Miles Laflin, a Bedfordshire-based pool cleaner known as ‘The Pool Guy’ was recently awarded the High-Quality Content Creator of the year title at the inaugural UK and Ireland TikTok Awards.
Now with over 15 million TikTok followers, Miles has become a global social media legend. One of his videos has had more than 170 million views.
Despite his fame, the 34-year-old father-of-two continues the business he started four years ago, crediting his day job with keeping him grounded. His wife Lauren is now his personal assistant.
“I started dabbling with Tik-Tok in ‘Lockdown’ but I could never have predicted the response,” says Miles. “I’ve been doing swimming pool work for a long time. I enjoy my work, but I never really saw what the interest was for other people.
SLUDGY POOLS
“It’s quite crazy to think how many people have seen my videos,” Miles continues. “It’s mostly all the sludgy pools – the ones that have been left for 20 years – that people love watching the most,” he said. “Most people think they’ll empty it and refill it with new water, but it can easily be sorted with the right chemicals.”
Miles acknowledges: “It is tricky having to record everything when I am at work, it makes the job take twice as long. I have to spend my evenings editing the content, so it’s not a 9-5 anymore, more of a 24/7 job!”
Miles started out as just a labourer 16 years ago to being offered a permanent job as a swimming pool apprentice learning everything from seasonal opening and closing pools, general maintenance, plumbing, and water treatment. He has now launched a merchandise and products shop on his popular website.
Now boasting more than 22 million followers across combined social media channels, Miles was delighted to win a Special Achievement Award at the 2022 UK Pool & Spa Awards. “I am getting a little more used to some of the perks like going to awards shows and things like that. Plus, I do have a lot more brands wanting to work with me now, which makes it feel a lot more real,” he says.
“Tik Tok set you up with a creator fund, which means that the more views you get the more money you earn back from it.” He adds: “If you are thinking about doing content on your job then go for it 100% TikTok changed my life.”
