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How to Claim How Cleaning on Taxes?
Welcome to another Bravo Maids knowledge-drop, where sparkling counters meet crystal-clear advice! One of the most common questions we hear from our work-from-home clients is, “Are home cleaning services tax deductible?” The answer is a confident “sometimes”—and only when you follow the IRS playbook to the letter. Below, we break down every rule, exception, and pro tip so you can keep your books as spotless as your baseboards. Remember: all Bravo Maids services come with a 100 % Satisfaction Guarantee, delivered by background-checked, bonded, and fully-insured cleaning pros—so the only thing you’ll ever worry about is which deduction method to choose.
Can You Deduct Cleaning Expenses From Your Home-Based Business?
Qualifying for the Home Office Deduction
Exclusive and Regular Use Rule
Your office must be a separately identifiable area used only for business. The IRS means it: a laptop on the kitchen island won’t qualify.
Principal Place of Business Requirement
The space must be your main hub for administrative or management activities. If you earn income elsewhere but direct your business from home, you still pass this test.
Self-Employed vs Employee Considerations
Self-employed individuals file on Schedule C and can claim the home-office deduction. Employees generally cannot—unless their employer reimburses them under an accountable plan.
What Types of Cleaning Services Qualify?
Routine Cleaning for Office Space
Dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and wiping surfaces inside your dedicated office count as direct expenses.
Carpet Cleaning and Deep Cleans
Annual or quarterly deep cleans (think hot-water extraction for carpet or upholstery) are deductible when performed in the office area.
Trash Removal and Sanitization
Office trash pick-up, disinfecting high-touch points, and sanitizer restocking also qualify.
Calculating Your Deduction
Square Footage Percentage Method
Divide the square footage of your office by the total finished area of your home. Apply that percentage to your cleaning invoices.
Simplified Option vs Actual Expense Method
- Simplified: $5 Ă— qualifying square footage (max 300 sq ft). Cleaning is baked into that flat rate.
- Actual Expense: Track every cleaning invoice, then multiply by your business-use percentage.
How Is Home-Office Cleaning Deduction Calculated?
Using the Simplified Method
Flat $5 per Square Foot
Simple, predictable, no receipt-shoebox required.
Max Deduction Limits and Rules
Cap of $1,500 per year (300 sq ft × $5). You can’t also claim actual expenses for the same space.
Using the Regular Method
Allocating a % of Total Cleaning Costs
Example: Home = 2,000 sq ft, office = 200 sq ft → 10 %. Spend $2,400/year on Bravo Maids? Deduct $240.
Examples with Spreadsheets
Set up two columns—Date / Amount—then a final formula cell: =SUM(Amount)*0.10. Update monthly so tax season is a breeze.
What Qualifies as a Tax-Deductible Cleaning Expense?
Direct vs Indirect Expenses
Cleaning the Office Area Directly
Anything done exclusively inside the office = direct and fully deductible under the regular method.
Shared Areas (Hallways, Bathrooms)
These are indirect costs. Allocate by the same percentage you use for other home-office utilities.
IRS Definition of “Ordinary and Necessary”
IRS Publication 587 Reference
The IRS labels expenses deductible if they are common and helpful for your trade.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Double-dipping with simplified + actual methods
- Counting personal cleaning supplies
- Taking the deduction when you’re a W-2 employee without reimbursement
When Can You Deduct House Cleaning Services?
During Active Business Use
Consistent Work-From-Home Operations
If you actively run the business all year, you can claim cleaning expenses for every month Bravo Maids visits.
Part-Time or Hybrid WFH Eligibility
You may prorate by months of qualified use or switch to the simplified method if easier.
During Rental Property Maintenance
Between Tenants
Turnover cleans, carpet steaming, and deodorizing are 100 % deductible rental expenses.
During Repairs or Showings
Pre-listing deep cleans also qualify because they preserve or prepare the income-producing asset.
What Do You Need to Deduct Cleaning Expenses?
