Place sharpener on a smooth, clean surface. Lift lever up to release suction. Press lever down to engage suction cup base. Place knife in slot labelled COARSE with edge of blade facing down. With sharpener locked in place, slowly and lightly draw blade through sharpener 5 times in one direction. Start from the handle and end at the tip. Make sure to keep fingers away from the blade. Next, place knife in slot labelled FINE. Draw blade through sharpener as described above. When finished, lift lever up to release suction and store. Knives should be sharpened after every couple of uses for maximum performance. This sharpener is designed for sharpening find-edge knives. DO NOT use for sharpening serrated knives. Hand wash only.