Tell us who you are and what you do.
We’re James and John Makanjuola, twin brothers and founders of Makanjuola Group, a commercial cleaning company based in London.
When we started the business just over two years ago, we realised the cleaning industry carried a lot of negative stereotypes. We wanted to change that by bringing personality, energy and positivity to what we do. Through our work, social media and community projects, our goal has always been simple: make an impact and show people that cleaning can be something people genuinely enjoy watching and talking about.
Give us a fun fact most people won’t know about you.
People often think we’re exactly the same, but we’re actually quite different behind the scenes. John naturally leads on creativity and social media, while James focuses more on the operational side of the business. We also spend far more time working than people probably imagine, and we’re both endlessly curious about how businesses, buildings and people work.
You’ve built an incredible following online. Was that always the plan?
Not at all. The goal was never to become social media creators. We simply wanted to change the perception of the cleaning industry and show that cleaning could be fun, engaging and something people we’re proud to be part of. As the audience grew, so did the opportunities. For us, though, success has never been measured by follower numbers – it’s measured by the impact we’re making.
Why is giving back such an important part of what you do?
Giving back has always been part of who we are. It’s how we were brought up.
Long before we filmed community clean-ups, we were helping wherever we could. Social media simply allowed us to share that journey and hopefully encourage others to do the same. Whether it’s cleaning playgrounds, public spaces or supporting local communities, we never really see it as content—we see it as doing the right thing.
How do you deal with negativity on social media?
You quickly realise you can’t please everyone. Instead of focusing on negative comments, we focus on the people we’re helping. Ironically, criticism often creates more conversation around our videos, so we choose not to engage with it. We’ve learnt to separate who we are as people from what happens online and concentrate on the positive impact we’re making.
Your journey hasn’t always been easy. How has your upbringing shaped who you are today?
One of the defining moments in our lives came when we became homeless at the age of fifteen. That experience completely changed our mindset. We made a promise to ourselves that we would create a different future—not just for ourselves, but for our own families one day.
Despite everything, our parents always remained positive. They taught us resilience, gratitude and perspective, reminding us that someone will always be facing an even tougher battle. Those lessons continue to shape how we approach both business and life today.
Mental health is a huge part of Breathe Out. What have you learnt about looking after your own wellbeing?
The biggest lesson has been learning to be honest with ourselves. For a long time we became consumed by work, to the point where we’d forgotten to do the things that genuinely made us happy. Recently we made a conscious decision to start playing football again, simply because it reminded us who we were before business took over. Sometimes looking after your mental health isn’t about making huge changes—it’s about rediscovering the small things that bring you joy.
As twins, how do you support each other through the challenges?
We’ve spent our whole lives learning how to read each other. Often we can tell something is wrong without a word being said. We’ve also learnt to recognise those small signs in other people too. Sometimes all someone needs is a conversation, a smile or somebody to notice they’re not themselves. We think those small moments can make a huge difference.
What’s next for James and John and The Makanjuola Group?
Our ambition goes far beyond growing a cleaning business. We want to continue changing perceptions, making kindness cool and using our platform to inspire others. If we can encourage people to think differently, help their communities and realise that success can be built through hard work and positivity, then we’ll consider that a job well done.
