Cleaning businesses

Mileage and expense tracking for house cleaners

Cleaners drive from house to house all day and buy supplies constantly. Those miles and receipts are often the biggest deductions in a cleaning business, and the easiest to lose.

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Where records usually slip

Short drives add up

Five homes a day at a few miles apart is thousands of business miles a year.

Supplies from everywhere

Big-box runs, online orders, and warehouse-club stock-ups.

Paying helpers

Cash and app payments to helpers need records too.

How spentr helps

Hands-free trips Pro

Start recording between jobs and lock the phone. spentr records the route in the background.

Scan supply receipts Free

Photograph receipts at checkout, before they disappear in the car.

Multiple businesses Pro

Keep residential and commercial work separate if you run both.

Team workspace Business

Share records with a partner or bookkeeper, up to three seats.

Common deductions to track

ExpenseWhere it usually goes
Driving between clients’ homesLine 9
Cleaning products and paper goodsLine 22
Vacuums and equipmentLine 22 or 13
Helpers paid as contractorsLine 11
Bonding and liability insuranceLine 15
Booking and payment app feesLine 10
Business licenseLine 23
Uniforms with your logoLine 27b
If you run the business from a home office (scheduling, billing, supplies), the drive to your first client is generally a business trip, not a commute.

Line numbers refer to Schedule C (Form 1040). Your situation may differ; confirm with your tax preparer.

Frequently asked questions

Can house cleaners deduct mileage?

Yes. Driving between clients, to supply stores, and to the bank for the business is deductible with a mileage log. Our mileage guides explain what to record.

Do I need to send my helpers a 1099?

For payments to independent contractors made in 2026 and later, Form 1099-NEC is generally required once you pay someone $2,000 or more in the year.

Can I track supplies for each client?

Add a note to the receipt with the client or job. spentr keeps the note with the expense.

GuideIRS mileage rate 2026The 2026 IRS standard mileage rate changed mid-year: 72.5¢ per business mile through June 30 and 76¢ from July 1. How to split your miles and claim it.GuideMileage log requirementsWhat the IRS expects in a business mileage log: dates, destinations, purpose, and miles, recorded at the time. Plus commuting rules and common mistakes.Free toolMileage deduction calculatorCalculate your 2026 business mileage deduction with both IRS rates (72.5¢ through June 30, 76¢ from July 1), plus 2025 and 2024, and estimate the tax it saves.GuideHome office deductionWho qualifies for the home office deduction, the regular-and-exclusive-use test, and how the $5 per square foot simplified method compares with Form 8829.
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