15-year-old turns cleaning passion into celebrity car wash business

Parenting presents numerous challenges, and one of them is teaching children not only to clean up after themselves but also to find the motivation to do so independently.

Joann Ditchett, however, didn’t face this particular challenge with her son, Zykiah. From a young age, he displayed an unusual passion for cleaning just about anything and everything.

“I would buy him vacuums and little cleaning kits when he was 6, 7, 8 years old,” Joann recounted.

As Zykiah grew, his love for cleaning remained steadfast. At the age of 13, he received a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While this diagnosis was life-altering, Joann was confident that her son could channel it into something positive.

Around the same time, Zykiah began washing cars. Initially, he offered his services to family members, but soon expanded to include neighbors. His business really took off when Joann posted about it in a local residents’ group. Before they knew it, a queue of cars, including those owned by celebrities, formed outside their house.

That’s right, this 13-year-old from Manchester, with a passion for cleaning, started attracting the attention of well-known superstars. He officially named his business “Dirt 2 Clean,” and since then, his client list has expanded to include individuals such as Molly-Mae Hague from “Love Island,” boxer Tommy Fury, football player Scott McTominay, and English football pundit Gary Neville.

Because OCD can be such a debilitating condition, Zykiah’s two-year-old business carries even more significance.

“We are pleased that Zykiah found his diagnosis of OCD to be a catalyst to starting a successful business,” a spokesperson for OCD Action remarked. “However, we know that for the majority of people who live with OCD, it is a debilitating condition which can cause huge distress. It is also important to know that OCD can get better with the right treatment and support, and we would encourage anybody who is struggling to seek this.”

For Zykiah, that support comes in the form of his car washing business. While it might be just a side gig for some, for this 15-year-old, it has been an incredibly therapeutic endeavor.

“I realized it was something I really loved doing,” he explained. “I thought I would start a business, and I thought it would just be family and friends’ cars on the weekends. It was crazy. I got one famous car, and it went from there.”

As Zykiah continues to juggle school with his passion for car washing, we wish him all the best. Don’t forget to share this heartwarming story with a friend to brighten their day.