depends on who is cleaning your house.
If the same set of cleaners are arriving each week you might want to consider tipping once a month. Of course, if you receive a different cleaner or group of cleaners every week then you’ll need to tip weekly.
How Much Do You Tip for a One Time Cleaning Service?
Tipping depends on how often you get your house cleaned. If you hire a company for a one time cleaning provide a tip between 15% and 20% of the total bill. Present the tip in an envelope marked “tips” or hand it over directly after the work is finished.
How Much to Tip House Cleaners?
How much do you tip for house cleaning services? I think the standard rates apply. What would you give your bartender or waitress? Most of us provide 15% to 20% for tips. I think that’s a good place to start. That means a $100 cleaning will really cost you $115 to $120. If you need a little help calculating the amount simply type the cost of your service and the tip percentage into this calculator.
When to Tip More
Consider the amount of work a cleaner might need to do inside of your home. If you keep your home neat and tidy with little dust and dirt then you might not need to provide a giant tip.
On the other hand, if you have lots of children dragging crumbs throughout the house and dogs and cats leaving fur behind you should consider tipping more. If your home is cleaned weekly it requires less work than a home that is cleaned less often.
How Much Do You Tip House Cleaners for a Deep Clean?
Deep cleans involve a lot more heavy lifting than a typical cleaning and house cleaners should be tipped more for the extra work and effort involved. As part of the deep clean process a house cleaner will scrub appliances, dust the baseboards, polish the door knobs and clean windows.
Tip house cleaners twice as much for a deep clean as you would for a normal cleaning. Why tip more? Extra tips should be provided for the additional work and effort involved.
How Much Do You Tip Move Out Cleaners?
If you fail to clean the dirt and grime your landlord can keep your security deposit. A move out clean helps you get your money back by making your former rooms look spotless.
If you are moving out of your house or apartment you’ll need a move out clean, which includes much more work than a typical cleaning and costs more too.
How much should you tip move out cleaners? Usually double your standard tip. If you typically tip $10 provide $20. Especially if you left a real mess behind.
How Much Should You Tip Your Cleaning Lady at Christmas?
Generosity is always appreciated during the holidays and many homeowners provide a Christmas bonus or tip to house cleaners before the year ends.
How much do you tip a cleaning lady at Christmas? Christmas tips for house cleaners vary greatly in value. The range is really quite wide. Some homeowners tip $20 while others tip upwards of $100.
An average Christmas tip is typically $50, but the range is quite extensive. Some homeowners pay double that amount while others provide a monetary tip plus a small physical gift including candles, ornaments or baked goods.
Again it depends on whether the cleaner works for his or herself or if she works for a larger company. It also depends on how many cleaners arrive at your home weekly.
If more than one cleaner arrives each week you’ll probably want to divide the tip among them. Somewhere between $20 and $50 each is appropriate depending on the size of your house and how dirty it gets between cleanings.
Leave the Christmas gifts for your house cleaners in a holiday card and make sure to hand it to them directly or leave a large note on your counter if you aren’t home when they clean.
A Christmas bonus is a nice treat for housekeepers and house cleaners. In addition to a cash gift a friend of mine bakes a batch of sugar cookies for his cleaning service. It’s not required, but it’s an extra special touch that feels good to give around the holidays.
Tipping House Cleaners
The truth is there isn’t a gold standard for tipping house cleaners, but there are general tipping rules you can follow. These rules should apply to any cleaning lady, housekeeper or maid who works hard inside your home.
- If you are home when the house cleaners arrive offer them water and other cold drinks. This is especially true for house cleaners performing deep cleans or move out cleans, which may require a lot of heavy lifting.
- For exceptional cleaning contact the cleaning company and commend the house cleaners for a job well done. This doesn’t cost you anything, but could result in a raise or promotion for cleaning staff further down the line.
- Thank your house cleaners before they leave.
Tipping house cleaners isn’t mandatory, but just because it’s not required doesn’t mean it’s not the nice thing to do. Should you tip house cleaners? Most definitely. Show your appreciation for those who are bending over, cleaning your toilets, scrubbing your floors and shaking out your rugs.
If you find a really great cleaner definitely tip them. Cleaning homes for a living isn’t an easy job. Everyone likes to feel rewarded for a job well done.
