2 hounds and lots of caterpillars in mud, mud and chatter. 10 lb object (brick, block, book) with Velcro closure at top. Clean off about 1 1/2 caps of detergent and use PIPING hot water straight from the faucet - extra detergent tends to create a lot of suds when removed so we add Epson salt to the drain tank (works to remove suds by softening dirty water - Slowly move forward about 4-6 feet, then move head next to your (laying) path and pull back to go another 4-6 feet). Just do 4-5 soaks forward to soak for 5 to 10 minutes, then SLOWLY remove the solution you put in. Limit scrubbing to 5ft by 5ft block areas to prevent soap and dirt from settling deep into carpet and upholstery or over drying. If you have pets, ALWAYS rinse them with clean water after cleaning carpets to avoid soiling your pets' paws, legs, or fur. (A clean rinse can also pick up extra dirt that wasn't removed on the first pass.) The ROME wasn't built in a day, and a thorough cleaning (especially with the added weight on the SteamVac) is going to take you quite a bit of work. The Epson salt trick in the drain compartment was the best scum remover and saved me countless rides on the yellow bobber. It's also good practice to add a tablespoon of OXYclean or BORAX powder to the detergent basket to remove wine or urine stains.