I used this to clean two couches that I had gotten used from another family. They had two dogs, and I also have two cats. The couch looked and smelled reasonably clean already, so I was interested in seeing if this carpet cleaner would pick up any dirt. It was very easy to assemble and figure out, even though I am not great at reading directions. It was also very easy to take apart to clean after I used it. I noticed that the water was very dirty and brown after I cleaned these two couches, which means this machine was able to suck up dirt that was deep down and not noticeable. My only negative comment was that the water tank was depleted quickly. I'm not sure if I was just using too much water. Then again, a larger tank would mean a larger and bulkier machine. Overall I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to keep their carpets and upholstery clean but doesn't want to spend a lot of time or rent a large machine!