Tax Write-Offs for House Cleaners
Independent house cleaners burn through supplies — sprays, cloths, sponges, trash liners — while driving a loop between client homes with a vacuum and a caddy in the trunk. On top of consumables there are equipment purchases like steam mops, booking software, bonding and liability coverage, and the occasional helper brought in for a big move-out clean. Most of these costs are small and paid weekly, which makes them easy to lose track of and easy to under-deduct. Here's how the typical cleaning-business expense maps to Schedule C.
14 deductions house cleaners should track
Each write-off below shows the IRS Schedule C line (or form) it maps to.
01Cleaning supplies and consumables
Supplies — Line 22Sprays, disinfectants, microfiber cloths, sponges, scrub brushes, mop heads, and trash liners are the raw fuel of a cleaning business and are generally deductible as used. Because you restock constantly, capturing every store run matters more here than in most trades.
02Vacuums, steam mops, and floor machines
Depreciation and Section 179 — Line 13A commercial vacuum, steam mop, or carpet extractor is equipment rather than a consumable. Cheaper units are often expensed in the year purchased, while pricier machines may be depreciated or claimed under Section 179.
03Mileage between client homes
Car and truck expenses — Line 9Driving from one client's house to the next is business mileage, and a cleaner running several homes a day can log serious miles. The drive from home to the first house and back from the last is generally nondeductible commuting unless a qualifying home office changes that analysis.
04Uniforms and branded aprons
Supplies — Line 22Aprons, smocks, and shirts with your business name that aren't suitable for everyday wear are generally deductible. Plain street clothes you happen to clean in typically don't qualify, so branding your workwear helps both marketing and the deduction.
05Laundering work clothing and rags
Other expenses — Line 27aWashing deductible uniforms and the mountain of microfiber cloths a cleaning route produces is a real recurring cost. Laundromat charges or a reasonable estimate of home laundering tied to business items may be deductible.
06Booking and scheduling software
Office expense — Line 18Apps that handle client scheduling, reminders, invoicing, and card payments are ordinary costs of running a cleaning route. Payment-processing fees deducted from each client payment generally count as well.
07Liability insurance and janitorial bonding
Insurance (other than health) — Line 15Clients often won't hand over house keys without proof you're bonded and insured. Premiums for general liability coverage and a janitorial bond are deductible costs of winning and keeping that trust.
08Gloves, masks, and protective gear
Supplies — Line 22Nitrile gloves, masks for dusty or chemical-heavy jobs, knee pads, and shoe covers protect you and the client's home and are generally deductible. Like other consumables, they disappear quickly and deserve a line in your tracking.
09Paying for items broken at a client's home
Other expenses — Line 27aIf you reimburse a client for a vase or fixture broken while cleaning, that out-of-pocket payment may be deductible as an ordinary business cost, particularly when your insurance deductible makes a claim impractical. Documentation of what happened and what you paid helps support it.
10Helpers as contract labor
Contract labor — Line 11Bringing in another self-employed cleaner for a deep clean or move-out job is contract labor, deductible when you're the one billing the client. Pay a single helper enough over the year and you may need to file a Form 1099-NEC.
11Business cards, flyers, and local ads
Advertising — Line 8Door hangers, neighborhood-app promotions, car magnets, and business cards left with happy clients are how cleaning businesses grow by referral. All of this local marketing is generally deductible advertising.
12Business license and registration fees
Taxes and licenses — Line 23Many cities and counties require a business license to operate a cleaning service, and some states require registration for household-service businesses. These government fees and renewals are deductible.
13Business-use portion of your phone
Utilities — Line 25Your phone handles booking texts, entry instructions, gate codes, and payment apps between houses. The share of the bill attributable to running the cleaning business is generally deductible; keep the split reasonable if it's also your personal line.
14Caddies, buckets, and route organization gear
Supplies — Line 22Supply caddies, buckets, collapsible carts, and trunk organizers that let you move an entire cleaning kit in and out of each house are inexpensive but legitimate business purchases. Replacements as they wear out count too.
Track these deductions automatically
Stop guessing which house cleaner expenses count. Snap receipts, let AI map every expense to its IRS Schedule C line, and export a CPA-ready tax package at filing time. Free plan available — no credit card, no bank linking.
House Cleaner tax questions, answered
Can I deduct cleaning supplies if I also use them in my own home?+
Generally only the business portion is deductible, so mixed-use supplies need a reasonable split. Many cleaners avoid the issue by keeping a dedicated set of work supplies that never leaves the car or caddy. Separate purchases with separate receipts make the business share easy to defend.
Is my drive to the first client's house of the day deductible?+
That first leg from home is generally nondeductible commuting, as is the final drive home — but every mile between client houses in between is business mileage. If your home qualifies as your principal place of business (for scheduling, supplies, and admin), the analysis may change. A per-trip mileage log sorts this out cleanly.
What if I break something in a client's home — can I deduct what I pay them?+
A reimbursement you pay a client for accidental damage caused while working may be deductible as an ordinary business expense. If your liability insurance covers it instead, you generally deduct the premiums and any deductible you paid, not the insurer's payout. Keep a written record of the incident and payment either way.
Do I need to send tax forms to cleaners who help me on big jobs?+
If a helper is genuinely an independent contractor and you pay them at or above the IRS reporting threshold during the year, you generally must issue a Form 1099-NEC. If you control their schedule, methods, and tools, they may legally be your employee instead, which triggers payroll obligations. Worker classification is worth getting right early.
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Disclaimer: This page provides estimates and general information for educational purposes only — it is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Tax rules change and depend on your specific situation. Consult a qualified tax professional before making tax decisions.