Your Thoughts
Do you have any thoughts on this topic? Do you tip house cleaners? If so, how much do you tip them? Please leave your comments below.
Remember, most of the time any and all tips are greatly appreciated. In fact, it’s highly unusual for anyone to complain about unexpected generosity, but it does happen every once in awhile.
Heather says
We do not tip each visit, but rather at the holidays take the cost of a cleaning and divide it up among the number of cleaners we normally get (3-4) in the form of gift certificates to a common store.
I try to always leave out glasses and cans of Coke when they visit to make themselves welcome to have a drink as they work.
me in millions says
It's probably a nice idea to tip them, since I'm sure they do not get paid that much. If it's a one off thing, then maybe a small tip (like $5 each?), but if it is a regular thing I like what Heather said.
One Frugal Girl says
I don't know how long it usually takes to clean a house, but the two women that showed up were here for nearly 3 hours. I left out bottled water like Heather suggested and paid them a small tip as me in millions suggested. I am so happy the house is now clean!
Joan says
I have two women who clean every other week. They work for a company. They used to come 60-65 minutes now it’s 40-45. Cost is $123. I tipped each $50 at Christmas and didn’t even get a thank you. I was disappointed. Now Christmas is coming again. Not sure what to do. Little things that used to be cleaned no longer are. I always clean the toilets the night before they arrive. Thanks for thoughts.
One Frugal Girl says
If you don’t feel like your cleaners are doing a good job I would talk to them about what you’d like to see improved. There are tons of cleaners out there that can do the job if your current ones can’t.
Anonymous says
We've had a cleaner come in on a biweekly basis for several years now and consider it money well spent. However I have never tipped her and don't know of anyone else who has either. At Christmastime, I leave her $20 extra, as well as a gift, such as a bottle of wine and a card expressing our appreciation for her service.
One Frugal Girl says
Anonymous — The women who cleaned my home definitely aren't used to tips. When I handed it to them they were as giddy as two school girls on the first day of summer. I don't know if I'll ever use their services again so I couldn't wait for the holidays and I was so happy to have my bathrooms sparkling that I really did want to give them something extra. Especially the one woman who spent the majority of time at my house scrubbing the bathrooms 🙂
Anonymous says
My wife and I are office Cleaners and Trust me, A tip is GREATLY appreciated. Please take into consideration that we provide service all year around , in all kinds of weather, Cleaning your floors in the winter is the worst. Cleaning in HOT offices at night in the Summer. Scrubbing all your Bathroom messes. Most people forget about the cleaning people because as I say " OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND" . While most people tip the Mail Man or Fed EX guy or Water Delivery guy,, think about it, the previous 3 are in and out of your office in a matter of seconds are even a couple of minutes. While a cleaning person is in your office at least an hour some accounts are even 2-3 hours. Put yourself in the Cleaning Peoples place and than think about how you would feel about not getting tipped !!!
JJ lang says
So how much would you recommend for 2 hours of work done by two people as an appropriate tip?
Tiffany says
I’m a cleaner I make 20 percent on the total clean. I really need the tips I get which range from 5 to 20 depending on the size of house and or job requirements.
Sandra Williams says
I am a cleaner and most clients leave me a days pay extra at Christmas… people who dont have a lot of money will leave me a small gift and a card with gratitude. Then there are some who leave nothing, or just a very small amount. Kind of upsets me because I do not charge alot, I do extras they ask of me throughout the year, I travel in all kinds of weather, adjust schedules to meet their needs. It is a lot of work! So, please tip your cleaning person generously, they truly maintain the cleanliness of your home.
Heather says
Nobody tips the mailman or FedEx guy. Nobody.
Cynthia says
I tip my mailman at Christmastime. Delivery services have a lot of different people, who we don’t really get a chance to know like the mailman.
Beth says
It’s a courtesy for good service. I appreciate a delivery person that comes in with a smile and stays to chat for a minute or two.
We always get the mailman at our office a gift card (usually $50) for Christmas. I should tip the UPS guy too because we always get the same driver and I order a lot of stuff on Amazon LOL
Marley says
We always tip the mailman and UPS driver at Christmas and I know so many others who do as well. They really appreciate it and go out of their way to make sure our packages are covered in rainy/snowy weather. Both are awesome!
