Marlo Kanipe first began cleaning houses while she was in college at the University of South Carolina. What started as a small business eventually evolved into her owning Deserved Comfort House Cleaning. Now, more than 38 years later, she said her company has been blessed to experience substantial growth, sustain great staff members and retain reliable customers.

After years of success, even amid COVID, Deserved Comfort is giving back to the Midlands community in a big way. Kanipe’s company has partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a national non-profit organization that offers free house cleanings to people who are currently undergoing cancer treatments.

The organization initially began in Texas when a house cleaner whose mother had cancer decided to offer free cleanings to some of her clients who also had breast cancer. Cleaning for a Reason has now expanded across the United States and Canada and allows house cleaning businesses to become a member of the cause, to offer free cleanings to their own clients.

A cancer survivor herself, Kanipe said she wanted her company to be a part of giving back. “By doing so, we donate our services to families who are going through cancer treatments. It’s not just for women - it’s a spouse, a child, someone in the family going through the treatments,” she said. “We’ll be happy to give free cleanings to the family.”

The staff members at Deserved Comfort are professionally trained and know how to get rid of germs inside a house, according to Kanipe. “We don’t just give someone a mop and a broom and a bucket and say ‘go clean,’ they have to know all the science behind the cleaning,” she said.

Those interested in applying for the free services or applying on behalf of a family can visit cleaningforareason.org. Although unlikely, Kanipe said if anyone is unsuccessful in being able to reach a representative from the site, they may also contact Deserved Comfort at (803) 739-9700.

-Elle Beason, Cola Daily

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