This is confusing for people who are new to the HOST© process. I totally understand this question as that was my first question when I first looked into using this carpet method. What is important to remember first is that when you have your carpets steamed cleaned, you have lots of water left behind along with chemicals or soap that you cannot see but you can smell and feel the steam cleaning results. (Water left behind can cause a number of problems: water may have forced through the carpet below and into the pad leaving water to foster odors, bacterial, or mold. Truck mount systems can not suck up the water effectively, or their tanks may have dirty water left in it from previous customer and then introduced into your home. So either method is going to leave behind something.) So I say, I prefer to have some natural tiny sponges left behind that can be vacuumed later, rather than water and chemicals that leave carpet damaged and toxic.
HOST© cleaning method does leave a very small amounts of the cellulose natural cleaner behind, but this is not a sticky residue. (Sticky residue is considered soap and chemicals that cause rapid re-soiling of carpet) The HOST© compound is totally non-toxic, organic, and will not harm your children, animals, or hard surfaces if it comes in contact with them. The next few times you vacuum some sponges will continue to come up. As long as it is in the carpeting it is still cleaning and absorbing allergens, conditioning fibers, and dirt from carpet fibers.
***HOST© does not become airborne, due to the weight of it. Tiny amounts left in carpet is safe for infants, animals, and people with lung problems due to it not being able to become airborne. However, when putting an infant on a carpet, a blanket is always important to protecting the infant FROM BREATHING INTO Carpeting. Carpet fibers can be irritating to babies' sensitive skin.