Oh, I have a similar situation. Three times — the difference is that we have a team of 3-4 people. I have no idea how to handle it so will look forward to seeing the responses.

Everyone has their own situation. I have two ladies twice a month. They are with me over five years.

This year I gave them $250 each. Depending on when my day comes, if it's the week of Christmas, I prepare two envelopes because she might bring up to two helpers. I put $20 in those.

It takes 1 1/2 hour to clean my house. It’s small, clutter free and I always empty all baskets and pick up all bath mats. They do not change sheets or make beds.

Sueb, I'll be interested to see what others recommend.

Joanne, I would probably give $50.

Before we moved I had the same cleaners for over fifteen years and I always gave them at least the amount of one cleaning. now I’m starting over with new people.

I cannot imagine that low of a tip for the holidays, regardless of the long term prospects, unless I was seriously displeased, and even then, probably no. I would tip the $75. I cannot decouple proper tipping from proper payment.

I give my house cleaners two cleaning's worth of tip each, plus a physical gift.

NB Of course I would not expect someone to provide an actual gift to brand new cleaners, though a box of cookies would probably convey a level of warmth and cheer that costs you nothing to speak of.

I’ve had someone new since October. She’s been here five times. She’s a little scatter brained but I like her and she does a decent job. She’s much more reasonable than the last person I had who did a crummy job. She charges $90 plus tax and I’ll be giving her $100 for Christmas. Unless it’s a financial hardship for you I’d give her $75 for Christmas.

I’ll go ahead and give her the $75 because I don’t want to be cheap. I think what rankles a bit is that the last time she was here, I had to go out before she was done and my husband said she left right behind me and she didn’t do everything she was supposed to do. Maybe she was having a bad day.

I wish I had a cleaning lady to tip.

Joanne -- bad day or not, I wouldn't have that one back. My last cleaning lady would charge me $125 per session. The last one she was here less than an hour and things were not clean. (sink not cleaned out, m&m under the kitchen table, didn't clean the showers.) For that rate, I can not clean things myself.

@Joanne - I completely understand being rankled by that kind of thing. My previous housecleaner rankled me a lot. Hopefully if you give her feedback about not getting the job done she will take it to heart and do a better job going forward.

The first visit should be used to clarify expectations. R had to come see my home and we then negotiated price and what would be done. I knew what she charged my friend for a much larger house.

If your cleaner left without doing everything the list, you can certainly discuss it with her.

You can’t just assume though that X would be part of the routine without an agreement.

My cousin’s cleaner strips and makes bed. I know others that throw a load of laundry in.

Everyone has specific needs, but they need to be verbally discussed.

There are sometimes small details that are missed, like dirt on switch plates, or dust on top of my door chimes. I just do these myself, happy that the big things are always covered.

The woman who cleans for me has been here less than a year. She is actually an employee of another woman who runs a cleaning business. Once in awhile, the owner sends a different person. I can always tell who has been here ( i go out) because one puts the spoon rest right side up and the other puts it facing the wrong way! I pay $100 every two weeks, plus i always clean for the cleaning lady. Ill give $100 tip and hope its the regular person who shows up that day.

We have a small team of two or three bi-weekly, always the owner and one or two helpers usua usually at $240 per session unless I request something extra. I paid the owner $500 this week, so a bit more than double. She looked at the check and said, “Wow, that’s nice!” and thanked me so I guess it was appropriate and I know it was appreciated.

I have a team of two every other week. They miss stuff, but nevertheless do a good job on the floors, bathrooms, and dusting, chores I happily pay them to do. They work for a small, local service. It's not necessarily the same people each time and in any event I clear out before they arrive and stay out till they leave. I don't even know their names. I always leave two envelopes with cash (the equivalent of what I pay split between them) and the folks there that day are the recipients.

Sounds like the concensus is basically pay but verify (any other boomers get this reference?).

I have a wonderful housekeeper to whom I always pay double for the visit closest to the holiday, as well as a small gift. She's a very hard working single parent and her daughter has helped out with some of our bigger cleaning jobs, so I generally send along a little gift card for daughter as well.

Generally speaking I've always felt that for service providers you interact with regularly the standard should be pay them the same amount you do for whatever it is they provide. I feel that's fair and is the best way to express your appreciation. I've really left behind the concept of thoughtful gifts for business contacts-just show em the money!

For a new person I agree-talk to her specifically about what you feel wasn't done to your expectation. It's important to set the tone of 'fair but firm' as a manager once said to me. Love that phrase!

she didn’t do everything she was supposed to do.

I'd resolve that, or else not hire her or give a gift.

When I had someone come in to clean, before I retired, at Christmas I would pay her an additional days wage in a card tucked into a poinsettia. I also gave her a gift card a store I know she liked on her birthday, since it was the same day as mine, it was easy to remember. She worked for us, every other week for 9 years and I think she loved our dog more than we did! My husabnd came home early one day and found her laying on the floor and nearly called 911 until he realized she was playing with the dog! We paid her a lump sum for cleaning, not hourly, so if she chose to spend some time playing with Charlie, so be it.