# How much should I pay my kid to clean my car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 23, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987 "2013-10-23T00:31:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/1 "2013-10-23T00:31:56Z")
My Subaru Outback is really dirty. The outside is very dirty. I drive through dusty areas and park in a dirt lot a couple times a week. The inside has some dog hair/slobber and is just kind of dusty and well, hasn’t been really cleaned since Mother’s Day when he cleaned it for me as a gift. It’s not full of stuff or trash or anything, so he would not be dealing with that, just vacuuming, cleaning inside and out. My kid is looking make some money. I said he could wash my car, but when he said how much, I really didn’t know and he said, “Why don’t you ask on the Straight Dope?” So I am. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/2 "2013-10-23T00:51:00Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > My Subaru Outback is really dirty. The outside is very dirty. I drive through dusty areas and park in a dirt lot a couple times a week. The inside has some dog hair/slobber and is just kind of dusty and well, hasn’t been really cleaned since Mother’s Day when he cleaned it for me as a gift. It’s not full of stuff or trash or anything, so he would not be dealing with that, just vacuuming, cleaning inside and out. > > My kid is looking make some money. I said he could wash my car, but when he said how much, I really didn’t know and he said, “Why don’t you ask on the Straight Dope?” So I am. If my kid asked me “how much” … I’d offer $20… Then charge him $5 for his lunch, $8 for his dinner, $15 for his bed tonight and $4 for doing his washing today. If he didn’t ask, but I offered - I dunno, depends on his age - if a teenager - perhaps $10 if it takes up to an hour, $15 if more than that ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/3 "2013-10-23T00:59:28Z")
There’s no way that kids should ever make more than half of minimum wage doing household chores. I base this in part on a family member who paid her elder son to baby sit the younger one. She complains that he won’t get out and find a job, but when she pays him $10/hr to “babysit” (which means playing XBox), what job is going to look attractive after that? Gee, $8/hr to sweat it out at McD’s, or $10/hr to play video games… even he can do the math on that one. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/4 "2013-10-23T00:59:32Z")
Teach him to negotiate, a skill that will serve him well. Better yet, ask him to teach you, as so far, he is on the right track–getting the other person to say a number first so you can work up from there is a sound strategy. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/5 "2013-10-23T01:07:18Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > There’s no way that kids should ever make more than half of minimum wage doing household chores. > > I base this in part on a family member who paid her elder son to baby sit the younger one. She complains that he won’t get out and find a job, but when she pays him $10/hr to “babysit” (which means playing XBox), what job is going to look attractive after that? Gee, $8/hr to sweat it out at McD’s, or $10/hr to play video games… even he can do the math on that one. There is nothing wrong with paying your kid a bit generously, since they can use the money to buy things you’d otherwise have to pay for. Although I never paid my kid to do any household chores, many people do without creating the problem you speak of. Why prep your kid to be satisfied with minimum wage anyway? Your friend can stop paying her kid any time she wants, but $10 is cheap for a babysitter where I live, so this arrangement probably works for her. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/6 "2013-10-23T01:42:18Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > If my kid asked me “how much” … > > I’d offer $20… > Then charge him $5 for his lunch, $8 for his dinner, $15 for his bed tonight and $4 for doing his washing today. > > If he didn’t ask, but I offered - I dunno, depends on his age - if a teenager - perhaps $10 if it takes up to an hour, $15 if more than that Well, first of all, he asked me what he could do to earn some extra money. I offered up washing the car. He didn’t just ask me “how much to wash the car”, he just wanted to know how much I was willing to pay him since I said I would. I really had no idea how much the job was worth and neither did he. Second of all, he has been doing his own laundry since he was 10 yrs old and sometimes does the kitchen laundry without being asked. He does his household chores without complaining. He’s an only child, so he has a lot of them. He recently lost his regular lawn mowing gig due to the neighbors needing the money and doing it themselves. He already mows our lawn as part of his chores. If you are trying to imply that my kid is acting entitled or presumptuous. You are sorely mistaken. For the record, he’s 15. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/7 "2013-10-23T02:20:17Z")
What would you pay a commercial valet service to do the job? I’d offer maybe a little less, since he presumably isn’t as experienced. On the other hand, he’s got his whole life ahead of him, and that will afford him plenty of opportunities to get screwed over by employers - that’s one lesson parents don’t need to teach their kids directly. Set clear expectations about what you want him to do, then pay him (when he fulfills them), I dunno, $20? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/8 "2013-10-23T02:22:51Z")
