The honest answer is 4 to 8 hours for most homes, but humidity, airflow, and carpet thickness swing that number more than anything the cleaner does.
By method
Low-moisture encapsulation dries in roughly 1 to 2 hours. Hot water extraction typically takes 4 to 8 hours, longer for dense plush carpet with thick padding.
What slows drying in NJ
July humidity is the biggest factor. A humid day with the windows open dries slower than a dry day with the windows closed and the air conditioning running, because AC removes moisture from the air.
How to speed it up
Run ceiling fans, box fans aimed across the floor, and the AC or dehumidifier. Keep foot traffic off until dry, and if you must walk on it, use clean white socks rather than shoes.
Bottom line
If the carpet is still damp after 12 hours, something is off with airflow. Call us and we will help sort it out.