Jeschbac
Yes, I would agree with you the Kirby carpet shampoo system is a safe process. But effective? NO!
All the carpet extractor manufacturers recommend that if you are cleaning a carpet which has been carpet shampooed previously that a Anti-Foam solution be used in the recovery tank. Rug Doctor even markets & sells their own Anti-Foam solution. The reason you can't feel that sticky residue with your hand is because it settles at the base of your carpets, where it attracts the dirt & the dirt settles in. Also, notice how only ONE carpet manufacturer reccommends dry foam carpet cleaning? And although the Kirby Avalir carpet shampoo system gets a Gold by the Carpet & Rug Institute, they rate the Rug Doctor extractors Platinum....so there ya go, there's PROOF you can't dispute by a independent testing body with scientifically proven techniques that carpet extractors do a better job cleaning carpets than carpet shampooers.
"Why would I want a second machine to store and use only every six months or so when one contraption does it all???" Well, I would want that second machine if it deep cleaned carpets better than a all-in-one system would. Even if I did prefer to store a all-in-one system instead of a separate vacuum & carpet extractor, I would much prefer buy, use & store a Rainbow E4 Black than a Kirby, it's Aquamate carpet extractor attachment would do a MUCH BETTER job than Kirby's carpet shampooer, & I could live with filling & dumping the water to vacuum each time.
Rex - Host may be classed as a "maintenance system", but when used correctly & on a proper schedule, it CAN take the place of carpet extractors & carpet shampooers, & produce equal results. There's a reason why there are LOTS of professional carpet cleaners that have switched from truck-mounted extraction systems to Host....IT WORKS, & it can also be safer. Also note that for Oriental & Persian rugs, carpet shampooers & carpet extractors are NOT an option....the only way to clean those rugs is to either use Host or Capture, or have the carpets sent off to be professionally cleaned in a factory. I do own a Persian rug, & have used Host a couple of times to clean it, with fantastic results.
Rob
http://www.carpet-rug.org/Carpet-fo...er-Recommended-Deep-Cleaning-Methods-and.aspx
http://www.carpet-rug.org/CRI-Testi...-Systems/Certified-Deep-Cleaning-Systems.aspx