Tipping a house cleaner is one of those questions without a printed price tag, and it is easy to second-guess. This guide covers what Clensy's own policy is, what a well-known etiquette source says about year-end tips, and practical ways to decide what feels right for you.
The Short Answer
Tipping is optional. At Clensy, a tip is not required, it is not expected, and it is not included in our prices. The price you see before you book is the price for the cleaning. If you are happy with a visit and want to say thank you, a tip is one way to do it, and so is a kind note or a review.
What Etiquette Guides Say
The Emily Post Institute, the etiquette organization founded by Emily Post, publishes a Holiday Tipping Guide. For a housekeeper or cleaner, it suggests up to the amount of one week's pay and/or a small gift at the end of the year. A December 2023 holiday tipping post from Emily Post Etiquette puts a regular house cleaner at up to the cost of one service and/or a gift.
Both sources frame these figures as suggestions, not rules, and both say to stay within your own budget. The holiday guide also suggests that any tip or gift come with a short handwritten note. Note that these are year-end suggestions for someone who cleans for you on a regular basis; the two sources cited here do not set a figure for each visit.
Applying That to a Cleaning Company
With a cleaning company, you pay the company and do not know your cleaner's pay, so a week's pay is hard to work out. The Emily Post Etiquette post gives a simpler reference point: up to the cost of one service. If you have a weekly or every 2 weeks schedule, the price of one of your regular visits is an upper limit you can work down from, or a small gift instead.
Ways to Decide on a Tip After a Visit
There is no rule for a single visit, so here are some questions to weigh:
- Was it a big job? A deep clean after months of buildup, a move-out clean or a clean after a party is more work than a regular maintenance visit.
- Did the team go beyond the list? A special request handled with care, or a room left in better shape than you expected, is the kind of thing a tip recognizes.
- How often do they come? With a regular cleaner, you might tip once at the end of the year rather than on every visit, in line with the holiday guidance above.
- What fits your budget? A tip is a thank-you, not a fee. Any amount, or none, is your call.
- Was there a team? If more than one cleaner came, think about the whole team when you decide.
Thank-You Options That Are Not Cash
- A note. Two or three sentences about what you noticed means a lot to the person who did the work.
- A review. A review that names what the team did well helps the team and helps other households choose.
- A small gift. The holiday guide lists a gift as an option on its own or alongside a tip.
- A referral. Recommending your cleaning team to a neighbor or friend is a thank-you too.
What a Tip Is Not For
A tip is a thank-you for good work, not a way to fix work that fell short. If something was not right after a visit, tell us instead. If something was missed, tell us within 24 hours and we'll come back and fix it free.
Tipping and Your Price
Clensy uses upfront pricing: you see your price before you book. It can change if you ask for extra services on the day or if your home needs significantly more time than estimated, but a tip is never part of it. You can see every price by home size on our pricing page or in our guide to house cleaning costs in New Jersey.
Tipping by Type of Clean
| Type of clean | Things to weigh |
|---|---|
| Recurring cleaning | A year-end tip or gift, per the holiday guidance, or an occasional tip after a visit that stood out |
| Deep cleaning | A longer, more detailed job, if you want to recognize the extra effort |
| Move-out cleaning | A top-to-bottom clean of an empty home, including inside the fridge and oven |
| Airbnb turnover | Repeat visits on your booking calendar, similar to a regular cleaner |
In every case the tip is optional and not expected.
Who Will Be Cleaning Your Home
Our cleaners are background-checked, trained Clensy team members who follow our cleaning checklist and the notes on your account. If you are getting ready for a first visit, read how to prepare for your house cleaner, and if you are choosing a schedule, see how often to have your house cleaned. When you are ready, see your price and book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tip my house cleaner?
No. At Clensy, tipping is not required, not expected and not included in our prices.
How much should I tip my house cleaner for the holidays?
The Emily Post Institute's Holiday Tipping Guide suggests up to one week's pay and/or a small gift for a housekeeper or cleaner, and a December 2023 Emily Post Etiquette post suggests up to the cost of one service and/or a gift for a regular house cleaner. Both say these are suggestions and to stay within your budget.
Is a tip included in Clensy's price?
No. The price you see before you book is for the cleaning. A tip is never added to it.
Should I tip after a move-out or deep clean?
It is up to you. Those are bigger jobs than a regular visit, so you may want to recognize the extra work, but a tip is optional.
What if I am not happy with the cleaning?
If something was missed, tell us within 24 hours and we'll come back and fix it free.
