I have only used the cleaner once, on 2 very soiled carpets. The results are very good, the pile has come up really well and there was a smell, now gone. I did a section of hall carpet, which has a fawn colour, and this has come up much cleaner. I had a problem with the machine cutting out, then realised I needed to empty the dirty water more frequently than I thought. When I did this it worked perfectly. Follow advice, putting fluid down on the forward push, carpets don't get too wet, and take water up when pulling back. Will be doing a second run and doing rest of house as soon as possible. Would have loved the handle to telescope down for easier storage.