Kirby Vacuums

When the salesman came to our house to sell the Kirby Vacuum to my parents, I sat and watched. I was really involved in the selling because the vacuum looked good even to a teenager. I’m the main cleaner in my house, so I actually had a big part in telling my parents what to spend this money on. We actually got a pretty good deal on the Vacuum. For $1,100, this Vacuum does the trick.

Attachments:
The attachments was one thing that caught my attention. There are so many things that you can do to modify your vacuum to fit your cleaning demands. This is a heavy vacuum, but I still find it useful to vacuum the car because of the many attachments. One attachment, in particular, a sort of thin, flexible piece, really helps in the car and in other small places and corners. Another attachment was a round brush that was really nice for reaching up and cleaning cobwebs or blinds. There’s a flat brush that is really a good attachment for cleaning stairs. I also liked the hose although it was a bit too short. Also, our hose was plastic and after a few months of use, required electrical tape. I don’t think the attachments should break when the vacuum cost over $1000. Also, you have to take the roller head off the vacuum in order to use the hose or any attachments. This is not difficult, but a little time-consuming. There are so many attachments to this vacuum that anyone can find useful.

Adjustments:
One of the key adjustments of the Kirby Vacuum is where you can change the height of the roller depending on the floor that is being cleaned. This is very helpful because my house has a variety of carpets. It also has a setting that can be used for cleaning bare floors. It’s an good way to sweep and get all dirt from the floor. We also have pets, so this adjustment really helps to get deep down in the carpet to get the fur.
Another adjustment is the way you can change the vacuum from “neutral” to “drive”. This is good because the vacuum would be difficult to move without the “drive” option.
This vacuum has so many adjustments, it can be a leaf-blower, an upright or a canister, it can also dust delicate things. Another function is that it can be set to shampoo carpets. But I found that this function did not work with my vacuum.

Weight:
I recommend not vacuuming barefoot. Many times, I got carried away in my excitement of cleaning, that I rolled over my toes. It is also quite awful for stairs. We have a lot of stairs in our house and I must say, I gained a lot of muscle by vacuuming.

Extras:
The Kirby Vacuum has a really good headlight which is useful when vacuuming in places that there isn’t a lot of light. It doesn’t have a rewind cord, so you still have to manually wind the chord. I have found many less-expensive vacuums that do have a rewind cord, and I would like this one to. The cord is really long, though, and that’s really nice. The bags are easy to change, but they are expensive. The only way I can buy a bag is ordering online, but hey are really good bags. This vacuum is really loud, but it really does the job on dirty floors.

The salesman wasn’t experienced, but the vacuum sold itself. He actually had us use our old vacuum on the carpet before he came. When he arrived, he used the old vacuum and made sure the whole carpet had been vacuumed. Then he brought out the Kirby. There were so many things that our old vacuum had never picked up. The Kirby seemed a necessity.

The most fun and impressive thing about the Kirby is the home demonstration. If you want a new Kirby, you must buy one through a salesperson, because they are not available in stores. After listening to numerous fellow homemakers extol the virtues of this miracle machine, I finally succumbed to the home demonstration. It was impressive.

If I can recall correctly, I was challenged to vacuum an area with my current vacuum, which at that time, was an old Eureka on its last legs. The Kirby man then vacuumed over the same area with his miracle machine. He sure got a lot more dirt!

He then converted the Kirby to a handheld device and proceeded to vacuum one of my mattresses. This is what sold me. The product of this cleaning was a filter full of dead skin and other organic debris. My soul screamed out “Oh my God, I need a Kirby!”. And so, I bought one, despite the excessive price tag of approximately $550 + $59 for the Turbo Brush.

– Features –

• Floor Polisher

This is a nice attachment for wooden floors. It’s basically a stiff brush that can be used to buff the floors clean. I used this one time on my hardwood floors. It did work well, but it did not work as effectively as an old floor polisher that I inherited from my mother.

• Rug Shampooer

This is a complex series of attachments that transform your Kirby vacuum into a rug shampooer, replete with special Kirby rug shampoo. The conversion process requires a good bit of strength and mechanical finesse. Although the beater brush does an excellent job of removing “fuffkies” (what my family calls that lint like debris that comes out of the carpet) compared to my Hoover SteamVac, it does not clean the carpets nearly as efficiently or thoroughly.

• Turbo Brush

This is my favorite attachment and another reason why I initially bought the Kirby. It is a handheld brush that spins just like its larger size cousin. It also makes a really cool turbo like whirring noise when it starts up. It sounds powerful! It does a great job on stairs. If only you didn’t have to drag the rest of the Kirby around, it would be the most excellent stair cleaning system I have ever seen. The Turbo Brush also has a suction adjustment. This attachment does not come with the Kirby and must be bought separately.

