Boy with OCD cleans cars for the stars!
A SALFORD teen with OCD turned his love of cleaning into washing cars for celebrities - attracting big name customers such as Molly-Mae Hague and Gary Neville.
Zykiah Ditchett, from Worsley, began showing an interest in cleaning from a young age.
He was eventually diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder at 13 after concerns were raised over his “constant” cleaning at home.
In a bid to get him outside more, his family purchased him a car valeting set for Christmas.
The youngster would use his kit to clean relatives’ cars, being paid £5 each time.
Eventually, the Culcheth High School pupil asked if he could clean neighbours’ vehicles.
His mum, Jo Ditchett, put a post on 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 Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury and 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 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 own a car valeting company in his own name. He 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.”
FLOCK TO ZYKIAH, 15, WHO CREATED VALET
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