Ashleigh Johnson and her wife, known as CJ, have built a profitable deep‑cleaning business in Cape Town after a sudden career change that began in 2024. The couple say they traded guaranteed monthly salaries for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, driven by concerns about mental health and the life they want for their family.
From media events to cleaning supplies
Johnson, who worked in the media sector until 2024, founded RentaKleen after cleaning a friend’s house and posting the results on social media. The online post drew attention and enquiries, and the venture grew from there. CJ, who had initial reservations, later left a stable position at adidas to join the business full time as demand picked up.
The couple credited faith and careful commitment as important to their decision. Johnson told BONA that walking away from a guaranteed salary was a decision taken for the sake of her mental health and the future she wanted for her family. She said the family does not yet receive fixed salaries from the business but has managed to meet their needs and continue to share with others.
“[I walked] away from a guaranteed salary each month for the sake of my mental health, my future, and the life I want for myself and my family that I’m building,” Johnson said.
Practical beginnings and family context
The transformation from a one‑off house clean to a functioning business followed public interest in Johnson’s social‑media content. She is a mother to a 10‑year‑old, and said the early days of entrepreneurship prompted doubts about whether to return to a salaried job. Still, she described "beauty in the unknown" and expressed gratitude for what she called answered prayers during quieter periods.
- Founder: Ashleigh Johnson, left media in 2024
- Co‑founder/partner: CJ, left a job at adidas to join RentaKleen
- Business: RentaKleen, deep‑cleaning services
Small business lessons for Cape Town
The RentaKleen story illustrates a few practical points that matter to local entrepreneurs and residents in Cape Town. First, social media remains an important channel for discovery and early customer acquisition. Second, personal networks and visible results — a photographed clean home — can convert interest into sustained demand. Third, the couple’s experience underscores recurring trade‑offs in the local economy: leaving a steady income for the uncertainty of small business is often motivated by non‑financial priorities such as mental health and family life.
Johnson acknowledged that not everyone can make such a transition, saying stepping away from a steady job is not a choice available to everyone. CJ initially thought the cleaning idea was "crazy", but reversed course after the business gained traction, demonstrating the role of partner support in many micro‑enterprises.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Johnson left the media sector and began RentaKleen after a social‑media post |
| 2024–2026 | CJ left adidas and joined the business as it gained customers |
Local implications and next steps
The couple have not disclosed revenue or staffing details, but their account highlights the potential for small enterprises to grow from modest beginnings in Cape Town. For municipal and provincial policymakers focused on local economic recovery, stories like RentaKleen’s point to the importance of supporting start‑ups with access to training, affordable compliance advice, and marketing support so that grassroots businesses can scale without sacrificing household stability.
For residents considering similar moves, the story offers a sober reminder: entrepreneurship can bring personal fulfilment, but it also requires contingency planning and realistic expectations about income. Johnson’s emphasis on faith and family frames the business decision as about more than money — a factor that resonates in many Cape Town communities where quality of life and mental health are increasingly influencing work choices.
As RentaKleen continues to expand, the couple say they remain grateful for their progress and cautious about the future — a balanced posture that has served many small business owners across the city.
