so i cleaned my carpet last night

OK...someone who knows more than me about cleaning chemicals jump in here...I pre spray with an emulsifier...a surfactant...I then extract with a cleaning chemical that has keeling agents (not sure about the spelling)...keeling agent are supposed to be able to attract any soap residue and allow it to be pulled out of the carpet in the extraction process...leaving no residue behind...I have never had any problems with re-soiling or stiff carpet...I figure that it works because I have cleaned some carpets that that were stiff before I cleaned them and were soft after...and I have noticed that my dump water would be a lot sudsier than normal...but, I think it could be a lot of reasons behind this:

1) too much chemical was used...some think if a little
   does good, a lot will do even better...not true

2) extraction was done too fast...didn't pick up enough
   water...this would also account for long drying time

3) the wrong chemicals were used...either alone or in
   combination...you would be supprised what some people
   will use cleaning carpets

anyway, I have had success with the method and chemicals that I use...I have been told that the chemicals I use are "pricy"...but even the most expensive chemicals that I use are still such a small amount of my operating expenses...

Rick,

It's chelating (keelating) agents.