Dee says
My whole block tips our mailman, Geoff- whether it’s a small gift or cash, we try to let him know he is appreciated. I baked cookies and left it for him with a small gift card. He sought me out to tell me he loved the cookies. It’s not an easy job, and clearly it can be thankless.
Edward Weston says
FYI – it is illegal to tip a US Mail delivery person more than $20 cash. Gift cards are a good alternative.
Tom Kelman says
Federal and city employees are not allowed to accept cash tips or cash equivalents. They can accept gifts that are under $20. I remember my mom giving our mailman some homemade cookies at Christmas time when I was growing up. That can be harder to do these days. I live in a community where the mailboxes are all grouped in one area, so I don’t really see a mailman.
Claudia says
I always tip the mailman at Christmastime. . .($20)
Eileen says
I tip the mailman. Mailman, school bus drivers (2x a year), garbage and recycling guys, guys that cut our grass, furniture delivery people, gift certificates to teachers 2x a year.
FedEx guy….if it was always the same person i absolutely I would. We had a UPS guy that was pretty frequent, and good, and I wasn’t sure about the tipping with him so I instead wrote a letter to UPS corporate and his district supervisor and told them how happy we were with him. But I’m from the NY city area and the tipping is standard there. I remember my parents running out to catch the sanitation guys and in my first home at Christmas it was common to see envelopes attached to cases of beer or a bottle out at the curb for those guys. Oh and newspaper carrier back in the day.
HAHAHA, as I am writing this I thought “no wonder why I never have any money!”
One Frugal Girl says
I love everything about this comment. We do the same with the sanitation folks who pick up our trash 😉
Anonymous says
I have been using a home cleaning service monthly for about six months. I have (since the beginning) left a tip for the two ladies who spend about 3 hours here.
That investment has repaid itself many times over. We have a comfortable, mutually respectful relationship. At Christmas I left them a tip plus two ornaments. One of the ladies gave me a personalized hand-made candle.
More importantly, after several months of assessing my cleaning needs, they consulted the cleaning service owner about reducing the fee since they did not need the full allotted time to clean. How many businesses would do that?
It took me many years to get over reluctance to having someone in my home, handling my things. I now consider it one of the best decisions I've ever made. Providing a generous tip is the least I can do to show my appreciation to these lovely ladies.
Donna says
Thank you! I clean houses and only make $8 an hour and I work my tale off. I ensure I do a thorough job and when I don’t get a tip it’s seriously discouraging. Im a mom of two young little girls and I count every penny. I have cleaned small houses to make a big tip and big and fancy houses and made nothing. It’s ashame more people don’t tip. We work so hard for our money. Luckily the company I am with sells the tipping information with their packages but still you would be surprised how many people could care less. In the end,my work is much better when I know I am working for someone who is appreciating what I do.
Beth says
So if you cleaned a house every week for 3 hours at a time and there were two of you, how much would you consider to be a fair enough tip? I want to make sure I’m taking care of my girls.
Tiffany says
I also clean houses depending on size of house the smallest I have gotten was 5 the most is 25 I get from one of my regulars.
Aubrey says
You ladies need to start your own business!! I am paying my housecleaner, who is her own boss, $200 a clean, which takes her a little over 4 hours to do. That’s almost $50 an hour!! Why are you working your tails off for $8??
Peggy says
You definitely need to ask for at least $25 per hour or more, depending on the average pay in your state etc. You are worth every cent, believe me!
Beth says
Aubrey,
Don’t forget that the business owner has overhead…… insurance, supplies, etc. They have to charge more. It’s not like it’s all profit.
Charles Jackson says
Here at Ontario, we are getting cleaning services from Sunrise cleaning services. We always used to tip them on every visit. Because I am really impressed with their staff. They are really nice guys. They take care of everything from start to finish. Each day they came with some cleaning tips for my wife.
