Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

How A Mother-Daughter Team Built So-Cal Pro Cleaning Solutions Into A Commercial Partner

• Rachel Fyffe & Melissa Ippolito

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What if the final 10 percent of a project—those dusty vents, cloudy windows, and gritty baseboards—could be the easiest part of your day? We sit down with Melissa Ippolito of So-Cal Pro Cleaning Solutions to explore how a family-built company grew from residential roots into a reliable commercial partner that contractors, property managers, and office owners trust.

Melissa shares the company’s origin story, the decision to pivot toward offices and post-construction cleaning, and the systems that make “done” actually done. She breaks down the hidden complexity of professional cleaning: why HEPA vacuums matter for fine dust, when steam beats harsh chemicals, and how staged cleaning (top to bottom, high-touch to low) cuts rework. Along the way, we tackle stubborn myths—no, it’s not just mops and quick wipes—and talk through realistic timelines, product choices, and the difference between a quick tidy and a proper turnover.

We also dive into local marketing that works for service businesses. Referrals remain the engine, but Melissa shows how a basic website, Yelp reviews, and before-and-after videos on Instagram create social proof in minutes. Those assets become the bridge from loyal residential clients to property management companies and then to office accounts. It’s practical, steady growth powered by clear standards and a client-first mindset.

If you care about healthy workplaces, smooth handoffs after construction, and vendors who treat your space like their own, you’ll find a ton of value here. We wrap with So- Cal Pro’s contact info and a simple takeaway: consistent process plus genuine care turns cleaning into a strategic advantage. 

Instagram: @socalprocleaningsolutions_llc

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what detail do you look for to know a space is truly clean?

SPEAKER_01:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, a place for local businesses and neighbors to come together. Here's your host, Rachel Fai.

SPEAKER_03:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Now, if you're looking for a commercial cleaning service, well, that resource is closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Melissa Ippolito, with SoCalPro Cleaning Solutions. Melissa, how is it going?

SPEAKER_00:

Good, good. Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, I'm excited, and we're excited to learn about your business. So tell us about your company.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, my mom started it about 20 years ago. First, she started as residential cleaning. And then we have clients that she's had for 20 years are practically family. But I tried my goal was to move her business from residential to more commercial. And that's what I've been doing.

SPEAKER_03:

Wonderful. Well, you kind of touched upon it, how you got into uh this type of business. So do you want to expand on that? I would love to we'd love to hear more.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, um, I'm trying to expand more into getting more uh uh offices. Um I am working with some contractors to clean up, like you know, when they do contracting uh their their whole jobs like flooring, painting, they do a lot of dust, and then some of them just leave the residential like that. So I'm trying to focus more on like teaming up with contractors and come like my company coming in and getting that load off of them because some of them just return the house like that.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh my. So what do you think are maybe some myths or misconceptions in your industry?

SPEAKER_00:

Um I swear some people think that it's easy. They're like, why? You're just dusting, you're just mopping. No. Um, when there's dust buildup, residue buildup, I have to get I have to get steaming products, um, uh equipment. It's not just getting a mop in a little Swiffer and getting the job done. It actually takes time, a lot of time.

SPEAKER_02:

Well right, I but I can only imagine.

SPEAKER_03:

So now, so we know marketing is really the heart of every business. So, how are you attracting new customers and clients?

SPEAKER_00:

I feel like um it's always with our faithful c clients that we always get um like referrals, and then from there referrals after referrals, and then then I started getting referrals to property management companies, and then from there from people that own offices, and then from there it just kept going. But I do I am trying to move forward on getting my I got my Yelp account, uh, a website, um, our Instagram, and not really a lot of movement there, but some. At least people are able to see our work because you know now it's it's you always have to review people's reviews on Yelp and their work on the videos that they post. So that's why that's what I do.

SPEAKER_03:

Wonderful. Have you ever thought of doing your own podcast?

SPEAKER_00:

No, okay.

SPEAKER_03:

Now, outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, me, uh something about me, I am current I majored in public health uh and social uh no um sciences, which I am trying to go into nursing school, but my passion right now is like growing my mom's business because there's a lot of potential and I've been seeing a lot of growth. So that's one of my goals, but usually I'm always studying for nursing schools.

SPEAKER_03:

I bet that's a lot, that's a lot. So, Melissa, you know, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about SoCal Pro Cleaning Solutions.

SPEAKER_00:

Um, we are like a mom and pop. Um, we a family-owned, we focus on our clients are never just a client that we'll see and just not pay attention to. We'll always treat their homes, their offices, their anything like it's our family, like it's us doing the job for ourselves.

SPEAKER_03:

Wonderful. Well, how can our listeners learn more about SoCal Pro Cleaning Solutions?

SPEAKER_00:

I have our Instagram and I have our phone number is 949-691-9255, and our email is so calprocleaning solutions.lc at yahoo.com. Um and we have our website too, www.socalprocleaning solutions.com. Um, aren't our Instagrams the same thing? Um sorry, sorry, let me lost you there. SoCal Pro Cleaning Solutions and then a hyphen LLC.

SPEAKER_02:

Wonderful. I can't see you. Did you do it? We lost your video. There you are, you're back. You dropped out a sec.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, Melissa, I really appreciate you being on the show. And you know, we really wish you and your and your business really the best of luck moving forward.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you so much for the opportunity.

SPEAKER_03:

You bet.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show. Go to gnpordscounty.com. That's gnt orgecounty.com. Or call