[Zeke]

The secret to carpet cleaning is to use the cleaner only on the dirty areas. Spotting or using a separate scrubber being careful to not get the carpet any wetter than it takes to make a light foam with the cleaner (which is just detergent, IMO).

Then use the heated unit with clear water. I have a friend that does carpets with one of those remote trucks. He has hot rodded his vac unit so that it will suck chrome off a bumper. He says the typical house has so much soap residue that just reactivating it and sucking the carpet clean is the way to go.

His work always stays cleaner longer and feels softer when it's dry.