Cleaning Services Resource Guide

How to Tip Housekeepers

Recent studies have shown that about 75 percent of consumers tip their cleaning persons. Tipping housekeepers — whether they work for maid services or operate as independent contractors — is voluntary. Taking a moment to note a job well done by learning how to tip housekeepers is an excellent way to generate goodwill, foster pleasant working relationships and still stay within a budget.

What You Need To Know

• While tipping your housekeepers on a regular basis can get pricey, you may want to consider a yearly or semi-annual tip to encourage and thank them.
• It is unnecessary to tip housekeepers from maid services when the companies send out different workers for each service appointment or call. If you wish to tip a professional who did an exceptionally good job, contact the maid service for their policy and procedure when tipping a worker.

Rewarding Your Maid With a Tip

1. Tip housekeepers during the holiday season. Christmas is the obvious big holiday, but New Year’s Day is a good second choice for anyone not celebrating Christmas or missing out on the opportunity to get the tip to the housekeeper in time. Clients of housekeeping professionals might also choose to commemorate culturally significant events by tipping the household help.
2. Choose cash, a gift card or a personal gift. Seventeen percent of interviewed consumers tip housekeepers with a personal gift while 58 percent opt for cash or gift cards. Base this decision on your relationship with the housekeeper. If she is a social acquaintance, worships within the same faith community or has a personal relationship with you through other means, a personal gift — in addition to or in lieu of a tip — is a nice touch. Pick cash when there is little or no outside relationship with the professionals.
3. Taylor the dollar amount of the housekeeping tip to the overall cost of a typical service call. Tip a total of 20 to 30 percent of the usual service fee. For a live-in housekeeper or household employee who receives a standard wage, make the tip equal to one week’s pay. For independent contractors, base the tip amounts on the basic weekly cleaning fees. Consider increasing the tip amount beyond these percentages for long-term business relationships.
4. Add a personal touch and pleasing presentation. Place cash — use fresh, crisp bills for heightened visual appeal — into an envelope. Include a note or card with a handwritten thank-you note. If the card is not handwritten, merely add a “happy holidays” notation and sign the card. Place the envelope in a conspicuous place where the housekeeper is sure to see it, or personally hand it to her.
5. Use clear terminology when tipping household employees. If you tip with a check and mark it as a bonus, remember to withhold federal unemployment tax — if the worker made at least $1,000 in one quarter — and also withhold and pay Medicare and Social Security taxes if she makes at least $1,700 during the year. Additional state withholding may further decrease the dollar amount the housekeeper receives. Avoid this step by tipping with a gift card or clearly marking the check as a gift that is independent from the pay she receives.

Tips and Warnings

• Consider inexpensive alternatives to cash gifts. If you are looking to re-gift a gift card or have an extra pie in the freezer, those might be just as appropriate as money.
• A tip is much more meaningful if your housekeeper knows what he or she is being rewarded for. The best way to accomplish this is to include a note expressing gratitude.