So yesterday I decided my carpets were looking rough after the dogs tracked mud everywhere last week. Grabbed my phone and typed "carpet cleaners Brighton" expecting a quick answer. Big mistake - felt like falling down a rabbit hole with dozens of companies popping up.

Starting My Research

First I made a stupid simple spreadsheet on my laptop. Headers were:

• Company name
• Price quote
• Stains they guarantee
• Weird hidden fees?

Called four places pretending to have wine spills. Two picked up right away, one sent me to voicemail three times - crossed that one off immediately. Noticed most charge per room but their "room" sizes vary wildly.

The Chemical Surprise

Asked each company what solutions they use. One guy proudly said "industrial strength" but wouldn't name specifics - felt shady. Another said they use only plant-based stuff which sounded nice till they admitted it takes 48 hours to dry. Found a third company whose website said "eco-friendly" but when I asked, the dude hesitated then muttered something about "low-VOC synthetic cleaners." Total bait-and-switch.

Booking Nightmares

Finally picked "Shiny Carpets UK" because they had real photos of actual Brighton homes on their Instagram. Called to book - they said earliest slot was two weeks out! Tried negotiating but no luck. Lady offered me 10% off if I paid upfront via bank transfer. Almost agreed until my brother reminded me about those bank transfer scams.

The Final Decision

Ended choosing "Coastal Clean" because:

• Their van showed up same day for free inspection
• Dude demonstrated cleaning on my hallway corner
• Quoted £129 for living room + hallway
• Promised pet urine smell removal or redo free

They came yesterday morning - two guys lugging giant steam machines. Whole process took four hours including drying time. Smell? Vanished. Stains? Gone. My ancient Persian rug actually looks younger now. Only downside: found glitter in my sofa cushions afterwards probably from their equipment.

Overall lesson? Never trust website promises - make them prove it in person before paying. And always check their cleaning carts for hidden glitter bombs.