Should You Tip Your House Cleaner?

You've probably heard someone grumble, "tipping culture has gotten out of hand," at some point as they swiped their credit card at a ball game, restaurant, bar, hotel, store, what have you. It's true—post-COVID, many feel tipping has gotten out of control, and more and more people than before are asking for tips.

However, there are some industries and services where tipping has been the norm forever, like tipping your waiter, a valet, or a bellhop. It's also often expected to tip the housekeeping staff who clean your hotel room.

But tipping etiquette surrounding housekeepers and those who clean your home week to week may feel a bit murkier: Do you tip your house cleaner every visit? Or should you wait until the end-of-year holidays? Do you have to tip at all? We asked a house cleaning expert to clear the air on this potentially tricky situation.

Do You Tip Your House Cleaner?

The answer is simple: You should absolutely tip your housekeeper, says Marlo McKelvey Kanipe, owner of South Carolina-based Deserved Comfort Professional House Cleaning. “Just like any other service provider, housekeepers (we call them House Cleaning Technicians) work very hard for every client to provide a high-quality and much-needed personal service,” Kanipe says. “Although tipping is never expected, our techs greatly appreciate each and every tip they receive.”

However, some cleaning companies have specific tipping policies, or don't accept tipping at all, so it's best to check online or with the company before your cleaners come.

How Much Should You Tip Your House Cleaner?

On average, tips range from 15 to 20 percent of the price the client paid for their service. “It varies from client to client, and there are some who may not ever tip, or only tip around the holidays—and if only then, it’s usually very generous,” Kanipe adds.

Tipping One Cleaner Vs. Multiple Cleaners

If there’s just one housekeeper on the job, tipping is easy; the entirety of the tip goes to that person. But if a group of multiple cleaners handles the task, it’s not so black and white. For a multi-person crew, consider a minimum 10-percent tip for each, or more if the job is especially well done. For example, if it’s a $100 job with a two-person crew, $10 each is a fair tip.

This minimum-10-percent approach to tipping is especially important for crews of three or more, where a 20-percent tip on a $100 job would ultimately shake out to only $6 or $7 (or less) per person, which may leave your hard-working cleaning technicians feeling underappreciated. Additionally, be sure to have the cash divvied up equally on the front end so that the team isn’t left with the inconvenience of breaking one bill between them.

Tipping For A One-Time Deep Clean Vs. Recurring Service

If you hire cleaners to do a one-time clean or a deep clean of your home, you should give them a larger tip, and you should definitely tip after the service. Deep cleaning is hard—that’s why you’ve brought in help—and it’s good form to acknowledge that. 

However, if you have recurring cleaners coming in weekly or biweekly, for example, you don’t necessarily have to tip every time. Set up a schedule that works best for you and your budget. Some may tip at the end of the month; others may want to give a larger bonus during the holidays. 

Do You Tip A House Cleaner Who Owns Their Own Business?

While it is nice to tip any cleaner who comes into your home, how much you tip may depend on who is coming in. If your cleaner is self-employed or owns their own business, they have more personal agency to set their prices. So you don’t necessarily have to tip quite as much as you would for a cleaner coming from an agency or service, who may be working for an hourly wage. 

How To Tip Your Cleaner

If you’ve decided to tip, you may be wondering how to give out the tip. Cash is still the preferred method—have it ready to hand over at the end of the service, or leave it in an envelope. Some cleaners may also take tips via apps like Venmo or PayPal. 

You can also give things like gift cards, tickets, or gift baskets. However, good old-fashioned cash is great because it allows the cleaner to use it at their own discretion. 

What Other House-Cleaning Etiquette Should I Keep In Mind? 

Just like any other technician providing a service, the house cleaner coming into your home has been hired to do a specific job, like disinfecting the bathroom or cleaning the kitchen. You should make things as easy for them to do their job as possible. If you want them to do laundry, put everything you want washed in a hamper or in the laundry room, for example. 

Additionally, make sure that you’ve tidied up—like putting away miscellaneous toys, papers, etc.—so that it’s easy for the cleaners to get to where they need to go. Don’t expect them to do that for you if it’s outside your agreed terms.