Carpet cleaning should be straightforward. You ask for a price, the cleaner turns up, the carpets look better, and that is that. In real life, though, the bill can creep up fast if you are not careful.

If you have ever walked into a venue the morning after a busy night and seen sticky patches on the sofa arms, biscuit crumbs ground into cushions, and that faint mix of drinks, perfume, and spilled sauce in the air, you will know the feeling.

If you commute through East Croydon, you already know life here can feel like a sprint.