The Great January Reset: Undo the Holiday Chaos Before School Starts

Well, we made it. The Christmas tree is packed away (or it’s sitting in the garage waiting to be dealt with), the relatives have finally gone home, and the last of the ham is arguably past its use-by date.

If you are looking around your home in the harsh light of a mid-January afternoon, you might be noticing the aftermath of the festive season.

The "holiday hangover" isn't just a headache from New Year's Eve—it’s visible on your floors.

Between the extra foot traffic, the kids running in and out with sandy feet, and the inevitable food spills during the BBQ season, your carpets have taken a beating over the last four weeks.

At Christchurch Carpet Cleaning, we see a huge spike in bookings in late January. Why? Because savvy homeowners know that the window between "guests leaving" and "school starting" is the golden time to reset the home.

Here is why you should look at booking your annual deep clean this month, and how to get your house healthy for the 2026 school year.

1. The "Invisible" Holiday Mess

You probably did a quick vacuum before the guests arrived in December. But what has happened since then?



During the holidays, the average Christchurch home sees about triple the usual foot traffic.

• Nieces and nephews running down the hallway.
• The dog being more active because the family is home.
• Shoes being worn inside more often (because let’s be honest, we get lazy in summer).

This packs a significant amount of soil into the carpet pile. You might see the obvious spots—like where a piece of pavlova dropped—but it’s the general "greying" in the high-traffic lanes that does the damage.

This dirt acts like abrasive sandpaper. Every time you walk on it, it grinds against the wool fibres. A [Professional Steam Clean] in January stops this damage in its tracks, flushing out the grit before it becomes a permanent wear pattern.

4. Tackle the Stains You Hid Under the Rug

Be honest: when Uncle Dave spilled his Merlot on Boxing Day, did you clean it properly, or did you just dab it with a paper towel and pull the coffee table over it?

We aren't judging! The holidays are chaotic. But now that things have calmed down, those stains need attention.

The danger of waiting: The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove.

• Tannins (Wine/Coffee): These can permanently dye the wool fibre if left too long.
• Sugars (Juice/Soft Drink): Even if the spot looks clean, the sugar residue is sticky. It will attract dirt over the next few months, turning into a mysterious black spot by March.

If you have "hidden" stains, point them out to us when we arrive. We have specialised spotting agents for red wine, rust, ink, and pet accidents that are far more effective (and safer) than the supermarket sprays under your sink.

5. Drying Time is on Your Side

One of the biggest practical reasons to clean in January? The weather.

While our truck-mounted systems extract 95% of the moisture, carpets still need a few hours to be completely touch-dry. In July, this can take a little longer. In January? With the Christchurch heat and a couple of windows open, your carpets will be dry and ready to walk on in record time.

You can have the carpets cleaned in the morning and be watching TV in the lounge by the afternoon. It’s the most convenient time of year to get it done.