Christchurch's winter vs your carpets: why the cold months are the dirtiest

4 September 2025

Winter in Christchurch is a season of contrasts. While the crisp mornings, snow-dusted hills, and cosy evenings by the fire are what we love most, these colder months can be brutal on your home’s interiors, especially the carpets. Muddy shoes, damp pets, entertaining indoors instead of outside, and closed-up living spaces combine to create the perfect storm for dirt, stains, and odours to take hold.


If you’ve ever noticed your carpets looking duller, flatter, or even giving off a musty smell during winter, you’re not imagining it. The cold months are the grubbiest time of year for flooring, and that’s exactly why now is a great time to book professional carpet cleaning in Christchurch.

And before we start, keep in mind that a winter carpet clean may just be the high traffic areas – entranceways, hallways, living areas – and on alternate bookings you can get bedrooms and other areas done.


Why are carpets dirtier in winter?


1. Wet and muddy shoes

Christchurch winters bring plenty of rain and that means damp ground with the increased potential for more mud and grit being tracked indoors. Even if you have a mat at the door, in our hurry to get indoors we can (let’s be honest) sometimes only give shoes a quick one-two on the mat before carrying on indoors.


Outdoor dirt doesn’t just make carpets look dirty; it’s a known fact that they wear the fibres, shortening their lifespan.


Having a no shoes indoor policy is one way to further protect your carpets, but we appreciate this can be controversial!



People toasting with drinks at a party, celebrating, in a dimly lit space. Cheers and happy expressions.

2. Increased indoor living

We spend more time indoors in winter, so why not make it as pleasant as possible? More parties, movie nights and sick days at home, more spills, more lounging on sofas – your carpets and upholstery bear the brunt of winter. Having your upholstery and carpets deep cleaned is an aid to winter self-care!

 

3. Closed windows produce stale air

During winter, homes are sealed up against the cold. While necessary to keep the warmth in, it also traps dust, allergens, smoke, and cooking odours,. Lack of ventilation contributes to stale air, unpleasant smells, and even triggers asthma or allergy symptoms. Professional carpet cleaning breaks this cycle by removing trapped pollutants and deep-cleaning the fibres, leaving carpets fresher, healthier, and a better indoor environment.


4. Open fires and log burners

There’s nothing like a crackling fire on a freezing night but when smoke, ash or soot poof out into the room, these settle on upholstery and carpet fibres. And don’t even talk about the occasional blobs of sap, and birds exiting into your lounge down the chimney!


And, as expected, if your fire gets a lot of use throughout winter, you’ll likely be trekking in – over carpet – with armloads of firewood, kindling and pinecones. Then you swipe at your clothes after dumping the wood near the fire and the debris on your sleeves inevitably ends up on the floor.

By winter’s end, there’s a lot more in your carpet than before winter! This contributes to dullness and can make for dark patches or discolouration.


5. Pets being pets

Your pets may decide that the chilly outdoors just isn’t for them and so spend more time indoors. And when they have to go out, their paws and fur bring in dirt and moisture.


They can’t help shedding throughout winter, and on top of the fur itself, damp fur releases odour-causing particles from the natural bacteria and oils on your pet’s skin. As the fur dries, these particles become airborne, creating that unmistakable ‘wet dog’ (or cat) smell that lingers in carpets and upholstery – which is made even more whiffy by windows not being open as much.


Carpets certainly take hit from all that extra lolling around in front of the fire or in the sunny spot. Without a good clean, the mix of moisture, dirt, and odour can quickly turn into a grubby film and long-lasting smells.



Woman in a beanie and sweater playing frisbee with a black and white dog in a grassy field.

This is where professional carpet cleaning Christchurch services truly make a difference. Expert cleaning not only treats the stains and odours pets leave behind but also revitalises your carpets overall appearance. The fibres are lifted, cleaned and restored to their natural position (subject to existing wear and tracking), which keeps your carpets looking fresher for longer. A professional clean ensures your home stays fresh, cosy, and healthy throughout the winter and into spring.


The hidden cost of ignoring winter dirt

It’s tempting to put off carpet cleaning, but it can also lead to long-term damage. Here’s why:


Permanent staining: the longer mud, wine, or pet accidents sit in your carpet, the deeper they embed, making carpet stain removal harder and sometimes impossible.


Fibre damage: grit and debris act like sandpaper underfoot, slowly eroding the softness of your carpet.


Odour build-up: dampness, cooking, smoke, and pet smells intensify when trapped in fibres, leading to that tell-tale lived-in winter smell.


