From the ground up: The digital creators making clean look couture

SKYF

“The energy in my content is seen in the various characters i embody throughout my content pieces, from superheroes to general housekeepers. The collective power in my content is seen through my work; in my ability to collaborate with different creators of all races, ethnic groups, religions and genders I give everyone a chance to showcase who they are in our collaborative efforts,”says Skyf. Through creative leadership and not being afraid to bring his ideas to life around other creatives, Skyf proclaims to embody leadership, energy and collective power — and we couldn't agree more!

For successful content, Skyf emphasises delegation. And that doesn’t mean doing less, he says, it means thinking smart and sharing his perspective. “Ideas are cool and everything when you pull them off alone but roping in many people into one idea has a magic to it. I could say what probably stood out in my approach was how I had always put my characters in a leadership role. The more props and people you have the better you can tell the joke.”

lifestyle

Showing up and showing out: the new era of content creators

He adds that the campaign shines a light on the effort that goes into managing a household, and keeping it spotless by the people who are in these roles, “From being vast in their knowledge of cleaning products to understanding how to deal with different types of cleaning issues (washing clothes, washing dishes, etc.).”

Skyf’s content is fun and real — what goes into it. “I make sure to create when I truly feel the moment to create. The moment it feels forced or it feels like a task, it often reflects in the work. When they say show them they’re not saying tell them. So you have to keep your head down and focus on results, they’ll do the talking for you,” he says.

Word on the social streets is that Skyf's audience looks forward to his content — and the proof is in the numbers. With nearly 19M TikTok followers, Skyf has found that many viewers connect with his character Mavis, so her role in the Cleanipedia campaign came as no surprise. “It didn’t feel foreign to the audience seeing her playing the role she did in this campaign. By sticking to the truth in it all. By constantly upholding the character in pride and representing people as best I can.”

Seeing himself part of a national campaign pushed Skyf beyond his comfort zone — and he may still be a little awestruck. “This took me by surprise honestly. It pushed me into a space that was so foreign to me. I went from shooting videos on my phone to playing such a big role in a campaign with other amazing creators. I still don’t have words!” However, he enthuses that this is where he ought to be. “I read a quote somewhere that said, ‘This may not have been where I intended to go, but I’m where I think I need to be.’ That’s how I truly feel. I’ve never felt so in place in all my years.”

SKYF's favourite hack and cleaning product:

How to remove stains off white clothes; Sunlight.

Tie Sithole

“My content is never loud in speech, but my content on fashion and lifestyle screams on its own,” explains Tie of his content having a deeply meditative quality. He enlightens that, as an introvert, he’s never been one for commotion but prefers a quiet and chilled space instead. “As you can see from my videos, 90% of the time I am in myroom—whichIliketorefertoasmy palace. Enhancing my space has always been my priority since I spend a lot of time there. That’s how I came up with cleaning content.”

As a fashion and lifestyle content creator who is intentional about being authentic and relatable, he asserts that brands are looking for less noise and more authenticity, and that’s why he believes Cleanipedia approached him. Reiterating that he is not one for loud messaging, “I can be loud and bold in conveying a message without uttering a word, which is calm and still.”

“After posting a video, be it showing different outfits I rock for different events or a cleaning video, I would always be tagged on videos of people imitating what I was doing, or creating content of inspiration. Cleanipedia saw potential from how my content could be relatable daily.”

The intention behind his content is to always inspire and motivate audiences to build their own confidence. “I always aim to make someone make a move. When I do my fashion vlogs I hope and believe that someone is inspired to start taking good care of themselves — because looking good makes you feel good. Then, when it comes to keeping my space clean, the message is clear that cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

As he continues to move quietly but purposefully, he adds that he wants people to feel like everything is possible. “Always aim high because the sky is your only limit. Showing up every day, being consistent with your work, being relatable and inspiring someone to start making a move — this is the definition of ‘showing them’. The ability to capture people’s attention without saying a word... Because I never speak on my vlogs unless it’s a collaboration.”

On his role to help shift the narrative around what wellness can be, Tie explains, “To change a lifestyle content narrative, first you need to understand the current story, identify what needs to be changed and then rewrite it. This involves self-reflection, challenging limiting beliefs and creating a new empowering narrative. So, yes I am shifting the narrative.”

What Tie thinks of the hacks on Cleanipedia:

I am a person who loves working smart, not hard, when it comes to cleaning. So the cleaning hacks made my life easy, not to mention how clean and fresh my sneakers look from the hacks I learned.

