Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlo Kanipe.
Hi Marlo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 1986, while attending the University of South Carolina, I partnered with my mother, Bunny McKelvey, to open Deserved Comfort House Cleaning. Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my family’s DNA, so starting a business together felt like a natural step. At the time, there were very few professional home cleaning services in the area, and we recognized a genuine need within our community.
We began by serving just the Lexington and Irmo areas, building our client base one home at a time. Through hard work, consistency, and a commitment to quality, Deserved Comfort steadily grew. Today, 40 years later, we are proud to serve the entire Greater Columbia area.
In 2000, my mother retired, and I continued leading the company, carrying forward the values we built together while expanding and strengthening the business over the years. One of the things I’m most proud of is that Deserved Comfort has always felt like a family—both for our clients and our team. We still serve many of the same clients who trusted us in those early days, which speaks volumes about the relationships we’ve built.
Our technicians are truly the heart of our company. They are the champions behind everything we do—working tirelessly to provide exceptional service and ensure every home is cleaned to the highest standards. Each team member is professionally trained, and many hold certifications in germ reduction, disinfecting, and health-focused cleaning practices. Just as importantly, they stay with us—some as long as 25 years—because they know they are valued, respected, and cared for.
Over the years, we’ve been honored to receive numerous local and national awards recognizing the consistent quality of service we provide. We are active members of several professional organizations, including ISSA (The Association for Cleaning & Facility Solutions), IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration), the Better Business Bureau, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Giving back has always been an important part of who we are. We are proud partners with the national nonprofit Cleaning for a Reason, providing free house cleanings to cancer patients. As a 15-year cancer survivor myself, this mission is deeply personal. Being able to support others during such a difficult time is one of the greatest joys of owning this business. I feel incredibly blessed to have been given a second chance, and I believe Deserved Comfort has a responsibility to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
As for me, I was born and raised right here in the Greater Columbia area. I graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School and later from the University of South Carolina. Today, I live in Cayce with my husband, Ralph, and we’ve been happily married for 35 years.
Looking back over the past four decades, I am filled with gratitude—for our loyal clients, our dedicated team, and the community that has supported us along the way. Deserved Comfort started as a small, family-run business, and while we’ve grown significantly, our core values remain the same: care deeply, serve well, and always treat people like family.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not always a smooth road, but we learned as we grew. Hiring has always been tough since we are super particular due to the nature of the job being in clients’ homes, but also because it’s a physically gruelling job and not many can do it well, all day long, every week day.
It was also an adjustment in 2000 taking on all the operations of the business by myself after my mom retired. At that time, I decided to keep the company small to keep it manageable by only me. But in 2015 I found that the company was growing faster than I could do alone, so I made the decision to hire office personnel to help me grow and keep the company solid.
2011 was a very scary time when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a rare cancer with a low survival rate, so I had to have an urgent surgery, followed by very aggressive treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. At the time, I was the only one in the office so I contacted all clients and technicians to make them aware of my situation, and that their calls may go to voice mail at times, but we’d continue to be there for them. Clients and Technicians came together and everything ran so smoothly until I finished treatments. Today, by the grace of God, I’m am cancer free.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Deserved Comfort, we specialize in providing high-quality, personalized residential cleaning services designed to fit each client’s unique needs. We offer free phone quotes—so there’s no need to schedule an in-home estimate—and flexible service options including weekly, bi-weekly, one-time, and as-needed cleanings. In addition to our recurring general cleaning services, we also provide detailed cleanings, move-in/move-out cleanings, office cleanings, and hourly or budget-based options.
What truly sets us apart is how we deliver our service. Our technicians work solo rather than in teams, and we make every effort to send the same technician back to each recurring client. This creates consistency, trust, and strong relationships—something our clients truly value. Our team members are professionally trained, industry-certified, thoroughly vetted, fully insured, and bonded—but beyond that, they are genuinely cared for and appreciated, and it shows in the way they serve our clients.
We are also a locally owned and operated company—not a franchise or chain—which allows us to stay closely connected to our community and maintain a personal touch in everything we do.
Another key difference is our approach to cleaning products and equipment. Our recurring clients provide their preferred household cleaners, as well as their own vacuum, mop, and broom. This gives them full control over what is used in their home and eliminates the concern of cross-contamination from tools used in other households. Our technicians bring high-quality, color-coded microfiber cloths and specialized tools to ensure a thorough, sanitary clean.
We are not just another maid service—we are known for building long-term relationships, delivering consistent quality, and truly caring about both our clients and our team. I’m most proud of the trust we’ve earned over the years and the reputation we’ve built for reliability, integrity, and exceptional service—all without requiring contracts.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to work with us is simple—reach out and let us take care of the rest. We offer free phone quotes, so there’s no need to schedule an in-home visit just to get started. Whether someone is looking for recurring weekly or bi-weekly service, a one-time deep clean, or help with a move-in or move-out, we make the process easy and convenient.
For those who value consistency and trust, our recurring services are a great fit. We do our best to send the same technician each time, allowing clients to build a relationship with someone who knows their home and their preferences.
We also love collaborating within our community. We work with local homeowners, busy families, professionals, and even small businesses that need reliable office cleaning. Realtors, property managers, and others in the housing industry often partner with us for move-related cleanings to help prepare homes for sale or new occupants.
Supporting us can be as simple as referring us to friends and family or sharing your experience with others. As a locally owned business, word-of-mouth means everything to us, and many of our long-term clients have come from personal recommendations. We are also open to referrals for families of cancer patients so that we can continue our mission to support those who need us when a clean home is so vital.
At the end of the day, we’re here to make life a little easier—giving people back their time and the comfort of a clean home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deservedcomfort.com
- Instagram: deservedcomfort
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deservedcomfort
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deserved-comfort-housekeeping
- Twitter: @deservedcomfort
