Do you Tip House Cleaners for house cleaning services?

Updated August 2024

The best choice is to be comfortable with your decision for tipping for a house cleaning. Also, only tip if they did a good job! Nothing is worse blind tipping and finding missed areas! Wait, check, then Tip. It is never mandatory, but there are definitely reasons to tip other than whether you agree with it or not. There are lots of cultural norms around tipping and if it should be allowed in society today. Tipping is always a personal choice and should never be forced upon a customer. Do you tip house cleaners for a one time cleaning? Let’s play with a few ideas on the morals and values of tipping.

What do Cleaners Earn Hourly?

Most cleaners in Canada average $16/hour from Talent.com. I am not sure if you calculated grocery costs these days, but if it takes half a week to buy groceries for two weeks, think about the other costs in their life.

The average living wage in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver are $23.70, $22.25, $25.68/hour. This is a stark difference in what their lives are like. A living wage allows them to have a small savings account. many independent cleaners and living wage cleaners can earn these rates and higher, where tipping should be vaulted as a gold star for quality.

And if you are like most people who have a house cleaner you likely have a household income of at least $100,000+ per year. The question then becomes can you afford the tip? Or can you find a cleaning company that supports a living wage and not tip? The choice is yours, never feel pressured.

So do you Tip House Cleaners for a One Time Cleaning? It is up to you, but remember that a stronger community can only be supported by those in that community.

How much should you tip your cleaning lady?

If you made it here, maybe you are good to go. Then we recommend 10-20% same as your normally would for a one time cleaning. For example an additional $20 on a 4 hours house cleaning is $5/hour. That can really help improve incomes. We do recommend a holiday/Christmas bonus if you have the same cleaner all year. If you have different cleaners, likely better to tip here and there when you feel they get the areas you know get neglected and see a great job done. $1,000 if you won the lotto is always a nice treat, but not breaking the bank over paying every week is important as well. Home Spritz pricing includes a living wage, so no stress with us, but feel free to think about this with your current cleaners earning minimum wage. For a one-time cleaning is could feel quite transactional, while a regular bi-weekly cleaning requires a positive relationship and tipping may be more appropriate.

Types of Cleanings to Tip for

Move In Cleanings

If it is with a company paying $16/hour, tip. If it is an independent or living wage earning cleaner ,yes, this is your new home! If they nailed it, I say tip. It feels good and a really important time. If budgets are tight passing is okay too.

Move Out Cleanings

If it is with a company paying $16/hour, tip. If it is an independent or living wage earning cleaner, maybe, sometimes this is a conditional of sale, or for your property management you are forced to do this and it wasn’t planned to be in your budget.
If you are available with income sure, give it a go. If things are tight, no worries. This was your home, not your new home.

Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly

If it is with a company paying $16/hour, tip. If I had a different cleaning crew every week, I don’t think I would tip. I would tip if it was the same cleaning crew and I know they nailed it last time, because I don’t have time to check the work right now.

Tipping Doesn’t…

Help a Cleaner get a Car Loan
Notify a Cleaners employer they did a good job
Get approved for a mortgage
Pay taxes
Let your cleaner know they are doing a bad job (neither does the absence of)
Give cleaner health benefits
Encourage an employer to pay more or compete for labour

Tipping Does…

Help a cleaner pay for food, rent, bills, etc.
Let your Cleaner know they are doing a good job
Helps them earn closer to a living wage
Helps them celebrate and take vacations with their families

Home Spritz House Cleaning

Living Wage Employer No Pressure to Tip as cleaners earn more than a living wage in their region. Although still very much appreciated.

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How should you tip?

There is a lot of trust if you do decide to tip house cleaners for a one time cleaning. Cleaners enter your house and do their best to leave your valuables where you left them last. They are under tremendous pressure to keep your trust. Therefore, it is very important you directly give them the tip or mark it in an envelope. No trusted, reliable cleaner will take cash from a house without express permission.

Conculsion

Tip your house cleaner when they can. Most employers are paying so low, that cleaners need a lift. We still believe you should only tip when the service is good to great. If you are hiring an independent cleaner then they are earning well, but a boost still helps when unexpected bills come due.

So do you tip house cleaning services? What are you going to do?