Can you over clean your carpets...?

[oneandahalfrock]

Just wondering if there is such a thing as ''too much'' carpet cleaning?
I bought a Hoover Steam Vac about 1 month or 2 ago- it''s nothing major power wise, just 12 amps, and have been using it almost every week after normal vacuuming.
The carpets look awesome after I''m done- I have a little dog and a cat so they can get a little dirty- and I''m always amazed/grossed out by what the water looks like when I''m done!
So the question; Am I significantly shortening the life of my carpet by doing this? As I was using the machine today, I started to think about what happens when you wash a new shirt too much- sure it''s clean every time you take it out of the washing machine, but each time you wash it, it become a little more ''worn''.
While on the topic of the steam vac thingy- Anyone have any favorite clean solutions for these things? I''m currently using ''Zep'' brand cleaner in it... If some knows of a great cleaning solution, over the counter or home made, let me know!
Thanks

 

[kenny]

I''d just worry about high exposure to chemicals.

 

[Hera]

I have heard that you can clean your carpets too much. I think it loosens the carpet fibers or something making them more susceptible to dirt.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Yes they can be over cleaned. Over time the combination of water, soap and agitation can break down the fibers and make the carpet loose, it will almost sag or bunch up in areas. This is if you're cleaning them like once a week or more.

Also, if you use soap/carpet cleaner and use too much (even the "normal" amount can be too much over time) it will attract dirt and make your carpets look really dirty quickly. We have our hallway, where our animals congregate, done maybe twice a year and then take care of spots in the hallway and other areas on an as needed basis with our home bissel.

Our carpet guy made a point to say that in addition to using only a tiny bit of cleaning solution, every other cleaning should be done with water alone to get the soap residue out of the carpet. It will freshen your carpet and take out the surface stains and will also help extend the time between heavier cleanings.

ETA: For cleaning solution we just use the standard bissel machine cleaner and we mix in a little natures miracle. For the times when we steam without solution we add a little vinegar to the water.

For spot cleaning we use the Woolite Oxy/Pet cleaner or Natures Miracle.