Do you tip your cleaning people?

[jamzots]

How much do you tip your cleaning people? My cleaning service comes every 2 weeks at a cost of $120.00 and I tip them $20.00. Is this too much? Is tipping even necessary?? They are not self employed but they work for a nationally known company. They act as if they see this kind of tip all the time, I was just wondering what is accepatble?

 

[dixipixi]

My cleaning lady comes once a week (sometimes twice). She is a friend of the family so if she needs extra work or someone else cancels on her, we try to help her out. I don't tip her everytime, but I do occasionally give her extra. I have to tell her it is to help her out with gas expense (we live about 15 miles from her), or she won't take it. I do give her extra (enough to do Christmas shopping) a few weeks before the holidays. Since I don't make a habit of tipping her for each cleaning, I think it works out the same. Since it is "for Christmas" she doesn't feel awkward for accepting it, and we don't feel awkward giving it. (we do give her a separate gift as well) I know it is impossible to do this with a national company, but it is the way I handle it.

 

[Kermit]

I use a national company (The Cleaning Authority), and I don't tip. I figure they must get a decent wage plus benefits. I might tip if I had one cleaning person working for herself, especially at holidays (not all the time), but this firm doesn't even send the same team every week.

 

[jamzots]

I get the same team every week (2 girls) but today they pulled up with their own car. An ifiniti SUV!!!! LOL!!!!

 

[debloco]

Yes, I tip.

 

[Pugdog007]

What is the going rate for a weekly cleaning? I'd really like to hire someone. I have around 2700 sq ft, 3 1/2 baths (I think this is what it's typically based on).

 

[tiggersmom2]

No....I don't tip myself.

 

[Kermit]

No....I don't tip myself.

You mean your DH doesn't leave money in his pockets? I get paid my salary when I do the laundry.

 

[tiggersmom2]

You mean your DH doesn't leave money in his pockets? I get paid my salary when I do the laundry.

LOL....my hubby is pretty astute. After a few times he learned his lesson.

 

[Marseeya]

What is the going rate for a weekly cleaning? I'd really like to hire someone. I have around 2700 sq ft, 3 1/2 baths (I think this is what it's typically based on).

I wonder that too.

That's the first thing I'm going to buy myself when I start working after I graduate. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the house as it is now in grad school. I can't imagine how bad it'll be when I'm working full time. Kudos to those who can do it!

 

[antmaril]

I have a cleaning lady every other week. I do not tip her. We have an agreed upon price and that's it. At Christmas, I give her a gift equal to the amount of one cleaning.

I have a 1400 square foot ranch - $60 per cleaning.

 

[SGB13]

I have 2 girls who work for themselves. They clean every other week for $60 a cleaning. I don't tip, but do give Christmas gifts. Also I've recommended them to others and am responsible for them getting several other accounts. When it's their own business, good recommendations can be the best tips!

 

[allie&mattsmom]

We have the same ladies (there's three of them) come in to clean every other week. They charge $100 and they clean the main floor and the upstairs. I don't tip.

 

[noseybuddy]

I have a woman who comes every other week. My house is about 2400 sq ft. I pay $70. I don't tip. I do give her a Xmas present every year.

 

[pearlieq]

We don't tip every every time they come--we treat them like any other service provider and tip them annualy in December. We follow the standard rule there and tip them equivalent to the cost of one service.

 

[safetymom]

So what do they usually do in that visit? Always wondered what you got for your money. Thanks.

 

[misskrystal]

I always feel that if you're paying someone yourself (not like hotel staff of taxis) you know that you're paying a fair wage and therefore don't need to tip.

 

[Barb D]

I have a 1300 square foot rancher plus the same size basement. They don't do my big kids' bedrooms or about half of the basement. I pay (Cleaning Authority) $102 every two weeks. I don't tip -- it never even occurred to me -- but I do give a Christmas gift.

 

[jamzots]

o.k., so now should i stop tipping and just give a christmas gift?? i have a 1100 sq ft ranch- 3 beds, 2 baths and they clean the basement which has been coverted into a den, they charge 120.00 per week. Or maybe I should just skip the christmas gift and continue to tip!!

 

[pearlieq]

o.k., so now should i stop tipping and just give a christmas gift?? i have a 1100 sq ft ranch- 3 beds, 2 baths and they clean the basement which has been coverted into a den, they charge 120.00 per week. Or maybe I should just skip the christmas gift and continue to tip!!

It's pretty uncommon to tip for each service. If you're tipping $20 per biweekly visit that's $520 per year. Nice tip, but waaaay more than is expected!

Unless there's something else that's commonly done in your area, you would just pay the stated price and then on your last cleaning before the holidays you would give them a card with a cash/check tip or a gift card worth at least $120.

Also, I know this is none of my business, but unless you really like your cleaning people you may want to shop around for quotes. We're in the Chicago suburbs and have 4 beds, 2.5 baths (2400sf) and we got quotes between $70 - $105 for biweekly service. It just sounds like you're being charged a lot for the size of your house.