Leah Degois

Bringing it back to basics, Leah embodies the phrase “look good, feel good”. Through her sense of realism and relatability, she brings to audiences a message that putting effort into your look can instantly lift your mood — no matter how subtle it may seem. “I feel like people always get caught up in the over-glamourisation of things like fashion and beauty and it almost tends to scare the average person off. Or rather, it makes them feel like they could never be aligned with something like fashion,” says Leah.

“Fashion and style are something that each person individually brings to a garment, but at the end of the day, a garment is still clothing and clothing care is universal. To me, it truly is all connected.”

Even the most mundane of tasks, like cleaning, can be brought to life through vibrancy — afresh, unexpected layer that proves “chores” can become something to enjoy. “In my opinion, it doesn’t have to be dull or clinical; it can be fun, visually engaging and full of personality. By pairing aesthetics with practicality, I’m showing that taking care of your space and your things can still be creative and expressive!”

One of the key messages of the Bakhombise campaign is that looking good and doing good can go hand in hand. Leah says this is a reminder that the two aren’t mutually exclusive.“You don’t have to not be fabulous to be practical, and you don’t have to compromise self-expression to get things done.”

If you’re wondering how you can make everyday cleaning and routines feel luxurious and worth showing off, Leah says it’s all in the details. “The same way you’d curate a look or a flat lay, I love to bring intention to my routines. Beautiful tools, a cute outfit, the right playlist, suddenly it feels less like a chore and more like a ritual. ‘Romanticise your life’ is my mantra!”

Leah hopes her audience sees her content as inspiration for creating their own spaces filled with personality and calm — reflecting who they are and not who they think they should be.It’s a celebration of that duality, having style with substance and effort with elegance. “I hope they see that you define the space, not the other way around.”

At the core of her content is storytelling, something Leah values. And she realised this even greater through the Bakhombise campaign. “It’s so important to me, or else your content just lacks substance. I always think about what feeling or idea I want someone to walk away with, whether that’s a spark of joy or just the realisation that cleaning can be aesthetic and fun.”

Her lens now shifted, Leah shares that she’s realised that her content can be the bridge between “aspiration and accessibility, beauty and purpose. It’s about more than just looking good; it’s about feeling seen and helping others feel seen too — in spaces they might’ve felt excluded from before.”

Leah’s favourite Cleanipedia hack:

It helped me figure out how to remove those stubborn yellow armpit stains on my white t-shirts.

Anika Dambuza

Popularly known as “The City Makoti,” Anika’s content carves out a space where tradition meets intention. She brings confidence and clarity through her knowledgability and relatability — “the capable Makoti I am” she shares.

In the campaign, Anika’s voice stands out not just for what she teaches, but for how she teaches it: with heart. Her content is a masterclass in balance; educational yet emotional, methodical yet soft. “I treat each piece of content like a conversation with a friend,” she says.“I want you to learn something useful, but also feel seen and soothed in the process.”

As a creator, Anika’s journey has been shaped by purpose. She’s not chasing viral moments. Rather, she’s an anchor for people in their everyday lives. “When women tell me,‘I tried your hack and it changed my home,’ I know I’m walking with purpose,” she says.“That’s what I’m here for: to help people feel empowered in their space.”

Her content may start with cleaning, but Anika is showing us something much bigger; about ownership, pride and peace. “Our homes are sacred,” she says. “Pride doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from being present.” Cleaning, for Anika, isn’t just a task but a ritual; a form of care, a way of reconnecting with oneself.

That warmth and relatability is what her community clings to. It is this intention that draws viewers to her platform, and the recognition from Cleanipedia has shown her that the humble way in which she delivers her content is exceptional. “It tells me there’s space for soft-spoken, grounded voices in the digital world. It affirms that I don’t have to be loud to be impactful.”

She’s walking proof that soft voices can spark big shifts and that everyday wisdom deserves to be celebrated. And the one message she hopes lives longer than the algorithm? “Your everyday life matters. You don’t need to be perfect to be powerful. Your home, your story, your way.”

Anika’s favourite Cleanipedia hack: I always struggled with how to get rid of stubborn grease in a way that was quick but gentle. Cleanipedia helped me figure out which products really work and why — and that’s saved me time and money.

Anika’s go-to cleaning product:

I love using baking soda and vinegar for stubborn stains. But when I want that fresh, clean smell without the stress? Handy Andy Cream is my holy grail. It never fails me.