# Paying the house cleaner

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 26, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551 "2007-09-26T15:08:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551/1 "2007-09-26T15:08:47Z")

</div>

We have a cleaning person starting tomorrow. We have hired her directly - she’s not employed by Merry Maids or anything like that. I agreed to pay her the hourly rate she requested. My question for you all is, do you think I’ll be expected to tip as well? Weekly? Occasionally? At the holidays? Thanks!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551/2 "2007-09-26T15:12:29Z")

</div>

When i had a housekeeper, I didn’t tip her, unless she did something above and beyond. I give her a little extra on her birthday and Christmas.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551/3 "2007-09-26T15:19:49Z")

</div>

I agree with **picunurse** - pay her the agreed rate, tip her at Christmas (or whatever gift-giving holiday you observe).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551/4 "2007-09-26T16:24:40Z")

</div>

We tip ours to the tune of an extra $20 every month, and I will give her a Christmas bonus roughly equal to one month’s salary.

Necessary? Probably not. But she does a great job on our house, and when she recently cut back the number of houses she cleans, we made the cut. So I’m happy.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551/5 "2007-09-26T17:51:49Z")

</div>

We pay the agreed upon price for agreed upon level of work. About every 3rd month, we have her do a super cleaning and pay extra for it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551/6 "2007-09-26T17:54:11Z")

</div>

I pay her each week and give her a gift certificate for a lunch or a movie about every other month. Two weeks pay as a Christmas Bonus. She works for herself, not a company. I think those are the ones that may expect cash tips.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-the-house-cleaner/420551/7 "2007-09-27T13:27:43Z")

</div>

My mom has been cleaning houses for 10+ years. She usually gets tips / gifts at her birthday and Christmas.