Xena says
As a cleaning lady I TIP to all who use cleaning service: here is a Big secret : doesn’t matter how much you tip $5, 10 or more, JUST TIP.. This way you show to person who cleans your home that you appreciate her/his hard work. And next time you will be very surprised ! It’s a huge difference between what we must to do and want to do. You tip a cleaning lady , she will tip you back doing a little extra work . If there is more then one cleaner at the moment in your house, no need to tip to each one. They will share. Coffee, soda, juce are not a tip. And never offering coffee do the comment as : “have some coffee so you will have more power to clean” .
And guys , be nice to cleaners. If they missed some spot or cleaned the way you don’t like just easy explain it in polite way.
If you ask cleaning lady to do some work which is not her duty- tip a must!!!
Tiffany says
I can tell you as a cleaner if it were not for my cleans that Tip I wouldn’t make it. We only receive a small percentage of the whole clean. Most of my cleans I make 16 dollars. When you tip it makes our day. You have no idea how Manny times our dinner has depended on my tips. And at Christmas its REALLY important.
Tanika says
I have been a house cleaner for 4 years and get paid $10.50 an hour. I have to work a 50 hour week just to make ends meet. I totally believe people who hire cleaners should tip. Totally appreciated and we work out butts off! We come and clean when it’s 100° out with no ac or when it’s -15° and your stairs aren’t shoveled. Please next time you hire a cleaner think about how hard we work.
Lorna says
I have always tipped people who provide a regular service and makes my life easier.
I have a cleaning lady for 4 hrs once a month and I pay $20/hr. I give a $20 tip. At Christmastime I will give her $80–what I pay the agency each month. It’s part of my budget and I am not wealthy, just thankful.
Morgan says
Lorna, I’m the same way. I pay a housekeeping service $110 per month for a very large home (I’m in a rural area, and not a big city, so rates lower here). They do an amazing job, and hiring them is one of the best decisions I ever made, since my health had started to decline. Two sisters come and spend 3-4 hours here. I tip $15 to $20 to each of them, so $30-$40 tiotal at each visit (more when they change the sheets on an extra bed). At Christmas, I give them each an extra $50. I’m not wealthy, either, but very thankful, like you. I hired a few other housekeeping services, and was not happy, but these two women are incredibly hard working, go above and beyond, each and every time. After the first deep cleaning, I was on a monthly schedule, and their service has been consistently excellent.
jean says
Shouldn’t the question be why the cleaning company pay so little to the cleaners?
Donna says
I think it depends on whether or not the person is the owner of the company, or an employee of the company. Just as the owner of a hair salon does not expect a tip, the same should be true of a cleaning service.
Aubrey says
So if I’m paying my cleaner $40-$50 an hour, and she is a self employed person, do I still tip? That’s more than I make!
Bets says
Remember that your cleaner has expenses: travel to your place, supplies, phone/internet, administrative time, business taxes, etc. Plus, as an independent contractor, she pays a higher income tax rate than those who are employed. At $50, she’s not getting wealthy – believe me.
Andy says
To clarify, her income tax is not higher, but she pays self-employment tax (7.5% of her profit) that, for the non-self-employed, is paid by the company and never even shows up on the check.
She also pays entirely for her own insurance and retirement plan, if she’s lucky enough to be making enough to do that.
So after the self employment overhead, she’s probably making the equivalent of 15 – 25 an hour at a company with benefits, but might only be able to bill for 5 – 6 hours a day since the rest is travel.
These numbers are wild guesses, but you get my point.
jkg says
But she can deduct those expenses.
Lalalalapdx says
OMG, be frugal, fine- but not stingy! She MAY be able to deduct expenses, , or perhaps not. Bottom line is, cleaners work very hard, and (unless they own the service and have others doing the actual cleaning) they don’t make a lot of money. I tip $20, every time. It’s the right thing to do.
Judy Corcoran says
I cannot imagine not tipping the cleaning women who come to my house. I had been leaving $15 each for the two women who come once a month. The company recently sent two new women and for the time being I am tipping $10 each. I live alone and my house is neat, tidy and relatively clean anyway but I’ve never done a good job with hardwood floors. These women give me peace of mind and more free time. Their support is worth every penny of a tip. (They do work for a company which has done other work for me.)
Alise Harper says
I honestly didn’t think about tipping for a house cleaning service. I am a few weeks until my due date and was going to get the whole house deep cleaned before the baby comes. I think I would pay the price we originally set and if I feel like the cleaning was above and beyond I would probably give a little more then set price.
