tip/gift for cleaning lady?

[minniebee]

I'm clueless. I have never had a cleaning lady before.

We are temporarily living in corporate housing while we look for a home to buy in our new city. Part of the relocation package includes a cleaning service for our temporary apartment. The cleaning lady gets paid directly by the relocation company, so we have no idea how much she's getting paid or if they are giving her any kind of tip/gratuity.

I have only been here for a couple of weeks, but my H has been here since late August. The same person has been cleaning each week, it's not a different person each week. I talked to her each of the last two weeks when she was here, she's very sweet and does a great job.

We are only going to be here about 10 more days. She comes to clean on Wednesday mornings, and we won't be here on Wednesday of next week (traveling home for Thanksgiving). I feel like we should leave some kind of gift for her when she comes tomorrow.

What should we give her? Cash? Gift card? Something else?

If cash, how much? She will be cleaning for us for 15 weeks.

[Deleted]

Cash, in the amount of one visit.

[minniebee]

It would sure help if we knew what one visit cost. Maybe I can call the relo company and find out what they're paying her.

[Deleted]

We pay ours cleaning lady $25 an hour. Do you know how long she's there for?

I'm thinking I'll give her a basket with some candles, tea, hot chocolate, Starbucks card and cash. I hate giving just cash.

[dexteroni]

I would probably give her a "thanks for everything" type of greeting card with a $50 in it.

[Deleted]

Nov 13, 2012 12:43:50 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

We pay ours cleaning lady $25 an hour. Do you know how long she's there for?

I'm thinking I'll give her a basket with some candles, tea, hot chocolate, Starbucks card and cash. I hate giving just cash.

I hate just giving cash too, but to a housekeeper it is the way to go. It is more or less a tip rather than a gift.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I need to get over the "it's so impersonal" thing, since we are her clients and she'd probably rather the cash anyway. I need it to be worth her while to deal with asshole cat.

[dexteroni]

Nov 13, 2012 12:48:21 GMT -5 v said:

I hate just giving cash too, but to a housekeeper it is the way to go. It is more or less a tip rather than a gift.

Definitely.

[jayhawkbecca]

Nov 13, 2012 13:01:10 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Nov 13, 2012 12:48:21 GMT -5 v said:

I hate just giving cash too, but to a housekeeper it is the way to go. It is more or less a tip rather than a gift.

Definitely.

Very much agree

Sent from my SCH-I500 using proboards

[minniebee]

I think she's only here 1-2 hours. I've been leaving the house around 9am (to get the dog out of the way) and coming back around 10:30, and she's just finishing up. It's not a very big apartment to clean (1 bedroom), and she doesn't do laundry.

If $25/hr is the estimate on what it costs each week, and I should give her the amount of one week's service, I think I'll leave her $50 and a thank you card.