What Cleaning Services Can Be Tax-Deductible for Your Home Business?

If you run a business from home, you know how fast expenses can add up. One cost you may be overlooking is cleaning.

The good news?

Certain cleaning services and supplies may qualify as tax-deductible expenses for home-based businesses.

Understanding what cleaning services are tax-deductible for home businesses can help you reduce your taxable income, stay compliant with IRS guidelines, and keep your workspace spotless.

Let’s break down what qualifies and how to make the most of these deductions.

Tax Deductions for Home-Based Businesses

When you use a portion of your home exclusively for business, the IRS allows you to claim the home office deduction.

This opens the door to deduct related expenses, including certain cleaning services used for business purposes.

Below are the most common tax-deductible cleaning services for home businesses.

What Cleaning Expenses Are Tax-Deductible for Home-Based Businesses

1. General Housekeeping for Business-Only Areas

If you have a dedicated home office, studio, or workspace that’s used only for business, the cost of cleaning that area is fully deductible. Common tasks that fall under this category include:

Dusting desks, shelves, and furniture
Vacuuming carpets and rugs
Wiping down surfaces
Cleaning windows and blinds

Only cleaning services directly tied to your business-use space are eligible for a tax deduction. Cleaning personal or shared areas (like bedrooms or your children’s playroom) is not deductible.

2. Cleaning Shared Areas Used for Business Purposes

Do you host clients in your living room or use your kitchen for business-related food prep or product assembly? You may be able to write off a portion of your cleaning costs for those spaces.

To determine what percentage of your home cleaning costs are deductible, calculate the square footage used for business versus the entire home. Then apply that percentage to your total cleaning costs.

Example:

Total home: 2,000 sq ft
Business-use space: 400 sq ft
Business percentage: 20%
Monthly cleaning cost: $150
Deductible amount: $30 (20% of $150)

3. Event-Based Cleaning Services for Business Activities

If you use your home to host client meetings, product demos, or seminars, the cost of cleaning before or after those events may be written off as a business expense. These tax-deductible cleaning services support your business operations directly.

Eligible event-related cleaning expenses include:

Prepping your home office or client meeting space
Deep-cleaning before client visits
Post-event cleanup and sanitation

This is especially useful for consultants, photographers, tutors, or wellness professionals who work out of their homes.

4. Cleaning and Maintenance of Business Equipment

Do you use special equipment in your home office that needs regular cleaning?

The cost of cleaning and maintaining business-use items like printers, scanners, air purifiers, or specialized tools may also be deductible.

This may include:

Dust removal and upkeep of sensitive electronics
Hiring a technician to clean production machinery
Sanitizing shared work tools used by team members or clients

As with other deductions, the key is business use. If the equipment is shared with your household for personal use, you’ll need to prorate the expense accordingly.

5. Cleaning Supplies Used for Business Purposes

In addition to professional services, you can also deduct the cost of cleaning products used in your business area. Tax-deductible cleaning supplies include:

Disinfecting sprays and wipes
Paper towels, microfiber cloths, rags
Vacuum filters and bags
Mops, brooms, and dusters
Air fresheners or deodorizers for client-facing areas

Tip: Keep business cleaning supplies separate from household items to make expense tracking easier.

How to Calculate Your Cleaning Service Tax Deductions

To claim any cleaning expenses for your home business, you need to calculate the percentage of your home used for business. This percentage is then applied to your cleaning costs.

Here’s a simplified formula:

Total Cleaning Cost × Business Use % = Deductible Amount

Let’s say your cleaning company charges $200 monthly and your home office makes up 30% of your total living space. Your monthly cleaning deduction would be $60.

Documentation Is Essential for IRS Compliance

To claim these deductions legally and confidently:

Save invoices or receipts from cleaning services
Record purchase receipts for cleaning supplies
Keep records showing the percentage of your home used for business
Take photos of your business space if needed for verification

The IRS requires all business deductions to be “ordinary and necessary” for business operations. Cleaning your home workspace falls into that category—but only when it’s clearly for business purposes.

Consult a Tax Professional

Tax-deductible cleaning expenses for home-based businesses can vary depending on your business model and IRS changes. Always consult a tax advisor or certified accountant to:

Confirm your eligibility for cleaning-related deductions
Accurately calculate your business-use percentage
Ensure compliance with IRS rules

They can also guide you through the difference between standard and simplified home office deduction methods.

Invest in Professional Cleaning for Your Home Business

Keeping your home office or client-facing space clean doesn’t just improve productivity—it can also reduce your tax bill.

If you’re looking to hire a professional cleaning service for your home business, NW Maids can help.

Our customizable cleaning packages ensure your workspace is spotless, efficient, and IRS-compliant for your business needs.

Contact NW Maids today to schedule a one-time or recurring cleaning for your home office.

Conclusion: Take Advantage of Cleaning Deductions for Your Home Business

Understanding what cleaning services are tax-deductible for home businesses allows you to keep your workspace clean and your financial records accurate.

Whether it’s regular office cleaning, one-time event prep, or purchasing business-only cleaning supplies, every dollar saved helps your business thrive.

Don’t let potential deductions go unclaimed.

With proper documentation and the right help, you can keep your space clean and your taxes lean.

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