Searching for Carpet Cleaning Deals

Okay so last Tuesday I looked at my living room carpet and wow, what a mess. My kid spilled grape juice everywhere plus muddy paw prints from the dog. Looked like a crime scene. I started googling "cheap carpet cleaning Plymouth" around 9 AM because money's tight right now. First company quoted me £200 – nearly choked. Ain't nobody got cash for that.

Scrolled through local Facebook groups next. Saw some dude recommending "Bob's Steam Clean" claiming £25 per room. Texted Bob immediately. He replied "Yeah mate" super fast but then ghosted me when I asked about his insurance. Sketchy much? My neighbor Jenny warned me about scams last month when her carpets got ruined by some cowboy with a van.

Comparing Prices & Booking

Grabbed my notepad and started cold-calling every number that popped up on Gumtree. First place said £85 minimum charge plus £15 per stain. Nah. Second guy sounded drunk and asked for cash upfront – hard pass. Finally found this company called FreshCarpets who actually answered all my paranoid questions:

• Showed me their public liability insurance via WhatsApp screenshot
• Charged flat £65 for 3 rooms (even with pet stains)
• Had next-day slots open because someone canceled

Booked faster than you can say "cheap deals." Put down £15 deposit through PayPal just in case. Felt like I won the lottery.

The Cleaning Day Surprises

Guy shows up Thursday 10 AM sharp in a beat-up Toyota but machines looked professional. Spent 45 minutes doing some moisture test – apparently important so carpets don't grow mold. Used three different cleaners: one for general grime, some special enzyme stuff for pet odors, and heavy-duty gel for the grape stain.

Halfway through he shows me black water from the machine tank. "This is your carpet, mate." Disgusting but satisfying. Only hiccup was him noticing my floorboards warping near the window – said steam cleaning could make it worse. We skipped that corner entirely. Smart call.

Final Results & Tips

Total bill came to £68 since I had extra pet stains. Dried in 4 hours with windows open. Smells like lemons now instead of wet dog. Still see faint grape marks if you squint but way better than before.

Big takeaways:

• Always ask "what’s included" – some charge extra for stain treatment
• No insurance = no deal period
• Afternoon slots cheaper but morning visits get cleaner equipment

Honestly thought all cheap cleaners would be dodgy. Just takes proper digging and asking annoying questions.