How much to tip a cleaning lady for 3 hours?

Ugh, figuring out tips is always such a headache, isn't it? Three hours of cleaning... how much should I give? I remember once, I totally under-tipped my cleaner, Maria – felt terrible about it afterward. She was amazing, practically worked magic on my perpetually messy kitchen! Anyway, I've read that a good range is 12-20% of the total bill. That seems fair, right?

I live in Illinois, and apparently, 12-15% is kind of the norm around here. But then I saw something online about California and New York – they're suggesting 15-20% there. Makes sense, I guess, because everything costs more in those places. Like, I'd be shocked if a cleaner in Manhattan charged the same as one in, say, Peoria. The cost of living is just, you know, wildly different.

So, I'd probably aim for the higher end, maybe 15-20%, if the cleaner did a really good job. Maybe even a little more if they went above and beyond – like, if they tackled that impossible stain on my rug that I'd given up on. It really just depends, you know? It's about showing your appreciation for their hard work. Plus, you want them to come back, and who wants to start the whole hiring process again? A little extra tip goes a long way, I think.