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We’re officially in the holiday season! And if you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re trying to figure out what the heck to gift your cleaning staff this year.
In 2025, we’re seeing a higher cost of living and heavier workloads across the board. My goal is to give you practical ideas that fit the times we’re in, and after watching thousands of cleaning businesses grow through ZenMaid, I decided to revamp the holiday gift guide.
So, from talking to thousands of cleaning businesses and also gathering insights from the ZenMaid Mastermind community, here’s my practical guide to holiday gifting for your cleaners, office staff, and VAs. Whether you’re shopping for three employees or a team of 30 cleaning technicians, you’ll find something helpful here! 🎁
Table of contents
2025 Employee Gifting Trends That Actually Matter
Traditional “cute” gifts don’t land the way they used to. Since saving money and having extra income to spend matter now more than ever, we recommend thoughtful, practical rewards that support well-being this year. Here are a few ideas to use throughout the year:
- Micro-bonuses: Small, frequent rewards that boost retention
- Experience-based gifts: Anything that reduces burnout or gives a real break
- Personalized notes: Still the most impactful morale booster across all roles
- Opt-in gifting: Prevents wasted budget and mismatched gifts
For the holiday season, giving staff a bonus delivered in a physical envelope will go a long way! And to piggyback off of these gifting trends, you can also do a variation of one of these options as a “bigger” holiday gift, like a full-day spa gift card that you encourage them to use on a day off.
How Much Should You Spend on Each Gift?
Gift inflation is real. Usually, somewhere between $25–$100 feels right, but some factors to consider are how long someone has been working for you, how many hours they work, and what their position is. If you have an office manager who is your right-hand person and who you’d trust with your life…I’d be more generous.
Here’s a quick guide to go off of with updated ranges. This will keep you in the “thoughtful but not excessive” zone.
| Role | Tenure | Typical Range |
| Cleaning Tech | <1 year | $35–$60 |
| Cleaning Tech | 1–3 years | $50–$90 |
| Cleaning Tech | 3+ years | $75–$125 |
| Team Lead | Any | $75–$150 |
| Office Manager | Any | $150–$400 |
| Virtual Assistant | Region-dependent | $50–$150 |
Remember that factors to weigh include hours worked, reliability, tenure, and role importance.
Gift Ideas for Your Cleaning Staff
Cash — Everyone’s #1 in 2025
Easy, appreciated, and practical. This is by far the most expensive month of the year, so people appreciate having some extra money in their pockets.
Pair it with a handwritten note calling out what they did exceptionally well this year! This will go a long way and make people feel like their hard work is seen and appreciated.
Branded Swag (or Unbranded!)
It’s hard to go wrong with company swag — you get some extra marketing for your cleaning business, and your team gets something fun. But people are over getting cheap swag items like mugs and notebooks.
Luckily, people are a lot more creative with swag items nowadays, so we have an updated list that we recommend for basic items. Whether you choose to put your logo on it is up to you, but here’s the list of items we know people love and why.
P.S. Please enjoy the photo above of when Michelle Allegrezza sent me swag from my own company 😂
Clothing
Hoodies, beanies, vests, sweatshirts, crewnecks, and more. If you live in a colder climate, beanies and heavier sweatshirts can be particularly great, especially as cleaners go from site to site.
Water bottles and mugs
I know it sounds kind of lame, but if your cleaners need to stay hydrated (via water or coffee), these are good, high-quality options. We all have our beloved emotional support water bottle, so don’t rule it out as an idea!
Water bottle brands people seriously love:
- Owala
- Stanley
- Yeti
- HydroFlask
- CamelBak
Totes/caddies
For work or for leisure, a good quality tote or caddie goes a long way. A sturdy, well-designed, and aesthetic carrier becomes something they use every single day. Choose pieces that hold their shape, wipe clean easily, and don’t look or feel cheap. You can brand them if you want the extra visibility, but unbranded options often get more use.
Brands your team will actually use:
- Boat & Tote by L.L.Bean (iconic, durable, timeless)
- Baggu (super trendy, fun colors, machine washable, great price point)
- Carhartt (rugged, wipeable, cleaner-approved)
- Lands’ End (customizable and long-lasting)
- Rubbermaid (classic for caddies)
- OXO (ergonomic and sturgy)
Also, most owners default to the cheapest totes, which fall apart and never get used. Upgrade this category and don’t cheap out. Seriously, it makes a huge difference.
Gift Cards
Gift cards are always a hit. Here’s the list of our most beloved places cleaners get gift cards from:
- Gas cards (yes, really)
- Walmart or Target
- Trader Joe’s or other grocery stores
- Amazon (!!!)
- Local coffee shops
- Starbucks
- Dunkin’
If you want something more modern than a traditional card, digital subscription bundles are also a great option:
- Spotify / Apple Music
- Netflix / Apple TV / Peacock / Hulu
- Uber Eats / DoorDash / Grubhub
- Audible
- Calm or Headspace
- HelloFresh or other meal kits
“Better Workday” Care Package
Focus on comfort. Put together a bundle of items that make their workday better (but not with cleaning supplies — that’s no fun).
