Running a business means staying on top of the little things that keep operations smooth and impressions strong—like keeping your office clean. A well-maintained workspace isn't just good for morale; it speaks volumes to your clients and partners. But as you’re crunching numbers this tax season, you might be wondering: Can I write off those office cleaning expenses?

Here are some thoughts from your Medford office cleaners.

Is Office Cleaning Tax-Deductible?

Yes—most of the time, office cleaning expenses are fully deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. That includes routine janitorial services, deep cleaning, carpet shampooing, restroom sanitation, and even disinfecting services. If the work is performed in a commercial or designated home office space used exclusively for business, it's generally fair game.

The IRS allows businesses to deduct the costs of maintaining and operating their workspace under Section 162 of the tax code. Office cleaning clearly falls under “ordinary and necessary,” which means it's a reasonable expense directly tied to running your business.

What Qualifies?

If you're hiring a commercial cleaning service to maintain your office, here are the common services you can typically write off:

• Weekly or daily janitorial services
• Floor cleaning and buffing
• Window cleaning
• Carpet shampooing
• Restroom deep cleaning
• Post-construction or post-event cleaning
• COVID-19 sanitization and disinfection services

Just make sure you’re paying a legitimate vendor and keeping accurate receipts or invoices.

What If You Work From Home?

If you operate out of a home office, the rules are a little different—but you may still be eligible for a partial deduction.

To qualify, your home office must be used exclusively and regularly for business. In that case, a percentage of your household expenses—like cleaning—can be deducted based on the square footage of your office compared to your total home space. For example, if your home office takes up 10% of your home, you may deduct 10% of your cleaning costs.

Keep in mind: personal cleaning costs (like hiring a cleaner for your living room or kitchen) don’t count.

Tips for Maximizing Your Deduction

• Keep detailed records of payments to cleaning services.
• Request itemized invoices that clearly state the service dates and scope of work.
• Separate personal and business expenses, especially if you operate from home.
• Consult your accountant—especially if you're unsure how to categorize a mixed-use space or a one-time cleaning expense.

Final Thoughts

Office cleaning isn’t just about keeping up appearances—it’s a smart investment in your business. And the good news is, it’s also likely a tax-deductible one. Whether you're maintaining a commercial space or a home office, those vacuumed carpets and spotless windows might just lighten your tax load.

Clean office, clean books—that’s a win-win.

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