LiLDee4Ever says
I had started my house cleaning business a little over a year ago in Topeka Kansas, after having cleaned houses in the Chicago area for several years. I charge $25 per hour and I have my own supplies. Not only do I provide the equipment and the cleaning supplies, I have also invested money into being insured and bonded, which is quite a cost. I have gone through 4 vacuums and of course, wear and tear on my 2014 car. Here in Topeka, my clients love me, praise my work, recommend me to others, although they rarely tip. I don’t know if it is the area compared to Chicago or if it’s because my clients feel I am already getting $25 per hour, but a only see $5 additional dollars if someone pays me cash and they don’t have $75 so they leave $80. This is easier than having to run to get change (or maybe they expect me to leave them change)! Lol. I do rely and hope to get tips. I do appreciate the referrals, although that in itself doesn’t help increase the amount I make each week because I am usually always booked. Yes, I read through this blog and trust me, I do go beyond the extra for the people who are caring, considerate, don’t treat me as a servant and leaves just a little extra $. We are in the service business and it doesn’t matter if we are in business for ourselves or making a meager hourly wage working for someone else. There are always expenses that we have to be able to make your homes so clean and shiny. So don’t forget your house cleaners!
LiLDee4Ever says
Oh, here another thing, besides being fully insured and bonded in your homes, I also have to pay my own health insurance, which is more then $400 a month. So again I will empathize, topping is greatly appreciated for all house cleaners, weekly, biweekly, monthly, birthdays and Christmas.
Karen says
My cleaning lady is self employed. She comes with another woman and spends 1-1/2 hrs every other week. She charges $20.00 an hour each. So for the hour and 1/2 it’s $60.00. I tip $5.00 to each of them so every other week it’s $70.00. I went through a cleaning service before her, the first time it was $25.00 for the one person she sent. I did not tip, because I wasn’t happy. The next time, the girl said she wasn’t working for the company anymore that she was on her own. I told her in a polite way that there were several places that she missed. So the next time, she just never showed up or called. She did call me the next day and apologized but I told her there is no excuse for her to not have called me. I told her that her services were no longer needed. She said that she wasn’t a slave, that she was a priestes, and she didn’t need me any way. Good riddance! I am extremely happy with the lady I have now. I just don’t know how much to give them for a Christmas Bonus. Any ideas?
Morgan says
As I mentioned above, in a reply to Lorna, I’m giving my two AMAZING housekeepers $50 extra at Christmas. They come once per month, charge $110 for a large house, and I tip them pretty generously (30-40 percent). They do so much–cleaning that I can no longer do because of health reasons–and they consistently go “above and beyond.” They bring their own products and vacuum, etc.
Barbara Christie says
You like her. Be generous. Give each cleaner at LEAST $100 plus a gift you did NOT get at Costco. You are entrusting your home and your precious possessions to them, and they take care of them for you. This deserves a reciprocal amount of personalized caring from you in the form of a nice personalized gift. A generous one. Just think of the hassle starting over with somebody new…
Nancy says
I use a small service. The lady I contact owns the business and drives the ladies to the homes, but does not clean. Do I tip her or just the ladies who clean?
Kevin says
Just the ladies who do the cleaning (it’s what I do)
Kevin says
Hi. I tipped each girl $100. I have 3 regular girls who clean my house every other week for $100. I don’t tip regularly just at Christmas. My wife thinks I should’ve given $50 each, oh well too late. They do a great job and I trust them. They work for a small company and I get the impression they don’t make a lot. Merry Christmas people and good luck!
Amy says
Have known my cleaning lady and her two helpers for twelve years. She knows I’ve never tipped (though I give xmas gifts and pay extra if my house has a bit of picking up to do. She’ll tell me how much extra). My house is small and after I took a break to save money for a few years, she charges $125 for about an hour. I think she assigned this cost knowing I don’t tip so gratuity is included, if you will? Should I tip $5 each time or more and maybe tip a lot today because the gifts I gave weren’t much, just gorgeous wrapped ornaments for each. I want to show her my love…
Amy says
Btw she comes every other week.
