18 March 2024

Why does my carpet smell?

Do you remember when you were a child, when you visited friends’ houses, they had a distinct smell? Your home has a smell that you may only notice after returning from a trip. Your nose is not accustomed to the usual scents.

Every home has its own smell from things like laundry detergent, soap, cleaning products, food, shampoo, and body wash. These scents all mix together to create a unique aroma.

However, sometimes, these scents are not a source of comfort and familiarity. If you have washed the bins, are fastidious about taking out the rubbish, emptied and cleaned the fridge, and the smell remains, the carpets maybe to blame. Professional residential carpet cleaning isn’t just about restoring carpets to their former glory, it’s about keeping them hygienic and smelling fresh too.

Your house is a home, and the carpets are well-used

Carpets take a hammering; life happens and there are kids, pets, spills and stains. Like a pet’s mess, food and drink contain organic matter, which causes fume-inducing bacteria to multiply. If spills and stains are cleaned up incorrectly, eventually there will be unpleasant odours; rubbing a spill pushes it deeper into the fibers, and leaving it lets it soak into the carpet and underlay or fabric of the upholstery.

Solution: it’s important to take prompt, appropriate action when spills and stains occur. Vacuuming often removes dirt on the surface, but particles deep in the carpet are still there. You might notice them by smell before seeing them. Regularly schedule professional upholstery or carpet cleaning to permanently shift the accumulated dirt and debris, but also to maintain the carpet’s structure and integrity.

a pair of red rain boots are sitting on a carpet .

Moisture on the carpets

Moisture is the enemy of carpets. It creates the ideal environment for mould and mildew to grow. Leaking pipes are most often to blame, but high humidity or inadequate ventilation are the slow burners, causing less noticeable damage to carpets over time.

A mouldy musty smell is a late warning sign something nasty is growing under the carpet. If left unchecked, the moulds and mildew not only cause an odour but carry significant risks to your health.

Solution: identify and remedy the source of the moisture, to avoid future issues. It could be something as simple as water regularly being brought in by wet boots, or a leak from the roof. Any leak, flood, spill, or even high humidity from poor ventilation is a potential cause.

Moisture or flood-damaged carpets require swift action. Professional carpet cleaning (Christchurch Carpet Cleaning specialises in water and flood restoration) uses powerful equipment to dry the carpets.

Unpleasant lingering odours are often attributable to the carpets and upholstery needing some professional cleaners’ TLC. Not only is a smelly carpet off-putting to visitors, but it can also indicate underlying issues that cause permanent damage to the carpets. Carpet cleaners are experts with special tools and safe cleaning products to remove strong odours from carpets effectively.

Canterbury residents can rely on Christchurch Carpet Cleaning to rejuvenate carpets and eliminate unpleasant odours for good. Our professional cleaning services also include upholstery cleaning and rug cleaning for a tailored cleaning solution.

Don't let a smelly carpet dampen the ambience of your home. Contact the best carpet cleaning services in Christchurch today to enjoy a fresher, cleaner living environment. Call Dave on 021 638 637 to make an appointment.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Get a FREE Quote

A family is sitting on a couch in a living room.

