Spruce your space: 5 ways to freshen your home

13 December 2024

Smell is a powerful sense, and humans are universally drawn to fresh, sweet scents - it’s no wonder the fragrance industry is worth billions of dollars and that fresh notes also dominate home fragrances, from perfumed fruity candles to crisp room sprays.

But creating a beautifully fresh-smelling home goes beyond sprays, candles or plug-in dispensers. We become very accustomed to the aroma of our own home and may not notice what others do when we welcome them indoors. But with the right cleaning strategies, you can achieve a natural, clean, and inviting scent that lasts. Here are our top tips to refresh your space and make your home smell as good as it looks.

Whether you’re preparing for guests, tackling a deep houseclean, or simply wanting a fresher atmosphere, there’s no need to wait for the annual Spring Clean. Any time is a good time to revitalise your living spaces, so we’ve rounded up five ways to breathe new life into your home.

1. Let fresh air do the work

The simplest way to refresh your home is free - open those windows! For homes in Christchurch, where humidity levels fluctuate, good airflow is key to combating mould and mildew.

It’s easy to have doors and windows open in Christchurch’s three weeks of hot summer, but it’s important in the colder months too. Bathrooms and kitchens are particularly prone to mould due to condensation, but daily ventilation prevents dampness, banishes musty odours, and keeps your indoor air crisp.

Fresh air flow also works wonders for rooms with soft furnishings, carpets, and upholstery, reducing lingering smells trapped in fibres. Even a few minutes of the windows open for daily ventilation transforms a stuffy space into a light, breezy atmosphere.

A brown and white dog is sleeping on a couch.

2. Tackle soft furniture

Our couches, chairs, and other upholstered furniture can really take a hammering, and tend to collect dust, pet hair, and stains—all of which contribute to the unique smell of a home. While regular vacuuming helps with surface cleaning, it doesn’t address the deeply embedded dirt, allergens, or odours trapped within the fabric. That’s where professional upholstery cleaners make all the difference, giving your furniture the care and pampering it deserves so it’s thoroughly clean, hygienic and rejuvenated.

Have you spotted a care label on your suite? The care label will give the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations including how often and by what method of cleaning. Or, if you know the fabric’s name, you can search online for its specific care instructions. Most furniture manufacturers recommend you get your couches and chairs professionally cleaned regularly – not waiting until they’re heavily soiled and marked.

Another trick for savvy homeowners is to apply fabric protection to furniture. Protected fabrics will far more readily release spills, stains and odours when they are professionally cleaned, preventing them from becoming permanent. Advanced Carpet Cleaning is the only authorised Christchurch and Canterbury agent for Premium Surface Protection (PSP) products. These are standout fabric and surface protection treatments offering advanced environmentally friendly solutions to improve resistance to stains and sun fading. If you are looking for the best long-term protection for upholstery and carpets, contact us to explore your options.

3. Revive your carpets and rugs

Carpets are the unsung heroes of home décor, covering large surface areas of the house, bringing cohesion to interior design while offering both warmth and comfort underfoot. So what’s sitting in your carpets and rugs? The world over, it’s the same: carpets trap and accumulating grit, dust, allergens, and dirt. And although we thoroughly wash our hard floors, benches, showers, windows, sinks, cars, clothes, and trainers, why do we overlook carpets and rugs?

While regular vacuuming helps with surface cleaning, it’s not enough to tackle the deeply embedded grime that can cause a funky odour. Investing in carpet steam cleaning not only removes the hidden dirt and bacteria, leaving your carpets smelling fresh, but also protects the integrity of the fibres, extending the carpet's lifespan. And carpet is expensive, so of course you want to keep it in good shape!

Whether you’re refreshing high-traffic areas in your home or preparing for the new tenants in your rental, Advanced Carpet Cleaning provides a comprehensive, professional carpet cleaning service so your carpets will look, feel, and smell their best. Don’t let stubborn stains or odours linger—let the experts breathe new life into your flooring!

4. Drains, extractors, and tiles – maintain kitchen and bathroom hygiene

Busy kitchens and bathrooms can quickly become breeding grounds for unpleasant smells and unsightly mould. Here are our top three areas to focus on:

· To keep your space sparkling, ensure the drains are clear and flowing properly. Blocked drains create damp conditions and trap odours, so regular maintenance is key. You may find that baking soda, vinegar and hot water will have that drain clear in just 30 minutes or so.

· Keeping extractor fans clean can easily be overlooked but it’s a quick win! Pop removable rangehood filters in the dishwasher or give them a hot, soapy hand-wash to thoroughly clean out trapped grease and stale odours. And at least yearly, grab a step-stool and give all reachable surfaces of your bathroom extractor a thorough clean to prevent build-up of dust, aerosol sprays and mould spores.

· It can really take some elbow grease to clean your tiles well, right?? Not if you get the team from Advanced Carpet Cleaning onboard every now and then! We know how over time grout discolours and textured tiles begin to harbour grime that’s hard to shift. Our dedicated tile and grout cleaning equipment leaves your kitchen and bathroom fresh, hygienic and looking fantastic.

5. Declutter for calm – create space to breathe and enjoy

A cluttered home can feel overwhelming and make cleaning more difficult. By letting go of unnecessary items, you’ll not only open up your space but also make it easier to maintain a fresh and inviting environment.

Start by tackling one area at a time, whether it’s your living room, kitchen, or bedroom—and sort items into categories: keep, donate, or discard. This step-by-step approach prevents the process from feeling too daunting and makes sure you only keep what adds value or pleasantness to your space. An organised house not only looks better but also helps foster a sense of calm and relaxation, both for you and your visitors.

Decluttering exposes surfaces and corners that may have been neglected during regular cleaning. With fewer items in the way, you can vacuum carpets more thoroughly, wipe down shelves, and refresh soft furnishings like couches and cushions. Once the clutter is gone, it’s time to call Christchurch’s Advanced Carpet Cleaning to give your floors and furnishings a deep clean, so you truly achieve a breath of fresh air.