"Will this get your floors as clean as getting on your hands and knees? No, but I can't think of anything else that would. It is perfect for that weekly cleaning, however. The machine is light, easy to use, and does a great job if your floors are not filthy to begin with. There is a lever that you can use to shoot extra steam out of the front of the machine, perfect for blasting dusty baseboards and the toilet area. It loosens the dirt so that you can then use an old towel to wipe those areas clean. The adjustable steam setting is perfect if you have mixed floors in your house (like I do). Use the lowest steam setting on your wood floors, and they dry super fast. Use the higher setting on vinyl or tile, especially in the kitchen, which could easily be the grungiest floor in the house. I have not used it on carpet as I have an actual carpet steamer/cleaner, and I would NOT recommend this machine for carpets at all (it's really not what it was designed for since it does not extract water). As good a job as cleaning on your hands and knees? No. But, I was able to do a kitchen, 3 bathrooms, and a foyer in 20 minutes flat -without buckets, cleaners, or wet messy mops! This would be perfect for moms of crawlers (wish I had it then!) - it's so fast and easy, you could literally use it everyday. It doesn't take much more effort than Swiffering does! This would also be good for seniors as it is light and easy to use. Do yourself a favor, deep clean your floors, and then get this machine!When I was researching the steam mops, the Shark one they advertise on TV did not get good reviews. This machine did get good reviews, and I can see why. It's true that the handle 'seems' flimsy, but you don't need to push hard, so I don't think it's going to be a problem. Also, it comes with only 2 floor pads, but if your house isn't all floors, it should suffice. If you're crafty, you could easily make your own with inexpensive towels and Velcro. FYI - I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 boys, not to mention all the neighborhood kids that run through this house daily, and I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!"