Do I need to tip my house cleaner?

For anyone who doesn't have enough time to clean their home as well or as often as they’d like to, hiring a cleaning service to get the job done sure makes things a lot more convenient. Beyond the obvious benefits of a clean home, having a good house cleaner helps relieve stress and allows you to relax better after a long day.

Speaking of reliable maids, what is the etiquette for showing appreciation for such good service? Well, if you’re wondering if you should tip your house cleaner in Australia, there are a few factors to get into here. On top of this, it can be situational, too.

You wouldn’t want to provide a tip if you aren’t happy with the service; but on the other hand, if you’re paying someone for a job, do you really need to tip them just because they were able to meet your expectation? The answers to such things can be a bit ambiguous, but we’re here to guide you on how to approach what could be a sensitive issue in some places. 

Local Tipping Etiquette

While it may not be the driving factor in deciding whether to tip your maid, it is important to note that in some cultures, tipping is encouraged, while in others, it might be frowned upon. For example, tipping in some places has almost become a part of social culture, yet it is seen as an unnecessary gesture in other places. This is better explained when you consider that the US has a bit of an unspoken rule of leaving a 15-20% tip after a service has been provided while some places in Japan might give you your money back. 

In Australia, however, tipping isn't much of a norm because all service-based employees are expected to earn a living wage.

With that said, the best way around any uncertainty is to check with locals who have hired a professional house cleaner in the past. Whether tipping is necessary, if it is encouraging for service providers, or just bad social practice, can all be answered by simply checking with neighbours and friends from the local area.

Acknowledging the Quality of Cleaning Provided

This is perhaps the strongest argument for tipping house cleaners in Australia: appreciating their effort and the quality of the service provided. While you can go out of your way to tell your maid they are doing a great job, the unspoken gesture of tipping them for their hard work, really can get the compliment across, as well as be more practical than just encouragement. Moreover, helping someone earn a little more can go a long way.

Monetary appreciation makes your house cleaner happier in general, while the motivation and morale boost can be a boon since they will now have more incentive to work harder. Similarly, acknowledging your housekeeper’s efforts will help create a good relationship between you, which is important if you wish to hire the same house cleaner for regular cleaning services.

How Much Should I Tip My House Cleaner?

The real ambiguity begins here, because while we obviously want to show appreciation for a job well done, it’s hard to determine how much of a tip is too much or too little.  

As a general rule, tipping 15-20% of the cost of the cleaning service is a good place to start. It’s a fairly significant amount to add to the payment, so it’s more than just noticeable, and will compliment the cleaning professional on the work they’ve done. 

WIth that in mind, there are still a few factors that play into this; therefore, we are better off taking these things into account before making any assumptions. Take a look below.

• Quality work should not go unrecognised. So, if you’re more than satisfied with the cleaning result, and how much attention to detail the cleaner has paid, then you can comfortably say they deserve a generous tip. 
• Season or time of the year also plays a part in how much you should tip your maid. For example, around the holidays, people tend to tip more as the extra funds can be spent on gift-giving, hosting family dinners, etc. 
• How often the cleaner provides the service is another factor. This can go one of two ways — when the cleaner’s availability is relatively low, larger tips tend to convince them to accommodate your bookings better than smaller ones do; on the other hand, if they clean your house frequently, then small tips can work better since they will be earning extra money on a regular basis. 

Should I Tip My House Cleaner Every Time?

The truth is, you don’t have to. This is because, while tipping is a great way to show support, not everyone can afford to do it after every service. Keeping things habitual and providing more than just monetary tips each time, can alleviate any potential financial issue for the client, and ensure that the house cleaner is consistently appreciated for their efforts.

For example, a good alternative to tipping is to provide refreshments during cleaning appointments, or a small token of appreciation after the service is complete. Similarly, leaving positive reviews on public platforms, and even recommending the cleaner to your friends, would be doing them a big favour. The effort on your part proves that you are willing to go out of your way for them, just like they do for you. This, in turn, can bolster a good, long term relationship between the two of you. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

When it comes to tipping a house cleaner, the real decision lies with you and the culture around you. The general idea is that it can really show appreciation for the effort made, and also make their life a little easier in the process. On the other hand, there are more ways to thank a professional maid for their service other than monetary appreciation, and that shouldn’t be dismissed just because tipping is socially accepted. Remember, small acts of kindness and thoughtful gestures go a long way in showing gratitude towards your house cleaner.