This cleaner works great; it’s amazing how dirty the water is, even after vacuuming! Having pets and young kids, it comes in handy around the house. It has done a great job doing just “spring cleaning”, or cleaning up after smelly Latte spills or pet/child “accidents.” I have owned this machine for a few years, and it is still working great (it gets occasional use)!
After Vacuuming, I add warm/hot tap water and a little soap to the clean-water tank, and go over carpet once; then, repeat with clean water to rinse the carpet (I have heard that soap left in the carpet tends to attract dirt). I have found that the machine seems to suck more water up in reverse, so I tend to spray water going forward, then release the spray button while pulling back. I have never used the “Clean Surge” function. If I have a tough area, I tend to treat it first, then use the Hoover to finish up the job.
I do clean-up maintenance on the machine after each use, as pet hair and carpet fibers do get stuck in the brushes, tubes, collection tank, filter and anywhere the dirty water would travel. Make sure to rinse everything well after use, including unscrewing the clear, front piece (where the dirty water gets sucked up into the tank) and rinsing/wiping it down. And, make sure the water tanks are dry before storing the machine; it can get pretty stinky if closed up while still damp.
Esther the King DVD