Do You or Have You Ever Tipped Your Housecleaner?

I tip each time she comes (every 6-8 weeks), but then don't do anything for Christmas or holidays. Since she comes so sporadically, there'd be a good chance she wasn't here over the holiday season anyways. I don't think it's "common knowledge" or that there is any set rule, I think it's generally up to the individual.

You're not supposed to tip them unless it's Christmas or you want extras done. That's pretty common knowledge.

We have had our housekeeper for years (we do not tip her---she is paid very well), but when she has been out of town, I have occasionally used another service.

I have never tipped the other housekeepers because the fee we paid them was agreed upon prior to beginning the service and was consistent with the going rate for a house of our size.

I would not tip a housekeeper any more than I would tip a plumber, a painter, or any service person that came to perform a specific service at our home.

If she expects tips and is continally disappointed, then you might suggest she consider raising the rates for her services.

ETA: We do give our housekeeper a monetary gift at the holidays, but it is a gift, not a tip or a bonus. She owns her business and also does the work herself. We also give our landscaper (who also owns the business and does the work) a gift at the end of the year as he always seems to go above and beyond taking care of everything---especially as he works in extreme heat conditions in our desert summers.

I have regular housecleaners. They get a pretty massive tip at Christmas time. Nothing the rest of the year.

On the rare occasion, I've hired someone to come in and do a one time only cleaning, if they were an individual (not working for a company), I didn't tip them. They told me their rate, I paid it. If they were an employee of a cleaning service, and it was a one time only thing, I DID tip them.

It sounds like your friend is her own boss. She shouldn't expect tips. If she thinks she should get paid more, tell her to raise her rates.

A.:

It depends. When we had a cleaning service? I would tip them during the Holiday's or get them presents.

There have been times after having guests in my house and they came to clean - I would tip them as well. Usually 20% of the weekly charge.

You don't tip the person if they are the owner of their business. They should be setting an appropriate/fair rate for their labor.

You should probably tip housecleaners if they work for a company.

This applies to hairdressers, restaurant owners, etc., and so on. If the person owns their business, they have full control over the rate they receive. If they want more money, they should raise their rates, not expect tips.

I clean houses on the side just like your friend and I have never expected a tip. Even around the holidays when my clients are generous enough to leave a little extra for me...I have never and will never expect something like that. The payment for my services is sufficient enough. I'm just thankful for that.

I tip...

Maybe it is just me but even if someone is the owner of a salon or housekeeping service, etc, they are providing a service and I tip accordingly. That's simply the etiquette I was raised with, I follow it and my daughter has been taught that you tip accordingly for service as well.

If I can't afford to add a tip, then I don't need to have the service.

There is no "common knowledge" or a written rule on etiquette. It is basic manners to me but we all don't have the same type of manners when it comes to dealing with people. I stand by my tipping routine owner or not.

I have an individual who comes every Thursday. I pay her $80. That is above what she charges. We have had her for the last 61/2 years. Very trustworthy and cleans great. I also give her a bonus for Christmas. I'm not the only house she does and we are very flexible with her as she is with us. I do not tip.

For cleaning MY house? HECK yeah I'd pay whatever she asked plus $5 per hour it took. I'd be broke, but for not having to do it myself..I'd give anything!

She is used to getting tipped for doing hair. That's why she's jonesin' for tips for cleaning house.

You don't tip a housecleaner, pure and simple.

If they do a good job, show up on time, and are honest and trustworthy, you keep them as your housecleaner because they clean better than YOU do, and they make your life easier. Otherwise, you clean your house yourself. THAT is the difference in a hairdresser who you DO tip and a housecleaner who you DON'T. Most people cannot cut their own hair.

However, people who do like their housecleaners do tend to give a Christmas bonus if they can afford to. I gave mine $200 last year as a bonus. I hope their other clients did as well so that they could have a nice bump during the holidays.

However, I would likely not give a bonus of nearly that amount for an occasional cleaner.

Dawn

i use a service on an "as-needed" basis vs. a standard schedule. As a result, my house is usually really in desperate need of cleaning or being cleaned for a special occassion when they come. I usually do tip them, and it varies according to whether I'm having a maintenance cleaning or a deluxe deep clean and how much work is involved.

I have no idea what they are actually paid, as the service that I use provides all supplies, is bonded, insured, and withholds taxes and social security. I figure their wages are what they agreed upon with the agency; my tipping is for satisfaction with the service provided and/or going above and beyond a typical housekeeping job.

No -when you are dealing with somebody who is an independent operator you should not tip them. It is not necessary and NOT common etiquette.

However if they are with I service you should. They are paid by the service and much less than the amount they charge.

I do tip my cleaning lady if she has gone above and beyond-like extra cleaning if I am having a party.

Yes because I use a service and I know the girls they send to my house aren't making much. 10 -15% of the cleaning fee.

My cleaning lady charges 65.00, I give her 75.00. She comes every 4 weeks :)

I tipped myself with an ice cream cone the other day, does that count? ;)

I have only heard of tipping a housekeeper if they do an EXCELLENT (note the all caps there...) job, really putting in a lot of effort. OR if your house was completely trashed beforehand. OR if they come in on a holiday. But for an average day of cleaning? No.

I think a tip is appropriate whenever a service is performed above and beyond basic expecations. It always takes hours to clean a house properly, so I would say that is merely doing her job. If she does something that's above and beyond, then a tip is deserved. If I had a regular housecleaner, I would probably give a Christmas bonus.

man i am jealous, i am the house cleaning lady..lol.. and i dont get tip's heck most of the time i dont even get a thank you.. i wouldnt feel right having a cleaning lady since im a stay at home mom thats my job, but if i ever win the lottery i will hire one..lol..

I don't tip my cleaning ladies because they own their own business, essentially,and business owners don't get tipped. If they had other employees on salary and sent them to my house, that would be something else.

At Christmas, I do give them a monetary gift equal to one cleaning (or as close to it as I can get, depending on my wallet's cushiness).

If your friend does cleaning on the side, without being associated with a company, her clients may consider her in the business-owner category. They may believe that she receives 100% of what they give her, instead of a little piece of the pie such as a salaried person might receive. If your friend is expecting a tip, she might consider raising her rates a bit instead.

I personally have never had a cleaning service, but I would probably do what my MIL does and tip or give a holiday bonus (mostly due to the extra work with entertaining and all). Most jobs do not come with a tip!

Nope. Because I don't have one. My kids clean most of the house and my fiancee and I do the stuff they can't do yet.

But if you'd like to tip your housecleaner FOR me...and then send her my way...

I have been on BOTH sides, the cleaner & the client...I have done regular & occasional for 'special' both ways as well...I have NEVER been, 'tipped' for occasional jobs, tho' I HAVE been tipped & tipped for, 'special' jobs...(parties, weddings)...normally you would tip your regular person for their BD, Christmas, etc... for an occasional job, including the, 'special' ones you simply give a price, do the job, get paid & give an invoice & go on your way...for parties, etc. the quicker & better you get your job done will depend on what, if anything you would get/give extra...I have received anything from $5-$200 for 'special' jobs depending on the size, I have never actually thought about the % of such in relation to the amount of the contractual agreement...That's my story, I will be curious to see the other answers! ;)