Patty says
Wow. $125 hr. I think you should check values in your area. I have been cleaning for 25 years. I am currently making $33 hr. I clean everything in the home top to bottom. No need for spring cleaning because everything stays clean. I’ve had many of the same customers for over 20 years and Izvestia never had to advertise. They trust and value my work and my honesty and I appreciate their business and especially their friendships. I have never been tipped weekly….just a Christmas tip that usually equals the cost of one cleaning. Most of the homes I clean are between 6000 and 8000 square feet and cost between $100-$140. Tip number one….if your cleaning person is there longer ask if you owe them more. I often end up spending more time one day and if I don’t charge for that I’m not going to cut you a break if I finish early the next time. So don’t tell me the one time I get out early if you didn’t notice the five times I stayed extra! I always err on my customers behalf! Tipping is a sore subject for me because this is the only opportunity my customers have to show me each year that they appreciate me….and it is so disproportionate to income! I have had customers who spend $350 on jeans for their kids, they drive escalades, their children brand new suv’s, nothing but private schools, designer clothes, the best vacations, furnishing beautiful homes in the costliest ways….. and they re-gift me with gift with purchase items at Christmas….like perfume samples or something that came with a cosmetic purchase. Please!. Its disparaging to feel so undervalued and makes me feel like you think I’m not very bright to boot! They telll me what a great job I do and how they appreciate all I do but year after year…..this! I get one half week off a year….the week after Christmas because I cleaned for everyone and their brother almost every day straight since thanksgiving and then everyone cancels because of the Christmas mess with kids home. Thank heavens for my tips or I wouldn’t eat the week after Christmas! But I truly need those days off. I pay my overhead., self employment taxes, healthcare, for my car etc. etc. out of what I make and am not able to clean two houses every day because of the constant scheduling conglicts ( customers switching days) and the size of the homes I clean. I clean weekends in order to schedule more so that I’m available to customers when they need me. I never have two full days off a week. I have no retirement. On the flip side is the little lady I clean for with the small ranch and the same furniture she’s had for 50 years who tips me $100 at Christmas for a monthly $70 job, and gives me homemade cookies. She knows I have no time to bake for my family at Christmas because I’m trying my best to take care of my customers first. Yes….even that one that re-gifts!!!! I still fit her in when she whines at me about her “hard” life and calls me with no notice. I assume she thinks it’s hard because she’s never really experienced hardship and try to cut her some slack. Bottom line is….everyone loves to feel appreciated and deserves some sort of life. If I had money I would tip anyone that seemed like they needed it that was doing their best at providing a service for me and makemy life easier. Because theirs is probably harder! Just out of appreciation for all I had myself! My father taught me as a child that if you can’t afford the tip, you can’t afford the service. If you have a big house and lots of stuff….don’t leave your cleaning person less than the value of a full clean at Christmas because yes, you do look cheap and selfish compared to her other customers…..especially when others with so much less give so much more. And truthfully when I need to drop a job and all other things are equal that expression of appreciation once a year has been what breaks the tie. If you’re out there cleaning for $8 hr….find another job. Your employer is killing you, That is way disproportionate to their share because I know all the large services charge way more than I do! This job is labor intensive. You won’t feel the damage you’re doing to your joints and back until you’re much older. And then you’ll be the one paying the medical bills and doing without any income. If you’re employing someone who works for so little and you want to keep them, tip them weekly. They should be earning more! Everyone should pay a fair wage. If you’re already paying that service way too much encourage them to go somewhere where they receive a decent wage and then change services. You’re allowing that awful employer to stay in business!! (Verify the wages of course.)
Patty says
Wow. Sorry that was so crazy long! I should have re-read it before posting!
Lin Z says
No, Patty, that was not too long. You said what needed to be said. Everyone needs to feel appreciated, and I have also discovered that those who have the most appreciate others the least. Even though my husband and I are forcibly retired,have an 18 yr old in college, and a small home cleaned once a month (1 1/2 hrs, 2 women who work for company), after reading your essay, I will give $100 instead of $50 each. Plus everyone does need to put others needs into perspective. How does spending $350 on jeans make the world a better place??? Showing love to others will always improve our world even if only in a small sphere.