Documentation and Proof
Receipts from Professional Cleaning Companies
Bravo Maids emails itemized invoices after every visit—save those PDFs!
Invoices Showing Service Scope and Date
IRS auditors love specificity: “May 15—Home-Office Deep Clean (200 sq ft).”
Matching Expenses to Income
Schedule C Documentation
List expenses under “Cleaning & Maintenance.” Attach Form 8829 if using actual expenses.
Reimbursement Policies if Applicable
If your S-Corp reimburses you, keep an accountable-plan memo and cancel the personal deduction.
How to Keep Proper Records for Cleaning Service Tax Deductions
Digital Tools and Apps
QuickBooks, Expensify, Google Sheets
Snap a pic, auto-code to “Cleaning,” and back it up to the cloud.
Setting Up Auto-Labeling for Cleaning Expenses
In QuickBooks Online, create a rule: Vendor contains “Bravo Maids” → Category: Repairs & Maintenance (Office).
Best Practices for WFH Tax Prep
Monthly Reconciliation
Match each Bravo Maids invoice to your bank statement—ten minutes per month saves hours in April.
Categorizing Home vs Business-Related Services
If we scrub both the office and the kids’ playroom, only the office portion is deductible.
Cleaning Deductions for Rental Property Owners
Deductible Cleaning Services
Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning
Required to keep the unit rentable—100 % deductible.
Carpet Steam Cleaning
Preserves property value, so the full cost goes on Schedule E.
Trash/Junk Removal for Turnovers
Includes hauling away left-behind furniture or debris.
How to Report Cleaning on Your Tax Return
Schedule E Deductions
Enter under “Cleaning & Maintenance.”
Keeping Contractor W-9s and 1099s
Issue a 1099-NEC if you pay an independent cleaner $600+ in a year.
Medical Necessity: When Cleaning Is a Healthcare Expense
IRS Criteria for Deductible Medical Cleaning
Dust Reduction for Asthma
If a physician states that reduced allergens are medically necessary, cleaning costs above 7.5 % of AGI may qualify.
Cleaning After a Surgery or Illness
Short-term intensive sanitization can be deducted similarly.
Documentation Required for Medical Deductions
Doctor’s Recommendation
Keep a signed letter specifying frequency and medical rationale.
Matching to Schedule A (Medical Deductions)
Include with other unreimbursed medical expenses.
Home Office Cleaning Deductions: Rules for Remote Workers
Employees vs Self-Employed WFH
TCJA 2018 Update—What Changed
Miscellaneous itemized deductions (incl. unreimbursed employee expenses) were suspended through 2025.
Alternatives (Reimbursement from Employer)
Ask HR about an accountable plan so your company can pay Bravo Maids directly.
Hybrid Work Environments
Partially Deductible Cleaning
If you split time evenly between HQ and home, you may still qualify—prorate by days.
Issues with Multiple Workspaces
Only the principal place of business gets the deduction.
Consulting a Tax Professional
Why It’s Worth It
Avoiding Red Flags with the IRS
Pros know where the audit landmines lurk—especially if you switch methods mid-year.
Understanding Your Deduction Eligibility
They’ll test both simplified and actual methods to maximize your write-off.
What to Bring to Your Tax Appointment
Cleaning Receipts, Home Office Layout, and Lease/Mortgage Details
Plus square-footage calculations and any medical or rental documentation.
Bravo Maids Satisfaction Guarantee
Whether you’re deducting every dollar or just hunting dust bunnies, Bravo Maids stands behind our 100 % Satisfaction Guarantee. Every technician is background-checked, insured, and bonded, so you can focus on spreadsheets and tax forms—not on who’s in your living room.
Final Broom-Sweep
Home cleaning services can be tax deductible when they meet the IRS’s “ordinary and necessary” business or medical thresholds. Keep airtight records, know which method suits you best, and loop in a qualified tax pro before filing. Need a deductible-ready deep clean? Book Bravo Maids today, and let the sparkle (and savings) begin!
Disclaimer: This article is informational and not legal or tax advice. Consult a licensed tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
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