A pristine hibernation: Christchurch it’s time to clean your soft furnishings

23 May 2025

As the days grow shorter and the chill starts to sets in, the natural reaction is to retreat indoors to stay warm and cosy. That means our homes’ soft furnishings – carpets, rugs, couches and armchairs – see a lot more action. Whether you're curling up with a book, binge-watching your favourite TV series, or entertaining guests, your carpets and upholstered furniture are a central feature of a winter lifestyle. But have you stopped to think about what they might be harbouring? Winter is one of the grubbiest times of year for soft furnishings – and that’s exactly why this is the perfect time to book in for upholstery and professional carpet cleaning in Christchurch . Why do carpets and upholstery get so dirty in winter? There are a few key reasons these essential fabrics become a magnet for grime in the cooler months: 1. More time indoors With the temperature dropping outside, it’s only natural to spend more time inside. The debris tramped in from outdoors typically has a higher water content, and the more frequently you use your couch and armchair , the quicker dirt and spills accumulate – especially on absorbent upholstery fabrics. 2. Winter clothing Coats, scarves, and boots carry in all sorts of mess, from rain and mud to fine dust and pet hair. As we come indoors after a trip outside, all that grime transfers onto the carpets and upholstery, whether as an obvious mark or the accumulation of grub over time, it’s there. 3. Poor ventilation and ‘dirty’ heating Closed windows and doors in winter reduce airflow, which means dust, moisture, and airborne particles have nowhere to go – except into your carpets and upholstery. On top of that, heating sources like wood burners and coal fires release fine soot, ash, and smoke particles into the air. These pollutants settle into your soft furnishings, which can make them look dull and dirty – and potentially affecting the air quality inside your home.

A dirty carpet in a room with a radiator.

Stain alive: how a deep carpet clean can save your carpet

28 April 2025

There’s nothing like the thought of having to replace a tired, stained or fading carpet to drain your colour; the prospect of a big-ticket expense is rarely welcome. But before you rip up your carpet and start a fresh, you maybe lucky, a professional carpet clean can work wonders to bring carpets back to life saving you the cost and hassle of replacing. Is it damaged or a dirty carpet? First things first: is your carpet truly worn out, or just in need of a deep clean? It’s easy to mistake a dull, grubby appearance for permanent damage, but more often than not, embedded dirt and grime are to blame. High-traffic areas, especially in homes with pets or kids, can quickly become discoloured. In commercial spaces, daily footfall can leave carpets looking tired far sooner than they actually are. A visit from a team offering expert carpet cleaning in Christchurch NZ lift stains, remove odours, and revive carpet fibres, leaving it looking significantly better, and your money in your wallet. Age and the quality of the carpet matter Carpet doesn’t last forever. But with regular maintenance and professional cleaning, many carpets can last a good 10 to15 years or more. The higher-quality materials like wool respond better to cleaning and last longer than cheaper carpet options. If your carpet is still within its expected lifespan, a deep clean from an affordable carpet cleaning Christchurch provider extends its life for years to come. However, if your carpet is showing signs of wear such as frayed fibres, bare patches, or delamination (the separation of the different layers of carpet which looks like wrinkles or ripples), it might be time to consider replacing it. Christchurch Carpet Cleaning assess all carpets before cleaning them, not only to deliver realistic expectations of what can be achieved, but also because there can be underlying causes such as flood damage or improper installation which need to be addressed as a priority. Cleaning can't reverse physical damage, but it can restore surface appearance. Dirty carpets: there’s more than meets the eye Think about what your carpet is exposed to every day. Pets, children, work boots, or food and drink spills all take a toll. Getting carpets cleaned, for either residential or commercial carpet cleaning , enhances the look and feel of your floors but also removes the nasties that reside on them. Allergens, bacteria, and moulds impact our health, and hot water extraction is a highly effective way to remove them to create a healthier environment for your family or employees. When in doubt give Christchurch Carpet Cleaning a shout If you’re unsure whether cleaning or replacing is right for your carpet, book a consultation with Christchurch Carpet Cleaning . We’ll organise a specialist in professional carpet cleaning to assess your floors and recommend the most cost-effective, safe and practical approach. Even carpets you thought were beyond saving can be dramatically improved with the right techniques. Christchurch Carpet Cleaning also offer additional options such as sofa cleaning, upholstery cleaning services , and rug cleaning in Christchurch, allowing you to freshen up your entire space in one go. Before you spend thousands of dollars on a new carpet, explore your options with the best carpet cleaning Christchurch has to offer. Whether it’s for your home or business, our carpet cleaning Christchurch services are designed to breathe new life into tired carpets - saving you money, time, and stress. Ready to transform your floors? Book an appointment today, call 021 638 637.