Jason Shipway, owner of Enhanced Cleaning, who is set to represent WA in a national cleaning competition. Riley Churchman
Camera IconJason Shipway, owner of Enhanced Cleaning, who is set to represent WA in a national cleaning competition. Riley Churchman Credit: Riley Churchman/The West Australian

Melville local enters battle to find Australia’s ‘fastest cleaner’

Gabrielle Becerra MelletPerthNow - Melville

A self-professed clean freak from Melville is heading interstate in a bid to be named the country’s fastest cleaner.

Jason Shipway is the brains behind Enhanced Cleaning, a Bunbury business that is now so successful the 22-year-old is in the midst of expanding throughout Perth.

The young business owner says he has loved cleaning since he was a toddler and today oversees more than 20 employees.

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“I always loved cleaning, always tried to keep my room clean,” he said.

“My mum tells me that she’s got photos of me when I was a baby carrying a little mopping bucket and a vacuum around.”

Jason Shipway, owner of Enhanced Cleaning, who is set to represent WA in a national cleaning competition. Riley Churchman
Camera IconJason Shipway, owner of Enhanced Cleaning, who is set to represent WA in a national cleaning competition. Riley Churchman Credit: Riley Churchman/The West Australian

Six months after starting the business as an 18-year-old, Mr Shipway had built up a roster of clients, which steadily grew until he realised he needed to bring on staff.

He has also amassed 48,000 followers on TikTok for his cleaning videos, a trend that has taken off on the social media app, with #cleaning racking up three million posts on the platform.

One of Mr Shipway’s first few videos reached five million views and gave him a following.

“I think most people just find it therapeutic,” he said.

“Because everyone likes to think they’re a clean freak and so they watch these videos and relate to them and they get to try cleaning hacks.”

He said he had grown to love the platform and shares regular updates about the business.

“I saw other people doing it on the platform and thought it would be fun and it’s been a blast,” he said.

“I got a few brand deals out of it and have been getting a lot of views on my videos where I post cleaning content; I’ll post business tips and day-in-the-life (videos) as a business owner.”

Enhanced Cleaning owner Jason Shipway.
Camera IconEnhanced Cleaning owner Jason Shipway. Credit: Riley Churchman/The West Australian

Mr Shipway may be a passionate WA local and cleaner but State-based research commissioned by VIVA Paper Towel revealed WA residents spend the least amount of time cleaning, with 40 per cent cleaning one day a week and almost 46 per cent claiming to spend only one to three hours a week cleaning.

Queensland was crowned by the research as the nation’s biggest self-proclaimed cleaning fanatics, with 47 per cent cleaning three or more days a week.

On March 7, Mr Shipway’s passions will be put to the test when he faces off with five other competitors from around the country to find the country’s fastest cleaner, in a competition hosted by reality TV star Matthew ‘Matty J’ Johnson.

Competitors will be vying for “cleaning glory” and a cash prize of $5000 after they are put to the test to see who is able to wipe up a series of spills the fastest.

The competition is set to take place in a cleaning fanatics “worst nightmare” — an all-white display home — that will be stained with spills like coffee and red wine.

With his competitors for the title ranging from a fertility clinician who is passionate about cleaning to a Melbourne-based worker in the hoarding and squalor space, Mr Shipway said he was feeling somewhat confident about his chances.

“I’ve probably done over 2000 cleans with those paper towels at this point,” he said.

“I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me, but I’m a very competitive person.”