With two to three gentle strokes, it sharpens the blade well like a breeze but it doesn't last long. It requires frequent repetition, e.g. to cut a 2kg piece of meat into pieces, I have to sharpen it twice (to always cut well, otherwise it's just acceptable). It's not the knife's fault (tested with three different ones). Maybe I'm too demanding. Anyway, it is lightweight and easy to use, so the repetition of use is not a big deal. It cleans easily.