Do you tip house cleaners?
To tip or not to tip? This is a problem that has plagued domestic cleaning customers for years. If you’ve ever felt weird about tipping the cleaner or that a cleaner is hanging around waiting for a tip, we’re going to explore the art and etiquette of tipping a cleaner below.
When tipping a cleaner, knowing where that tip goes is important. If your cleaner takes 100% of the tip or gift you give them, then absolutely tip away. If the company takes a portion (or all) of the tip, then understand that despite you tipping for the work that the cleaner did, they won’t receive all of it.
We must say that there is no need to tip. While it is a common and welcome thing in cleaning, it isn’t mandatory. If you feel that the cleaner doesn’t deserve a tip, or you don’t have the money to tip, don’t feel pressured to do so.
Should I tip regular house cleaners?
Regular house cleaners will welcome tips whenever you offer them. Of course, if you have a weekly cleaning session every week of the year, tipping them all the time may become quite expensive. If you are worried about needing to tip a regular cleaner constantly, perhaps reserve the tip for special occasions. If the cleaner did a particularly good job on a stain, or for their birthday or at Christmas, for example.
So, by all means, tip a regular domestic cleaner as much as you feel necessary. If you feel that the cleaner deserves a tip every week, the cleaner will greatly appreciate it. Otherwise, you can tip them once a month, every few months, or just at Christmas. Remember, tipping isn’t mandatory for cleaners in the UK. So, tip your house cleaners when you feel they deserve it.
Unsure what domestic cleaning is? Read our article on what is domestic cleaning
Do you tip house cleaners for a one time cleaning?
If you had a one off cleaning service such as a deep clean or end-of-tenancy clean, for example, and you feel that the cleaners have done a fantastic job, gone above and beyond, and completely surpassed your expectations, then feel free to tip as much as you like.
Most one-time cleaning sessions are very big jobs, and the cleaners need to work really hard in order to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you feel that the cleaner did this, a tip will always be welcomed by them.
Of course, if you feel that the cleaning hasn’t been done to the standards you were hoping for, then there is no need to tip for a one-time cleaning session.
Unsure whether your cleaner has done a good job? Read our 9 signs of a bad cleaning lady
How much do I tip house cleaners?
Typically, people tip cleaners around 10-15% of the total cost of the cleaning service, but some people tip 20% or more. If you feel a bit awkward tipping a cleaner a small amount every time they clean, you could tip them every month or give them a good tip at Christmas, for example.
For one-off cleaning sessions, a tip of around 15% of the cost of the total service is quite common. However, remember that if there is more than one cleaner, they will have to split this between themselves equally, so they may end up with less than usual.
Curious to know how much on average cleaners cost? Read our article on how much does a cleaner cost
Do you tip house cleaners during Christmas?
This is the most common time of year for people to tip cleaners. However, there is no need to tip a cleaner if you don’t have the money or if you don’t feel they deserve it. Of course, if they have worked hard for you throughout the year, and have kept your home looking fantastic, then this is a great time of year to show your appreciation for all their hard work.
If you don’t have the money to tip, a gift could show your appreciation nicely. Some home-baked biscuits, or a nice bottle of wine, for example, would be a lovely way of saying thank you to your cleaner during the Christmas period.
Do you tip independent house cleaners?
If you feel that your independent cleaner has done a brilliant job around your home and you’d like to thank them for their hard work, a tip will always be welcomed. Tips are very common around the holiday season but feel free to tip your independent cleaner whenever you feel like they deserve a tip.
Remember, while an independent cleaner will receive the entire amount that you pay them for the cleaning session, they have overheads to cover. Even if they use your equipment, they need to pay for fuel, their uniform, rent and a great deal more. So, if you feel like you want to tip your cleaner, by all means, go for it. It will be a welcome addition for them and a great way of thanking them for their hard work.
What about agency cleaners?
Tipping agency cleaners is very common. If you feel that an agency cleaner has done a brilliant job for you, or if you’d like to say thanks for their hard work over the year, by all means, give them a tip.
The bottom line
Tipping a cleaner in the UK is not mandatory. You don’t need to tip a cleaner for bad work or if you don’t feel the cleaning they did matches your standards. However, if the cleaner has done a fantastic job for you throughout the year or during a one-off cleaning session, then feel free to thank them with a tip. If you don’t have the money for a tip or would prefer to give your cleaner a gift, that is perfectly fine too.
We’d like to end this cleaning article by saying that at Cleaning Express, we welcome our customers giving our cleaners gifts and tips. We do not take a portion of the tip in any way (although our head office staff may have a biscuit or two if they are offered them). Our domestic cleaners are rewarded for their hard work by us, but our customers are more than welcome to reward them as well.
For more information about our domestic cleaning services, please check out the website further. Alternatively, you can email our customer service team. They are lovely and will happily recommend the best cleaning service for your needs.
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