Is a tip expected?
No. A tip is a thank you for good work, and you should never feel you owe one. The price we agree before the visit is the price, and nobody on our team expects anything on top of it.
That said, a tip means a lot to the person who cleaned your home. If the visit made your week easier, it is a kind way to say so.
What etiquette experts suggest
The Emily Post Institute holiday tipping guide lists a housekeeper or cleaner at up to the amount of one week of pay, a small gift, or both, once a year at the holidays. It calls its figures suggestions, not rules, and says you should not feel obligated to go beyond your personal budget.
The same guide names what to weigh: your relationship with the person, how many years you have used the service, the quality and frequency of the work, and where you live, since tips tend to run higher in larger cities.
Good moments for a tip
- At the holidays, for a cleaner who comes regularly. This is the one etiquette guides cover.
- After a big job, like a first deep clean, a move out clean before a deposit inspection, or a post construction clean.
- When someone went past the brief, like fitting you in the same week or taking on a room that got away from you.
For a regular visit there is no set expectation. Whether you tip each visit, at the holidays, or not at all is up to you.
Cash, a gift, or a few kind words
The Emily Post Institute says you never have to give both cash and a gift, and suggests a homemade gift when the budget does not allow a tip. Cash or a digital payment is the simplest, because the cleaner can use it however they need. A short note goes a long way too.
Something else costs nothing and helps a small team: a Google review that names your cleaner. It is how new customers find the people they want in their home.
How tipping works with Honest Maids
Tips are welcome and never expected. Every tip goes to the cleaner who did the work, in full. You can hand it over in cash, send it by Zelle, or add it to a card payment, whichever is easiest. If two people cleaned your home, just tell us who it is for.
Booking for the first time? Our guide to your first house cleaning covers how the visit runs, from the price to the walkthrough.