• Convertible to “Canister”

By removing the large front head of the Kirby and attaching a hose, you can convert the Kirby into a canister model. Well, sort of. You still have to drag along the large upright bag assembly. Alternatively, you can remove the handle by prying out a steel rod (call Arnold) and looping the dirt bag around and attaching it to a little hook on the base. This is inconvenient, messy, and the base of the Kirby itself is still quite heavy.

• Extra Long Cord

In the old days when I got this Kirby it was rare to see an extra long cord and cord wrapping assembly like this. Kirby was ahead of its time. By simply spinning the upper cord holding hook around, the entire cord becomes available with no tangling. Most vacuums these days utilize this system.

I had some trouble with the cord. I had to replace it once because it started to unattach itself from the vacuum. No doubt this was due to negligence and abuse on my part, but like I said, I am rough on vacuums.

• No Paper Bags

My Kirby has permanent dirt bag as opposed to one that needs paper bags in it. I had a choice when I originally purchased the Kirby and I chose this option. I did replace this bag once because it really was getting disgusting. There is a scraper thing that is in the bag and can be accessed from an outside pocket. This allows the user to try to scrape the dirt off the sides of the bag. To empty the bag it must be removed from the canister of the Kirby. This is where you may need Arnold’s help.

Looking back, I probably would not take this option. It seems easier and cleaner to use paper filter bags.

• On Off Switch

The switch is a pedal located on the back of the housing. It’s very convenient and easy to click it on and off with your foot. I had to get this repaired once when it became very loose and the vacuum started to turn on and off by itself.

– What Breaks Down –

• The Fan

Everything that gets sucked up into the Kirby goes directly past the fan blades. Although the blades are metal, they still break.. Trust me, I have gone through at least 5 sets of blades.

• The Belt

Eau de burning vacuum belt, we all know that familiar scent. Any vacuum will eat through belts. My Kirby seemed to be hungrier than I would normally expect a vacuum to be. Although the belt is easily accessible, when a new belt is in the Kirby, changing the attachments requires even more brute force than normal. Arnold?

• The Wands

Amazingly, the heavy metal Kirby comes with plastic wands. The salesman promised they were some kind of super duper nonbreakable polymer. NOT. When I finally got tired of replacing wand after wand (two pieces are required if you are anywhere near normal height) a vacuum repair guy sold me a set of compatible metal wands from another manufacture. These lasted. The other problem with the wands was getting them to separate. Another job for Arnold.

• The Hose

The Kirby came with a hose of reasonable length. After a few years, I had to replace the hose because it began to develop cracks. The vacuum guy (who I was on a first name basis with by this time) sold me an industrial strength “indestructible” hose. This hose lasted a long time because when the ends started to get wrecked up, you could just cut it and start fresh.

• The Floor Attachment

The new age polymer plaster attachments just did not hold up for me. I replaced the floor attachment twice before the vacuum guy sold me a compatible metal one from another manufacturer.

– Challenges –

• Changing Attachments

Ugh. This is the big problem with this vacuum. It is so inconvenient and draining to try to change attachments that you just don’t want to bother. The amount of strength it takes to spin the latch to release the belt in order the get the main head cleaning piece off the vacuum is ridiculous, especially if you have recently replaced the belt.

• Cleaning Stairs

Although the Turbo Brush is the best stair cleaning attachment I have ever seen, dragging the rest of the Kirby in tow is downright hazardous. Try pulling a bit too hard and having the metal housing, bag, and handle come tumbling down the stairs and nearly take you out.

• Primitive Height Adjustment Mechanism

When I’m at home I’m barefoot. I don’t wear shoes and I will only wear slippers if it’s cold out. So, the height adjustment on the base of the Kirby presents a problem for me. It’s an old fashioned ratcheting method that requires some (often quite hard) pressure from your toe to get it to move.

• Your Back

Call you Chiropractor right now. The Kirby is heavy. Even the normal push-pull vacuuming action requires more strength than other vacuums. Lifting it? Call Arnold.

– So, how does the Kirby compare to my Hoovers? –

• Price per pound?: ~ Hoover~

Kirby is initially cheaper because of its heavy weight. However, the chiropractor bills will eventually swing the pendulum in favor of the Hoovers.

• Price Overall: ~ Hoover~

I have both the Hoover Windtunnel and the Hoover SteamVac for less than the cost of the Kirby. And I can replace them both once and still be under the price of the Kirby plus repairs.

• Bragging Rights: ~Kirby~

It simply is a more expensive and elite vacuum. It really does exude quality.

• Retains Value over Time: ~Kirby~

Hey, Kirbys win here no contest. Some folks are downright cultish about Kirbys. Even the most “classic” Kirby can still fetch a decent price on the market.