Mary says
Patty – you are exactly right. My mother cleaned houses for a living and she would come home exhausted. She still had to clean and take care of her own family at the end of the day. Think about it, you leave tips for other things less personal so PLEASE, seriously consider giving tips to the people who provide services that mean so much more. I always give a generous tip to my hairdresser so why wouldn’t I do the same for the people who clean my home.
Suzie says
Housekeepers are performing a service. A service that you don’t have the time to do or don’t want to. A little $5-10 tip every time is well worth the extra attention and appreciation they will feel. You tip your hairdresser who can charge over $150 for cut and color….tip your housekeeper! They are tackling your ickyness!!!
M & M says
Hi, I had never hired anyone to clean any place I’ve lived. I now have R.A & take care of my mother full-time. I’ve struggled for especially the last year Trying to care for her, myself & work @ home p.t with computers. Through a tenant & now friend of mine, her sister-in-law came to our very large 8 room, 1 & a half bath home. $350 3 woman who never seemed to stop (not the entire house) but, the entire 1st floor, deep cleaning kitchen, upstairs (wall to wall carpeting, & a full bath. They did a great job & worked hard 4& 1/2 hours for $350 . I gave them each $20 dollars & felt bad about it. There back today & just do an amazing job. I’m giving them $25.00 each & I’m hoping that is enough! Thoughts? Should I tip more? We will definitely continue to have them come about every 3:months..I’m still not sure if I’m tipping enough! I can’t imagine not tipping at all…
Jake says
Thanks. All this information is helpful and I will tip, for sure. My new house cleaning service is here now and doing a great job!!
Serena says
I have a decent sized 1 bed/1 bath apartment and am having a cleaning service come out today. I am 9mos pregnant so getting down to scrub is dificult and being around all those fumes cant be good. The 2 cleaners will be here for 1.5 hrs. How much do i tip? Do I?
Lori L Robak says
Hi, I have a cleaning service and there are usually 2 girls, occasionally 3 (I think). I have only ever talked to one lady that I think is usually here (I’m not at home when they come) So….for Christmas, I’m not sure how to tip. I don’t know how many ladies will be here…should I leave something and assume the crew will split it?
John says
We have used cleaning teams for years, we usually tip the equivalent of one cleaning close to Christmastime. However, this year we started a new service – they do a great job and we want to tip – but they are rotating team members so we just got an entirely new team. What is the protocol when you don’t get your regulars?
John says
We have used cleaning teams for years, we usually tip the equivalent of one cleaning close to Christmastime. However, this year we started a new service – they do a great job and we want to tip – but they are rotating team members so we just got an entirely new team. What is the protocol when you don’t get your regulars?
(I think this is a duplicate – email address in previous is wrong)
SPENCE!!! says
Christmas! You pay each person A pay AND a PAY!!! Young people are very CHEAP! I geuss they where born, with a spoon in the MOUTH?
Nicki says
I clean for a living and I always get tipped. Everyone I clean for tips me! Once I got a 100$ tip for the year. Usually I get tipped each time I clean 10-20$.
I haven’t run into a person/business I clean for who hasn’t tipped me.
Sherri says
I am using a service that sends two people each time every other week and it doesn’t take them more then an hour. How much should I tip?
Ryan says
There are many variables to consider when deciding whether to tip, how much, or to just not tip at all. One of the main focuses when deciding to tip should be the quality of work the cleaners are performing. If I hired a maid service and one lady showed up to do a deep clean and an hour later she states that she is done, then I would certainly consider not tipping. Or if a cleaner is unfriendly and not showing pride in their work, I would also consider not tipping. Outside of that, I believe there is a service being provided and tipping while not mandatory is a considerably thing to do for each visit. As for the amount to tip, each person has different financial views and it should be up to you on how much you feel comfortable tipping.
