Getting carpets soft after cleaning

[PiPUK]

It sounds like you did remove all of the product then. A steam cleaner may soften the carpet fiber back up but in the mean time you can try brushing the carpet with a stiff nylon brush. You could also try using an acid rinse product such as Chemspec - All Fiber Rinse. The only down side to such a product is I have only seen it available in gallon sizes from janitorial supply companies. You would only need an ounce or two to treat your vehicle's carpet.

"An acid rinse is a commercial carpet care product that is the final step in carpet cleaning. Carpet cleaners use acid rinses to neutralize the pH of the more alkaline shampoos and other carpet cleaners. The acid rinse helps to remove remaining shampoo residue, and leaves the carpet fibers feeling soft. Some carpet cleaners also use acid rinses as a final deodorizing step. It is essential to follow all manufacturer's instructions when applying an acid rinse."
http://www.ehow.com/how_7783873_acid-rinse-carpet.html#ixzz2aqQMJ5TH

I use an alkaline traffic lane cleaner during the first extraction pass and follow it up with an acid fiber rinse during the second extraction pass.

A wise man. This is standard practice for fabric experts. It astounds me that the detailing brands never mention to anyone that their alkaline cleaners, if not neutralised, will potentially accelerate rot and compromise colour fastness. It is important for detailers to realise that their fave detailing brand likely has a lot less specialist knowledge about fabric and leather cleaning than they might lead us to believe!

[theblob640]

Wow, I completely forgot to brush it or remove the excess water after rinsing it down. I will definitely have to try that for my next couple carpets this weekend. Thanks for that. By the way, what is LGCM?

[Setec Astronomy]

Bissell Little Green Clean Machine...it's a carpet spotter/extractor that can be had for <$100. Try Target or Walmart, Best Buy, etc.