I would pay $25 for a very good job. Tell him it will be subject to inspection, inside and out. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/9 "2013-10-23T02:24:01Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Well, first of all, he asked me what he could do to earn some extra money. I offered up washing the car. He didn’t just ask me “how much to wash the car”, he just wanted to know how much I was willing to pay him since I said I would. I really had no idea how much the job was worth and neither did he. > > Second of all, he has been doing his own laundry since he was 10 yrs old and sometimes does the kitchen laundry without being asked. He does his household chores without complaining. He’s an only child, so he has a lot of them. He recently lost his regular lawn mowing gig due to the neighbors needing the money and doing it themselves. He already mows our lawn as part of his chores. > > If you are trying to imply that my kid is acting entitled or presumptuous. You are sorely mistaken. For the record, he’s 15. Whoops - I weren’t trying to be snarky - it was meant to be a bit tongue in cheek - obviously it didn’t come across that way… ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/10 "2013-10-23T02:25:47Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > What would you pay a commercial valet service to do the job? > > I’d offer maybe a little less, since he presumably isn’t as experienced. On the other hand, he’s got his whole life ahead of him, and that will afford him plenty of opportunities to get screwed over by employers - that’s one lesson parents don’t need to teach their kids directly. > > Set clear expectations about what you want him to do, then pay him (when he fulfills them), I dunno, $20? I get my car washed, vacumed and wiped down, tyre black put on and mats waterblasted for 15 Malaysian Ringgit - that would make it somewhere around $4 USD I’d guess (but that’s probably a bit stingy) ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/11 "2013-10-23T02:31:47Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I get my car washed, vacumed and wiped down, tyre black put on and mats waterblasted for 15 Malaysian Ringgit - that would make it somewhere around $4 USD I’d guess (but that’s probably a bit stingy) And if you lived in Iceland or Arctic Norway, you’d probably pay the equivalent of US$50, but what’s relevant would be the going rate wherever **Rhiannon8404** lives. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/12 "2013-10-23T02:53:04Z")
There is a mobile car washing service that comes to my office parking garage twice a week. They charge $12. They do a very good job and my car is always really messy when I go to them, so I tip at least $4 or $5. I’m in Southern California, for reference. I have no kids at home who need to earn money, but if I did I’d probably offer to pay them an even $20 to clean my car inside and out. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/13 "2013-10-23T03:10:25Z")
$100.00! ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/14 "2013-10-23T04:07:41Z")
I know this isn’t a detail but I pay $150 for a detail that takes 4 hours roughly. So my best guess is that I’d offer him $20-$40 if he is doing a basic detail. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/15 "2013-10-23T04:40:26Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Whoops - I weren’t trying to be snarky - it was meant to be a bit tongue in cheek - obviously it didn’t come across that way… Thanks for explaining. I have actually been told, in all seriousness, he should “do all that stuff for free and be grateful for how good he has it” in the past when allowances vs. paying for chores questions have come up. It’s kind of a sore point because some people really object to the fact that I give him an allowance that is not tied to chores. He is good at saving and never asks for money for stuff like going out with his friends or buying video games or whatever. Consequences for not doing chores on time and with a good attitude are far worse than just not getting paid. 😉 Sorry I misunderstood you. > [@cherry](#): > > I know this isn’t a detail but I pay $150 for a detail that takes 4 hours roughly. So my best guess is that I’d offer him $20-$40 if he is doing a basic detail. That’s about what I have paid in the past for a detail, roughly the same amount of time. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/16 "2013-10-23T05:30:22Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Thanks for explaining. I have actually been told, in all seriousness, he should “do all that stuff for free and be grateful for how good he has it” in the past when allowances vs. paying for chores questions have come up. It’s kind of a sore point because some people really object to the fact that I give him an allowance that is not tied to chores. He is good at saving and never asks for money for stuff like going out with his friends or buying video games or whatever. > > Consequences for not doing chores on time and with a good attitude are far worse than just not getting paid. 😉 Sorry I misunderstood you. > > That’s about what I have paid in the past for a detail, roughly the same amount of time. I give my (9 year old) a daily allowance to buy lunch at school… and also expect her to do chores. Neither is tied to the other - the chores are expected of her as a member of the family, giving her lunch is my role as daddy (although if she abuses it she will be taking her own from home) ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/17 "2013-10-23T06:48:51Z")
Twenty bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/18 "2013-10-23T07:13:54Z")
$50 for inside and outside detailing. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/19 "2013-10-23T10:44:08Z")
As a teacher, this sounds like a very good idea: - he’s learning responsibility and about jobs - he already does chores, so you’re a success 🙂 How about combining further education with fairness. 🆒 Ask him to get 3 local quotes for car valet service (use of computers; research.) Based on that, give him a base rate for the work, plus an earnable bonus. N.B. say clearly what you’re looking for e.g. see reflection in bonnet 😉 (pay rates.) if he does a good job, ask your friends if they want a reliable car valet service. If so, he prints out a leaflet giving contact details, options offered and costs. (small business experience.) ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987/20 "2013-10-23T11:01:39Z")
Another idea is to wash the car with your kid. It’s quality time and it’s fun and you might be surprised at the kinds of interesting conversations come up in the process. Fun for him, fun for you, and if you throw him a $20 when it’s all done - profit! for everybody. Oh, and as a bonus, let him pull it in/out of the driveway. Fifteen is not too early to start. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-should-i-pay-my-kid-to-clean-my-car/671987.md?page=2)