DIY
Sprinkle baking soda on carpets, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum. Attend to spills as quickly as possible by blotting the wet area with clean, white cotton towels. Continue until nearly dry. If necessary, apply a spot-cleaning solution of clear dishwashing liquid and water (about 1/4 teaspoon per quart). Rinse well and blot to dry.
Tips
When deep-cleaning is necessary, look for professional carpet cleaners who use less-toxic brands (most manufacturers make professional-only products, since the formulations require high-end machinery to use).

Thanks for these tips. Although I get a professional carpet cleaner once a year - http://www.hartscarpetcleaning.com - it's nice to have tips like this so I can help get rid of stains on my own. I've found that baking soda and vinegar are a great option as well.
Baking powder absourbs oders....
whats the purpose of sprinkling baking powder to the carpet before hoovering?
Salt can be sprinkled with the baking soda to kill flea eggs as well.