Should you tip your house cleaner, and if so, how much should you tip them? The answer is generally yes you should and $20-$25. However, there are plenty of circ*mstances that complicate this.
For example: did they do a good job? Are they independent cleaners, or do they work for a chain, or small company;? Did you have them stay longer and clean extra; and can you afford it?
We will also discuss how you should tip.
Should you tip your house cleaner?
Should you tip your house For example: whether they did a good job; if they are an independent cleaner, work for a chain, or work for a small company; if you had them stay longer to clean extra; and if you can afford it.
If the cleaners did not do a good job you do not need to tip.
For example, If they left items, missed key spots, were significantly late, or you found yourself re-cleaning after the cleaning service has left, you definitely should not tip and if any of these things occur, the maid will understand why they were not tipped.
Another factor to consider when deciding whether or not to tip is how they are employed.
If they work for one of the chains such as Merry Maids or Molly Maids, chances are, they are only being paid minimum wage and likely rely on that tip to get by.
If they are a self-employed house cleaner, they are keeping 100% of what you pay them and are probably a bit better off, they also might see themselves as running their own business and not accepting your tip.
With self-employed house cleaners, a gift card rather than a cash tip would be more appropriate as they would be accepting a gift instead of a tip, and nobody turns down gifts. Some will accept tips, however, so it really depends on the individual cleaner.
Smaller companies pay better than the chains, but their employees will still gladly accept tips (at Germicidal Maids, we pay our staff 70% of the price of the cleaning)
You should tip if your house is particularly dirty or if you keep the cleaners longer to perform additional tasks. If you are working with a company, tipping in these situations is a great way to build a relationship with your cleaner (and maybe they won’t tell the company that they just cleaned your oven for free).
However, if you are a recurring customer and your house is in good condition, you can probably get away with not tipping or even only tipping on holidays such as Christmas.
Finally, you should always consider your financial situation. If you can only afford the cost of the cleaning that is charged, you should feel no obligation to tip. House cleaners do not expect tips from every client and will always understand if your circ*mstances don’t allow you to tip.
How Much Should you Tip your House Cleaner?
As a general rule of thumb, you should try to tip your cleaner at least $20-$25. If they did a particularly great job and you can afford it, they will always be happy if you tip them more.
Tipping your Maid on the Holidays
Another thing people will often wonder is how much you should tip your housekeeper around the holidays.
Near Christmas time, especially if you are a recurring customer who does not usually tip, it is quite common to give your cleaners a bigger Christmas tip.
These holiday tips average between $50 and $100 but are only given once per year.
This can be given in the form of cash, check, or even gift cards.
Small gifts, home-baked cookies, or other holiday treats are appreciated as well and can make your house cleaner feel special even if you cannot afford a big tip.
What if you Cannot Afford to Tip Your House Cleaner?
Maybe you just ordered a move-out cleaning and just want your deposit back, or you are short on funds but just needed a last-minute cleaning.
If you cannot afford to tip your cleaner, but still want to show appreciation, there are tons of ways that you can make their day as a client. Here are a few that our cleaners have enjoyed from some of our clients in the past:
1. Leave her a note expressing your appreciation. A simple “thank you for your hard work” will go a long way.
2. Offer to help with a task or two. If you see her struggling with something, offer to help. She’ll appreciate the extra set of hands.
3. Make her a cup of coffee or tea. Start her day off with a nice hot beverage.
4. Bring her a treat. Whether it’s a piece of fruit, a cookie, or even a bottle of water, she’ll be happy to know that you appreciate the work she is doing.
How do you tip your house cleaner?
It may feel a little awkward when you want to do something nice for the lady who just worked hard at cleaning your house but you are unsure exactly how to go about it.
Do you tip through the company? Do you hand them cash? A gift card?
If you are working with an independent house cleaner, she might not accept tips, however, gifts are always accepted and would feel as nice as a tip.
Smaller companies might accept Venmo or Zelle and you can tell them to give anything above what they charged as a tip to the cleaners.
Larger companies might even have a payment portal where you can give tips separately.
However, If you are hired through a small company or a chain, the best way to leave a tip is cash.
The reason why cash is king when it comes to tipping house cleaners is that they will always accept the cash tip, you are 100% sure that the person who just cleaned for you is getting the tip and that it is not split amongst all staff, or worse, kept by the owner.
Also, if you give the cleaner(s) a cash tip directly they will know it came directly from you as opposed to from the company.
Often times companies will give the cleaners their tips, but might not specify who they are from.
If you want to form a good relationship with your cleaner, especially if you are a recurring client, make sure that they know it’s from you.
The Verdict: Should you Tip your House Cleaner and How Much?
In conclusion, whether or not you tip should be based on your circ*mstances and how the cleaning went. The average tip amount is $20-$25 and $50-$100 if you plan on tipping once a year around the holidays. Tipping in cash is usually best. If you cannot afford to tip your cleaner, there are plenty of non-monetary ways you can show your appreciation
