Why does my carpet always look filthy less than a week after I shampoo it?

Question

I have a Bissell steam cleaner and use quality carpet shampoo. I also pre-treat. It looks clean right after shampooing, but within a week or so, it looks worse and worse! I have Dupont Stainmaster carpet - top of the line stuff.

I have a Bissell steam cleaner and use quality carpet shampoo. I also pre-treat. It looks clean right after shampooing, but within a week or so, it looks worse and worse! I have Dupont Stainmaster carpet - top of the line stuff. This carpet is less than one year old.

This carpet is less than one year old.

Answer 1

I have to say that I have read all the "answers" that ppl have left and Edward I is the one you should listen to. It is not that you're not getting the dirt out, but that you are leaving too much residue in the carpet, and that will attract new soil like a magnet.
Rinse the carpet with a VERY MILD mixture of water and viniger(maybe 1:100 ratio). Once you get all the soap residue out of the carpet, it will stay cleaner longer.

Answer 2

You may be using a too strong of a soap content in the shampooing process and leaving too much soap residue behind which will attract dirt like a magnet. You would most likely get better results by adding less shampoo to the water. The pre-treating may also add to problem. If you are shampooing on a frequent basis what is the need for the pre-treatment?

Carefully follow the instructions for the steam cleaner as far as adding and mixing the shampoo. Also read the instructions on the shampoo container. There may be a conflict with the mixing directions as the "quality shampoo" that you are using may be more concentrated and causing you to add more than needed. Also check the carpet manufacturer's recommendations since it is Stainmaster there may be less need for as much shampoo.

Answer 3

I use to clean carpet when the steam cleaner first hit the industry and will never shampoo because that only smears it around. What you are doing is putting soap on the carpet and this is attracting dirt dust and foot oil. Clean socks will avoid skin oil transferring to the carpet. So the idea, from your description, is to rinse the soaps out of the carpet with your steam cleaner to suck out the residuals . Never get it too wet and suck as much back up as possible. Like your washing machine, it has a soap wash, then empties, then a clear water rinse cycle.

Answer 4

I have the same problem. the stains are so embedded into the carpet they will be their forever. Sorry. You will just have to shampoo the carpet about once a month for the "clean" look.

Answer 5

One cause of this "may be" that you are using too much shampoo and leaving an excess of soap in your carpet. This attracts dirt immediately.

Try cleaning without soap or shampoo. If your machine extracts, you will be shocked at the "dirty" water extracted. This is mostly soap. Most common problem.

Answer 6

# 1. this is the hard one. you must let the carpet completely dry. if not the carpet will attract dirt. just like a wet paper towel on a dirty surface. do your thing, leave for a day --let it dry.

Answer 7

Are you or anyone else walking on it before is is thorougly dry?
If so. you are matting the pile on the rug and tracking soilin which will really stick to a wet carpet.

Answer 8

beacuse you need a new carpet.....you can steam or shampoo all you want but when a carpet has had it......is done.

Answer 9

Same here. I always get mine done professionally. They put something on it after they clean it. It stays clean awhile longer than when I do it myself.

Answer 10

USE BAKEING SODA & WHITE VINAGER

NOT ONLY WILL IT REMOVE STAINS FROM CLOTHS BUT CARPET STAINS AS WELL

IE: SPILLED DRINK, FOOD STAINS, PET STAINS

P.S EXTREAME WARNING!!!!!!! DO NOT MIX IN SPRAY BOTTLE ** MUST ! ! ! ** USE SEPRATELY ! ! ! ! ! !

BAKEING SODA THEN POUR THE WHITE VINAGER ON TOP

IT SHOULD LAST & LEAST Q & 1/2 -2 MONTHS OF BEING CLEAN!!!

THE MORE BAKING SODA THE CLEANER IT WILL BE & WILL LAST LONGER