Dolores says
Everyone’s comments are very helpful. For the past year I have hired a small cleaning company to come in to clean my small two story house for 100.00 twice a month. Two women usually spend 1.5 hours cleaning (three women-hours of work). I always put things out of the way so that they can do the best job possible (we are always in the middle of some project), and the women do a very good job. At first, I didn’t think to tip, but then I realized I was being somewhat negligent in my thinking The way I see it is, the people (usually women) who do the work are doing a task that I don’t have the time or energy to do, and are making my life easier. That I can even have a cleaning service is a privilege. I want to make their lives easier as well, and the best way I can see to do this is with a monetary gift. I don’t know what they are paid, but I imagine it’s not much. They may get minimum wage, which is not a lot of money per hour. Now, I give them each a 10 dollar tip for the hour and a half of work. I will probably give them each $40 or $50 for a holiday gift/bonus. I believe you get what you give, and I also believe in “sharing the wealth.” Their job is a physically demanding job, and I’m sure they are tired at the end of the day. They give me peace of mind, and a clean home makes me happier!
One Frugal Girl says
Dolores, Thank you for such a beautiful comment. I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment. The work is not particularly pleasant and usually not well paid. Kudos to you for sharing the wealth!
Julie says
When clients don’t tip at the holiday I replace them. I’m an excellent house cleaner and charge a fair rate, it’s very easy to find new customers.
One Frugal Girl says
That’s interesting Julie. Thank you for your perspective. How often does that happen?
Michael Nelson says
I tended bar to pay for college. My single mother also tended bar and raised three kids on tips. I honestly believe the custom should not exist. It relies on people understanding a shifting and complex tipping culture and being generous enough to do so. I remember dreading having to serve anyone with an accent because 90% of the time the tip was change.
I am currently on this site spending precious time trying to figure out what I should be tipping to be sure I am not causing someone financial harm.
People should just be paid fairly and it should be included in the cost of the service.
One Frugal Girl says
I agree. People should be paid fairly. I also think it’s nice to reward really great work and service with tips. Thank you for your comment.
Edward Chun says
You guys tip waiters for bringing out lunch and when you get your hair done but not someone who carefully cleans the grime off the place you raise your family in?! Crazy.
Santa Fe Sheila says
Wow. What an amazing read! I have used cleaners somewhat off and on for a very long time now. I hate housecleaning and I’m not very good at it. Over the years I’ve used services and individuals. Currently, as in for some five years now, I’ve used the local Merry Maids and they do a wonderful job. They have been very good about sending me the same ladies every time. I had not even thought about tipping, but this year actually realized I should. I will be giving my ladies $100 each, rather than the $50 I’d first considered, thanks to what I’ve read here.
Now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t be giving each of them $5 every time they’re here.
One Frugal Girl says
Hi Santa Fe Sheila, This year your cleaners probably need your generosity more than ever. Are your cleaners the same every week or do you get a new crew? A lot of people tip the same cleaners only once per year, but I ended up tipping my cleaners weekly as you suggested. I figured they could use the money on a regular basis rather than saving it all up for a holiday bonus.
Sue says
We have a housecleaner that come weekly and it’s a flat rate of $100, if she’s here 2 hours or 4. ( we are really tidy so it’s normally 2 hours). We tip $25 3-4 times throughout the year, what would be an acceptable Christmas tip?
Sue says
It’s also her own company
One Frugal Girl says
Hi Sue, It sounds like you are already a generous tipper. If you already tip four times a year you could tip the same amount at Christmas time or you could provide slightly more, but I don’t think you have to provide a large tip if you spread the tips out throughout the year. Unless you feel extra generous and want to thank your cleaner more this year or know that she is suffering due to COVID and could really use the money.
Roof Hatches says
Excellent writing! We can take away a lot of important information from this article. Keep sharing great posts.
Eli Richardson says
It’s great that you talked about house cleaning services and their costs. Recently, my wife and I decided we’d like some extra help to keep our home clean and safe. We’d like to hire a cleaning service, and since we’ve never worked with one before, we believe your article will help us with the tipping part. Thanks for the advice about tipping house cleaners and what to consider when deciding.
SimonSoap says
Thanks for sharing your information. This is very helpful for me and others.
Hygiene is very important if you want to live a healthy life and keep your surroundings clean. We provide a Cleaning service.
Chance Cook says
I have never hired a cleaner before. So I appreciate knowing to tip them depending on how many cleaners there are. So I’ll see what I can do about getting my house cleaned and finding out how many cleaners will be coming over.
James Logan says
It is not really bad idea to tip house cleaners for good services. Tips should be fixed rate. You can tip a little on the higher end if you feel that your cleaner did an exceptional job.