How Much Should a Cleaning Lady Be Tipped?

Cleaning house is one of many people's least favorite chores.

10 Percent

According to the online International Directory of Professional Housekeepers, tipping 10 percent of the total fee is a perfectly acceptable amount. This means that, on a $100 bill, a tip of $10 is appropriate. You would give this amount at the time of service.

Yearly Tipping

The website iTipping.com contends that the usual method of tipping for cleaning services is through a yearly gratuity, often given around Christmastime. If going this route, a typical gratuity runs between 20 and 30 percent of the usual bill.

Bottom Line

If you only use a maid service every once in a while, you may find it more convenient to tip every time an appointment is made, while people who have an ongoing contract will probably prefer to tip once a year. How often you decide to tip determines the amount--those tipping more often will generally pay less at one time that those tipping a "lump sum."

References

• International Directory of Professional Housekeepers: Things You Should Consider When Hiring a House Cleaner
• iTipping.com: Should I Tip a Cleaning Service that Comes to My Home?