If you have ever noticed a musty smell coming from your carpet on a humid Sunshine Coast day, you are experiencing one of the less pleasant side effects of subtropical living. Our warm, moist conditions mean carpets can become a breeding ground for mould, dust mites, and bacteria — even in homes that look clean on the surface.

How Humidity Affects Your Carpets

Carpet fibres absorb moisture from the air. On the Sunshine Coast, where relative humidity regularly sits between 60% and 80%, your carpet is absorbing water vapour all day long. This creates several problems:

Mould growth. Mould spores need moisture, warmth, and organic material to grow. Carpet provides all three. Mould can develop in the backing and underlay without being visible on the surface. By the time you smell it, the problem is significant.

Dust mite populations. Dust mites thrive above 50% humidity. They feed on dead skin cells in carpet fibres, and their waste is one of the most common triggers for allergies and asthma.

Odours. That musty carpet smell means something is growing in your carpet. Moisture trapped in fibres breaks down organic material, producing the distinctive smell many Sunshine Coast residents know too well.

How Often Should You Get Carpets Professionally Cleaned?

For most Sunshine Coast homes, professional carpet cleaning every six months is a good baseline. Consider increasing that to every three to four months if you have:

• Pets. Pet hair, dander, and the occasional accident make carpets deteriorate faster in humid conditions.
• Children. More foot traffic, more spills, more crumbs — all of which feed mould and bacteria.
• Allergy sufferers. Regular professional cleaning significantly reduces dust mite populations and allergens.
• Ground-floor rooms or poor ventilation. These spaces hold more moisture and are at higher risk.

Hot water extraction (steam cleaning) is the most effective method for our climate. It removes dirt and allergens from deep in the pile and underlay, not just the surface.

What You Can Do Between Professional Cleans

What you do between appointments matters just as much.

Vacuum at least twice a week. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap fine particles rather than blowing them back into the air.

Manage indoor humidity. Use air conditioning or a dehumidifier to stay below 60%. Running the air con in dry mode on humid days makes a noticeable difference.

Deal with spills immediately. Blot (do not rub) any liquid spills straight away. A wet patch can start developing mould within 24 to 48 hours in our climate.

Take shoes off at the door. This reduces dirt and moisture being tracked into carpet.

Air out your home. On dry, breezy days, open windows to let air circulate through carpeted rooms.

When to Consider Replacing Carpet

Sometimes cleaning is not enough. If your carpet has persistent mould in the backing, has been water-damaged, or has a smell that returns shortly after cleaning, it may be time for replacement. In high-humidity areas, hard flooring can be a practical long-term solution.

The Bottom Line

The Sunshine Coast is a beautiful place to live, but the climate demands more attention to carpet maintenance than drier parts of Australia. Regular professional carpet cleaning combined with good daily habits keeps your carpets looking better, lasting longer, and keeps your home healthy.

Do not wait until you can smell the problem. A consistent cleaning routine is far easier and cheaper than dealing with the consequences of neglect.