• A clean carpet does not require harsh chemicals.textile background image by Vaidas Bucys from Fotolia.com
  
  Commercial carpet cleaners contain powerful ingredients, although certain household ingredients can be just as effective and sometimes more so. Making your own carpet cleaners is also less expensive, and the ingredients can serve multiple duties around your home. Any time you are cleaning or deodorizing, it helps to know what type of odor or stain you are attempting to remove so that you can use the right cleaning solution for the job.
  
  

Deodorizers

• Two of the strongest deodorizers for your carpet include plain white vinegar and baking soda. Spray white vinegar directly onto the carpeting and as it evaporates, it neutralizes bad odors. You can also leave a small bowl of white vinegar in a carpeted room and it will remove odors. This method is less direct, but still effective. Use baking soda to deodorize your carpet by sprinkling it evenly across the carpet and leaving it there for a few hours or overnight. When you vacuum up the baking soda, the odor will be removed.
  
  

Stain Removers

• Quite a few household ingredients are effective stain removers for carpeting. Dish soap makes an obvious choice as a mild cleanser, but baking soda and vinegar are also effective at removing stains. Ammonia works well to remove stains, but should not be used for pet stains because it mimics the scent of urine and feces, drawing the pet back to soil the same spot. Salt, club soda and cornstarch also work well to remove stains without causing damage to your carpet. Hydrogen peroxide is best for lighter carpets, as it can remove some dyes.
  
  

Solvents

• Solvents are used to dissolve other solutions. Ink and other stubborn stains require a solvent to remove them from your carpeting. Rubbing alcohol and hairspray are two solvents on hand in most households. Dry cleaning solvent is useful not only for laundry, but also for carpeting. When you use solvents on carpet, test them in an inconspicuous location to be sure they do not remove any dye from the carpet.