Allergens and health risks: dust mites, bacteria, and mould spores thrive in warm, enclosed environments, affecting air quality. For households with children, vulnerable adults or asthma sufferers, this can be especially problematic.


By booking professional carpet cleaning services you’re not just removing winter’s visible dirt, you’re preventing long-term – and more costly – issues.


When shoes-off isn’t an option

Winter floor maintenance can be a real headache for offices, retail stores, and hospitality venues especially if workers, customers and guests come in directly from the street and effective foot-wiping on mats is minimal. Commercial carpet cleaning ensures workplaces remain professional, hygienic, and welcoming for staff and customers alike.


Won’t carpet take forever to dry in winter?

It’s a carpet cleaning myth that carpets take too long to dry in winter. Advanced Carpet Cleaning in Christchurch uses professional grade equipment and techniques to clean carpet and furniture without leaving excessive dampness. When the weather is dry and windows can be open for a time after cleaning, carpet and furniture will still dry in good time.


If you already have heating on low, this will also assist with drying when windows are closed.

And if the weather is forecast to be really atrocious on the day of your booking, we’ll make contact early to see if you’d like to reschedule or not.


Why winter carpet care with Advanced Carpet Cleaning is the smart choice

Come September and October, everyone rushes to book carpet cleaning in Christchurch to freshen up their homes for the traditional spring clean. There maybe longer wait times for your carpet cleaning appointment. A bit of pre-planning by booking an end-of-winter clean ensures you get the most convenient slot you want, without the delay.


Don’t wait until spring – book now for professional carpet cleaning

Christchurch winters are incredibly picturesque, but they’re undeniably tough on carpets. Mud, moisture, pets, soot, and closed-up spaces all combine to make flooring dirtier than at any other time of year. Book your carpet cleaning appointment today and give your home a spruce up during the season you use it most. Call Christchurch’s trusted carpet cleaning professionals now on 0800 566 576.

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Pet hair vs carpet fibres: expert tips to keep your floors fresh

20 October 2025
For the love of your furry friends, you may have resigned yourself to carpets that host pet hair, muddy paws, ‘presents’ like slightly chewed birds or rodents, and the odd sneaky vomit. It can make having a fresh, clean carpet a bit of a challenge, right? However, as Christchurch’s best professional carpet cleaners, Advanced Carpet Cleaning are here to help. Here are our top strategies to protect your carpets while keeping your four-legged family members happy. Understanding the pet hair challenge Pet hair isn't just a surface-level nuisance. Left to accumulate, it has the capacity to create quite the Pandora’s Box of problems. Obviously, different pet breeds shed varying amounts and types of hair, from the fine undercoat of Golden Retrievers to the coarser hairs of German Shepherds, and the rough, wiry hairs of the Jack Russell. Each hair type behaves differently with carpet materials, with some ‘felting’ on the surface of carpet and others ‘burrowing’ into carpet fibres and no matter how often you vacuum you can’t seem to get it all. Not to be overlooked are also the accompanying issues: odours, allergies, and the keratin in pet hair making a perfect environment for carpet beetle to lay their eggs so the larvae can munch greedily after hatching. And carpet type will also have a bearing on whether pet hair removes easily or not. So, here are our top tips. 
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The real cost of dirty carpets: why cleaning saves you money

20 October 2025
Carpets are more than just a soft surface underfoot; they’re a major investment in the comfort, style, and value of your home or workplace. Although they are one of the most heavily used features in any property, carpets are often neglected until visible stains or bad odours appear . The truth is that dirty carpets don’t just look unpleasant, they cost you money in the long run. “Of course you’d say that – you’re carpet cleaners!” we hear you say. Fair comment, but we think you’ll see for yourself that regular carpet cleaning care is the smart choice. The hidden economics of dirty carpets Carpets represent one of the most substantial investments in a property, running to many thousands of dollars. With this considerable initial outlay, you won’t want to accelerate its wear and tear by inadequate maintenance. The mechanics of this are straightforward: as dirt, grit, and debris accumulate within the carpet fibres, they systematically erode the textile structure with use. Think about sandpaper against wood; the embedded dirt and debris act as tiny cutting agents, severing individual fibres and degrading the carpet's structural integrity and appearance. Food for thought : When you think about getting your carpets professionally cleaned, does feel like a luxury spend? But how do you feel about getting your car serviced? Is that a luxury, too, or is it an essential and money-saving necessity? Yes, both are crucial to protecting high-cost items and avoiding far costlier fixes or replacements later.