Can House Cleaning Be Claimed on Taxes in Ontario?
- Katie
- May 25
- 4 min read
In Ontario, many people wonder if house cleaning services can be claimed on their taxes. The short answer is: sometimes. While personal cleaning costs are generally not tax-deductible, there are specific situations where you may be eligible to claim a portion of house cleaning expenses on your tax return.
In this article, I'll explain when house cleaning is tax-deductible in Ontario, who qualifies, and how to properly document these expenses so you can make an informed decision at tax time.
Who Can Claim House Cleaning on Taxes in Ontario?
Under Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules, only certain individuals can claim house cleaning expenses on their taxes. These include:
1. Self-Employed Individuals Working From Home
If you operate a home-based business in Ontario, you may be able to claim a portion of your house cleaning costs as part of your business-use-of-home deduction.
To qualify, the workspace in your home must meet one of these criteria:
It is your primary place of business; or
It is used exclusively to earn income and to meet with clients on a regular basis.
You can only deduct the percentage of cleaning expenses related to the business-use portion of your home. For example, if your home office makes up 20% of your home’s total space, you may claim 20% of your eligible cleaning expenses.
2. Rental Property Owners and Landlords
If you own a rental property in Ontario, cleaning expenses that are required to maintain the property may be tax-deductible. These include:
Common area cleaning in multi-unit buildings
Deep cleaning between tenancies
These costs can be claimed as part of your rental income deductions on your tax return.
3. Medical or Disability-Related Needs
In rare cases, house cleaning may be considered a medical expense if it is prescribed by a medical professional.
You must:
Provide a doctor’s note or prescription
Prove that the cleaning is required due to a specific medical condition, such as severe asthma or allergies
In some cases, cleaning expenses may also be partially deductible under the Home Accessibility Tax Credit if they directly support someone with a disability.
Under this category, we offer Senior Care Cleaning and Compassionate Care Cleaning.
How to Claim House Cleaning on Taxes in Ontario
If you qualify under one of the situations above, follow these steps:
Step 1: Determine Eligibility
Confirm that your cleaning expenses fall under business use, rental income, or medical necessity based on CRA guidelines.
Step 2: Track Your Expenses
Keep detailed receipts, proof of payment, and any supporting documents such as:
Invoices from your cleaning service (like Scrubly Cleaning)
Bank or credit card statements
Medical notes (if applicable)
Step 3: Calculate the Deductible Portion
If your cleaning applies to part of your home (such as a home office), determine the percentage of the home used for business. You can calculate this based on:
Square footage (e.g., 200 sq ft office in a 1,000 sq ft home = 20%)
Number of rooms (e.g., 1 room out of 5 = 20%)
Apply that percentage to your total cleaning expenses.
Step 4: Report on Your Tax Return
Use the correct tax form based on your income type:
T2125 for self-employed business income
T776 for rental income
T1-M or Schedule A for medical expenses (when applicable)
FAQs About Claiming House Cleaning on Your Taxes in Ontario
Can I claim house cleaning if I work from home in Ontario?
Yes, if you meet CRA’s conditions for business-use-of-home. You can claim a portion of cleaning costs based on how much of your home is used for work purposes.
Are house cleaning services tax-deductible for personal use?
No. Routine cleaning of your personal residence is not deductible unless tied to a home business, rental property, or medical condition.
Can landlords in Ontario deduct cleaning expenses?
Yes. Cleaning related to tenant turnover, regular maintenance, or preparing the property for rent is tax-deductible as part of rental income expenses.
Can I deduct house cleaning as a medical expense?
Yes, but only if a doctor certifies it as medically necessary. You must keep proper documentation to support your claim.
What cleaning expenses can I deduct?
Eligible expenses include professional cleaning services for:
Home offices used for business
Rental property maintenance
Medically required cleaning for health reasons
FAQs About Scrubly Cleaning
Who is Scrubly Cleaning?
Scrubly Cleaning is a family-owned cleaning company based in Hamilton, serving surrounding areas such as Burlington, Oakville, and Grimsby. We specialize in residential and commercial cleaning with a focus on quality, flexibility, and customer satisfaction.
Does Scrubly provide receipts for tax purposes?
Yes. All services booked with Scrubly come with detailed receipts and proof of payment, making it easier for clients who qualify to claim eligible cleaning expenses on their taxes.
Can I hire Scrubly for move-out or rental property cleaning?
Absolutely. We offer deep cleaning, tenant turnover cleaning, and ongoing property maintenance cleaning—perfect for landlords and property managers.
Is Scrubly insured and certified?
Yes, we are fully insured, certified, and committed to delivering safe, professional, and reliable cleaning services across Ontario.
Final Thoughts
While most personal house cleaning services in Ontario are not tax-deductible, there are clear exceptions. If you’re a home-based business owner, a landlord, or someone with a qualifying medical condition, you may be able to deduct part of your cleaning costs. So, if you were one of those people wondering "Can house cleaning be claimed on taxes", hopefully we answered the question!
If you need professional cleaning services with proper receipts and top-tier service, Scrubly Cleaning is here to help.
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