How I Became a Pressure Washer in Wolverhampton

I’d like to share how I got here – what shaped me, and how I became one of Wolverhampton’s recognised exterior cleaners.
This is an honest look back – not the polished version, but the real one.

Early Beginnings

I’ve been fascinated by machines for as long as I can remember – cars, motorbikes, robots, anything mechanical.
I must have been around six years old when my uncle bought himself an old pressure washer.
The moment I saw it, I said I wanted to try it.
Surprisingly, he said yes – and it felt absolutely incredible to use it for the first time.
Even as a child, I managed to wash an entire car on my own.

Back then, I had no idea that one day I’d earn my living using a much more powerful machine.

From Factory Work to Realisation

As the years went by, that childhood memory faded.
I grew up, and like most people, had to start earning a living – unfortunately, not as a business owner, but as an employee.
I worked in several factories around Telford and across the West Midlands.
I always did overtime, tried to save what I could, but I was never truly satisfied.
The work was tough, often under difficult conditions, and there was always pressure to meet targets.

Then one day my stomach started to hurt.
At first just a little, then worse with each passing day.
It went on for almost a year until I could no longer work and finally had to see a doctor.
I’ve never been the type to visit doctors, but after a few tests, I needed surgery.

During a conversation with my doctor, it became clear that my health problems were most likely caused by stress.
That was the turning point when I realised – I didn’t want to be an employee anymore.
I didn’t want to live my life following someone else’s plan.
I wanted to follow my own path.

I gathered what little savings I had, went to the bank for some help – and that’s how I became self-employed.

Taking the First Steps

I felt that pressure washing could be the perfect choice for me in every way, so I decided to give it a go.

And that’s where the first obstacle appeared: everyone had a different opinion.
One person said this, another said that – and the only thing they had in common was that each believed they were the best. 🙂

So I came up with an idea: I’d try to contact other business owners and offer to work with them for free, just to learn every small trick of the trade directly from the experts.
However, most of these “experts” – perhaps sensing my determination – weren’t exactly eager to help.

After contacting a dozen people, I had to admit there was no mentor willing to guide me.
It was disappointing – nobody likes rejection – but I knew I couldn’t give up.

That’s when I joined the Exterior Cleaning Alliance Facebook group to look for advice, guidance, and hopefully a mentor.
To my surprise, I discovered that the group’s admin, Joseph Spekker, owner of Stoke Jetwash, was also Hungarian.
When I realised that, I thought, why not message him? – after all, one more rejection wouldn’t hurt.

I had barely pressed send when my phone rang.
It was Joseph.
He kindly invited me to join him on a job two days later so he could show me a few things.

My First Day on Site

Two days later, I was already on the train – full of excitement and curiosity about what the day would bring.
I had no idea what to expect, but I knew something new was beginning.

Joseph met me at the station, and off we went to the first job: cleaning a family’s block paving driveway.
Looking back, it was a relatively simple task, but at the time everything was new to me – the sound of the machine, the force of the water, and the sight of the surface coming back to life.

Joseph showed me all the small tricks – how to hold the lance, at what angle to work, and when to go over a spot again for a perfect finish.
After that job, he got paid, and we headed to the next one.
That was also quite straightforward, but I enjoyed every second of it.

That day I realised: this is what I want to do.
Not just the cleaning itself, but the satisfaction of seeing instant results and knowing that my work makes a visible difference.

By the end of the day, I had made up my mind.
I thanked Joseph for the opportunity and went home thinking about how I could start my own business.
It wasn’t an easy decision – I had little experience and not much money – but I knew one thing for certain: if I gave it everything, it would work.

Building a Business in Wolverhampton

In the following weeks, I continued helping Joseph whenever I could.
I tried not to get in the way, just observed and learned, while planning how to start my own operation.

Since I live in Wolverhampton, it made sense to focus on that area.
And because Sutton Coldfield was relatively nearby, I decided to put extra effort into reaching clients there too.

At first, I thought about starting with a small van to take on local jobs.
But one thing I was absolutely sure of: I would never compromise on equipment quality.
If I was going to build a serious business, I needed serious tools.

After several conversations with Joseph, I realised that AC Pressure Washers would be the right place to get my equipment.
With his help, I chose a professional industrial machine that would allow me to start working properly.

From day one, I decided I wouldn’t cut corners when it came to tools – because only high-quality equipment can produce high-quality results.

My First Job

My first job came from a young homeowner who had just bought his house.
He needed his resin-bound driveway cleaned.
I brought along my newly purchased camera and recorded my first ever work video.

It was a simple job, but it took much longer than it would today – back then, everything took extra time while I was still getting used to the process.
Even so, I did a solid, high-quality job.
The client was happy, and my Google Ads campaign had worked exactly as intended.

That was the moment I knew: I was on the right track.

The First Year and Beyond

My first year was full of challenges.
I learned how to design leaflets, how to run Facebook ads, and I began to understand how to attract customers through Google.
I made mistakes, of course, but each one taught me something valuable.

Now, as I’m about to begin my third year in the industry, I feel I have a much deeper understanding of both the work itself and what it takes to build real customer trust.

I’m deeply grateful to Joseph for helping me get started, and to all my clients, many of whom have recommended me to others – helping both me and my business grow stronger every year.

Stay Connected

If you’re curious about what I do day-to-day, follow this blog, as I regularly share interesting projects, stories, and updates about my work.
I also have a YouTube channel, where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at how I work and how Balo Jetwash continues to develop.

If you enjoyed this story, please like or share my video – it really helps spread the word and reach more people who might find inspiration in my journey.

Thank you for reading.

www.balojetwash.co.uk