Best way to clean area rugs?

[Kuba'sMama]

I don't really like area rugs, but we do have 2 I would like to keep, in the living room and dd's room. However they're looking kind of dingy and some spots here and there from spilled juice, etc. I'd like to clean them where they are if possible (we live in an. apt. so there isn't anywhere to take them out to clean them outside). I also am very sensitive to chemical smells and those rug cleaning shampoos just smell awful. Plus i have a crawling baby around, so I don't want anything toxic.

Any suggestions?

TIA

[flyrabbitfly]

1/2 cup baking soda in a gallon water in a carpet cleaning machine or in a bucket to scrub with a brush... Rub baking soda into stain areas in the dampened carpet and let sit. Vacuum it all up when dry... Test for colorfastness first... I haven't tried this myself- read it in the 400 uses of baking soda book- good luck!

[Kuba'sMama]

thanks :)