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You may be able to deduct the cost of work clothes if they meet certain criteria. The clothes must be: 1. Required and essential for your work. 2. Not suitable for everyday wear or other uses outside of your professional work. If your work clothes (such as specialized painting clothes or uniforms) are specifically designed for your house painting job and not suitable for everyday wear, you may be able to deduct the costs of acquiring and maintaining them. This includes cleaning and repair expenses. However, if the clothes you wear for painting can also be used in your everyday activities, they would not be deductible. Additionally, if you are an employee, miscellaneous itemized deductions, including unreimbursed employee expenses like work clothes, were eliminated under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for tax years 2018 through 2025. If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you can still claim work clothes as a business expense on Schedule C of your tax return.