I picked up a daily driver and the carpets are really dirty. what products and techniques do you guys use? thanks

 

shop vac, carpet cleaner & a stiff brush. shop vac again.
Repeat as necessary.

It's a DD! rip out the carpets and throw in a carpet sample from Home Depot.

 

our how to sticky on carpet cleaning also has some tips:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=553703

a lot easier to get the carpets like new by taking out the seats first---

 

Folex works for me.
Also Meguiar's APC does a pretty good job as well.

 

The first thing to do is to buy a quality vacuum. The more powerful the better but be warned that extremely powerful vacuums can be quite loud and will upset neighbors, children and pets. With that in mind, a powerful vacuum will suck up more dirt and get deeper into the carpet. If you have the room to store it, go for an upright vacuum. They come with more attachments which will help you clean your floor better. Now that you have the right vacuum, its time for some cleaning!

 

Vacuum thoroughly
Using a foaming carpet cleaner (aerosol) which dries faster because of less moisture
Aggitate with a brush (one not too stiff so it doesnt ruin the nap of the carpet)
Blot off excess with a towel and let dry
Revacuum

Or you can rent a rug doctor and use that as well

 

without an extractor it'll be what everybody else been saying a shop vac and i like meguiars APC or APC+

 

A carpet extractor capable of really doing the job is quite expensive. Why not just take the car to a good detail shop and have them do the carpet? If they're good, they've got equipment you could never justify buying; pay them to get the carpet really clean then you maintain that cleanliness going forward.

 

Simple green, pressure washer, air compressor, hang to dry in the sun. Make sure to hang!

You can scrub w. something as well. I do this for my insight floor mats, since they are gray n get rly dirty somehow.

 

I use a small but powerful Metro Vac. If the carpets are really dirty or have grease deposits I use APC and agitate with a brush. If there are tar deposits or sticky residues, etc I use Tarminator or Xenit amd clean with a small nylon detailing brush. Then I pour some liquid carpet cleaner in a bucket and spray with a hose to form suds. I pick up only the suds with a brush and clean the carpet. This cuts down on over soaking the carpet then I vacuum again. I follow up with a light spray of deodorizer especially under seats and foot wells where odors accumulate and they usually come out very nice.