A teenager with OCD has turned his condition into a business washing cars for celebrities including Gary Neville and Molly-Mae Hague.
Zykiah Ditchett, from Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder at the age of 13 after concerns were raised over his “constant” cleaning at home.
In a bid to get him outside more, his family bought him a car valeting set for Christmas and he used his kit to clean relative’s cars, being paid £5 each time.
Eventually, the schoolboy asked if he could clean neighbour’s vehicles.
His mum, Jo Ditchett, put a post in a local Facebook group explaining Zykiah’s love of cleaning cars.
She asked anyone who wanted their car cleaning to leave their vehicle outside the family home.
Just hours after the post went live, cars lined the quiet street as dozens turned out to show their support.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Jo, 45, said: “We had a queue of cars down the close and down the next street.
“Everyone jumped on and supported him. He did it that well they asked to come back.
“He was charging a fiver but everyone was giving him £10.”
It didn’t take long for a local businessman to offer Zykiah a permanent base to work from.
Jason from Coal and Cotton Gin Bar reached out to the family saying they were “really impressed” by his work.
They offered him a canopy outside the venue at weekends to clean local cars.
Two years on, Zykiah, now aged 15, runs his own social media accounts and website.
The youngster now cleans for the likes of huge stars including former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, Love Island couple Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury, and United footballer Scott McTominay.
Jo continued: “He cleans for some Love Island stars.
“It’s all from his social media.
“Anyone who has a high-performance car comes to him but he does all cars.
“And he’s all self-taught, he’s never done a course. He’s done it all online and designed his own flyers.
“A lot of young lads message him asking how he started and he says with a bucket and sponge.
“He had a bucket and sponge for the whole year before he knew how to use a valeting kit.
“He went on Instagram, YouTube, any channel he could to watch the process.”
Zykiah’s business, called Dirt2Clean Manchester, charges £10 for an outside and winter washes, mini valets for £20, full valets for £30 and king valets for £50.
One day, the year 11 pupil hopes to one day own a car valeting company in his own name and aims to have branches across the UK.
Jo continued: “I feel so proud of him. We support him fully.
“We know he’s going to do well and continue.”