Go for things like nice hand cream, blotting sheets for mid-day touch-ups, hand sanitizer, gum, body spray, mints, snacks, and a car freshener.
Wellness + Personal Care Packages
Sometimes, we all need an upgrade to our self-care. Brands we love that have great, affordable personal care packages include:
- Anthropology — Pinch Provisions Super Spa Set
- The Ordinary — The Winter Skin Set
- grace & stella — Dream Team Gift Set
- OUAI — Get a-OUAI Kit
- Sol de Janeiro — Glow Ready with Me Bum Bum Body Routine Set
- Dr. Teale’s — Lavender Soothe & Sleep Full Regimen 5-piece Gift Set
For specific items that don’t come in a bundle, we recommend wellness gifts like:
- Back support cushions
- Therabody products (massage guns, etc.)
- Heated blankets
- Weighted blankets
- Foot massagers
PTO Micro-Perks
The best gift of all is something we can’t get more of: time. If you offer benefits, consider giving an extra paid vacation day, or do something fun like:
- Birthday PTO
- “Pick a morning off” pass
- Early-dismissal coupon
- Floating reset day
- Holiday-season PTO lottery
Tech Gifts Under $100
If you’re trying to do something a little more modern and tech-heavy, here are some affordable tech gifts that everyone loves (and are easy to find or order)
- Portable chargers
- Bluetooth earbuds
- Mini speakers
- Smart water bottles
- Tile trackers
- AirTags
- Car phone mounts
Something Handmade from Etsy
If you run a smaller cleaning business, the small-batch, handmade route could be the way to go. Etsy creators make a lot of great cleaning-themed gifts. Here are a few that we love!
- Candle — “Thank you for keeping our chaos clean”
- Candle — “Thank you for being my unpaid therapist”
- Pet portrait drawing — This one is digital, so you’d just need to print it
- Personalized hand-drawn portrait outline — Also digital!
- Personalized coffee bar sign
If these don’t get a smile, I don’t know what would.
A Dundie Award, But Better
Michael Scott was on to something here…Because even if they won’t admit it, most people appreciate some public recognition. Try to keep it classier than Michael Scott, though. 😉
You can think of fun, personalized awards for each cleaning tech on your team paired with a gift card. Some ideas to get you started:
- The “Spotless Streak” Award — For most 5-star service ratings on ZenMaid
- The “Mary Poppins” Award — For the most organized cleaning caddy
- The “Social Butterfly” Award — For the most client referrals generated
- The “Rookie of the Year” Award — For the new hire who’s crushing it
- The “Time Wizard” Award — For the tech who consistently finishes on schedule without rushing
- The “Early Bird” Award — For never being late to a job
Gift Ideas for Your Office Manager
Deluxe Spa Package
Your office manager keeps everything running smoothly, so they deserve some serious relaxation. A local spa gift certificate is a great way to say “thanks for your hard work!” These packages run anywhere from $100–$300, but they can be a multiple-hour affair (super worth it, in my eyes).
Premium Bonus
Consider a more substantial holiday bonus for your office manager since they manage a substantial part of the business. Pair it, of course, with a thoughtful note.
Tech Upgrade
If they’re using their personal devices for work, consider upgrading their phone, tablet, or laptop. Or, gift high-end accessories like noise-canceling headphones or a standing desk in their workspace.
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Gift Ideas for Your Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants (VAs) usually don’t work locally, so some of the other suggestions in this guide won’t be a good fit. Here are some other ideas that have been a hit with our virtual team at ZenMaid.
Digital Gift Cards
Since your VA works remotely, focus on digital gifts. Amazon, Netflix, or online learning platform gift cards are always appreciated. Just make sure those platforms are available in the region they work from.
Mail Some Swag
Send a thoughtful package with company swag, local specialties from your area, and a handwritten note. It helps create a connection to your business despite the physical distance.
Pay For an Online Course
Offer to cover the cost of an online course or certification they’re interested in. It shows you’re invested in their growth while helping them build valuable skills in their job.
One Last Idea: Launch a Year-Round Gifting Program
Okay, so I stole this idea from Stephanie Pipkin because it’s a genius way to keep the good energy going throughout the whole year. In her cleaning business, Serene Clean, she launched a tiered swag system where employees get to choose new branded items when they hit work anniversaries.
Want that premium company hoodie? You’ll get to pick it out at your one-year mark.
Had your eye on that fancy cooler with the company logo? That’s a two-year milestone reward.
It’s brilliant because it gives staff something to look forward to throughout the year, plus they get to choose items they’ll actually use.
She talks about it in detail in our podcast episode here, in case you want to hear the specifics of how she runs this program:
You could take this idea even further with a pay-it-forward program. When team members hit certain milestones, like work anniversaries or reaching a perfect rating streak, you make a small donation to their charity of choice. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate their achievements while supporting causes they care about. Plus, it reinforces that your company values extend beyond just keeping homes clean.
Remember, the best gifts are something your employees actually want and show you appreciate them. Whether you go big or small, adding a personal touch makes it all the more meaningful.
Here’s to celebrating your amazing staff and another successful year in your cleaning business! Happy holidays from the ZenMaid team! 🎄✨