• Stair Cleaning: ~ Kirby~, with a warning

The Kirby Turbo Brush takes it, however, it will also take out the vacuumer if it comes tumbling down the stairs. Hint, vacuum from bottom to top.

• Attachments: ~ Hoover~

Although Kirby comes with some cool attachments, the overall level of difficulty in utilizing them cancels out the advantage in this area. Hoover attachments are on board and easy to use.

• Repairs: ~Hoover~

The Hoover needs fewer repairs and costs less when it comes time for a repair. Hoover parts are more readily available and cheaper.

• Overall Cleaning Ability: ~Hoover~

I am more satisfied with the results of my Hoovers than I was with my Kirby. Sure, the Kirby is impressive, but my Windtunnel outsucks it anyday. The WindTunnel also does a better job along the baseboards. In terms of cleaning the rugs, the Kirby shampooer attachment cannot hold a candle to the SteamVac.

• Overall Ease of Vacuuming: ~Hoover~

From the attachments to the weight of the machine, Hoover is just a lot easier to handle. Unless you’re in training for the WWF, you’ll appreciate the effortlessness of the pair of Hoovers.

–Conclusion–

Well, although it takes 2 Hoovers to beat the 1 Kirby + attachments, they do it hands down and at a lower total price. In fact, you can replace each Hoover once for the same total expenditure as just the one original Kirby plus repairs.

It’s not that the Kirby is a bad vacuum. It’s very good, but you can save your money and your back by going with a pair of Hoovers. Kirby is just not worth the cost… unless you live with Arnold Swarzenegger and he does all the vacuuming.

Kirby vacuum cleaners are praised by their owners more often then not. And one of those vacuums that got more positive then negative reviews and ratings is Kirby Sentria. The strongest points of Sentria are high performance and a warranty that makes you wanna buy it right now. It’s not easy for other vacuum cleaners to compete with something like this, but that is what Kirby wants at first place.

The efficiency is the main word you can use to describe this vacuum cleaner. Kirby Sentria has that retro design that we love and the performance we are used to. This model can endure a lot of work, and it’s just another vacuum from Kirby family that can last for 20 years. It’s not easy to find vacuum cleaners that will be with you for so long. But this is what Sentria is all about and I think it is worth to pay a bit higher price if you can get a value like that. A cleaner that costs $100 or less will not last for long, 12 moths maximum. Just browse online and read some reviews about Bissell, Rainbow or Eureka vacuums. It’s not a pretty sight.

Kirby Sentria has features that can not be matched by its cheaper competitors. You get a handful of attachments that will help you with cleaning your floors and rugs, no matter what type they are – linoleum tile or a shag. Even the stairs won’t have choice but to be cleaned by this powerful carpet cleaner.

Of course, with power comes a few things we can’t control and must accept them. The weight of the Sentria is one of the issues you may have. You will feel the weight when you compare Kirby Sentria with several other vacuums in it’s price range. This is because it packs quite a few features and is last to built so the materials had to be strong and durable. It’s a best way to keep a vacuum cleaner going after other have been broken and visited by repairman.

With a three year guarantee you get feeling that the company trusts in the product they make. This shows you that you won’t be hassled and left with a bad vacuum cleaner. Also, you will be able to refurbish your vacuum for a decent price when you see the need for it.

IF you are looking for a powerful vacuum cleaner that will blow your mind and suck all your dirt, the Kirby Sentria is your choice. It is heavy and you will need some time with the attachments, but the performance it gives is irreplaceable and that is the best thing about it. If you are looking for a long term companion, then check online stores and buy yourself a Kirby Sentria.

If you want a Kirby cleaner with a bag, that’s ok. But you have to be careful about one things, vacuum cleaner bags are not all the same. There are many salesman that will sell whatever they got, even if they don’t have what you need. So you have to take care of your Kirby vacuum, because nobody else will.

Kirby vacuum bags are allergen reducers and will use a filter to clean all the dirt that bothers us. You will see that the filter is a part of the bag. Of course, there are many companies that provide us with products that help us with all sorts of allergens. But most of the time, they are specific for certains products. They can have the same purpose, cleaning bacteria, removing smells, stains and mold, but they are different in construction.

This is why you should always use a vacuum bag that is produced by a vacuum cleaner manufacturer. This also goes for the other parts as well. Do not attempt to fit a Bissell, Dirt Devil or Hoover vacuum cleaner bag in there. Find a dealer or a specific store that has the vacuum bag and find the right bag that fits your model.

First, you can go to online stores. They have plenty of products, parts and other items and you are most likely to find your Kirby vacuum cleaner bag there. Some of the online stores are focused on vacuum bags only. That’s even better for you. Just make sure to read the number and the markings well – your vacuum model and bag type. If you are not a person who likes to shop online, then you’re gonna have to use your car and your legs and find a Kirby distributor store or another retail store an bring them the bag you already have. That’s the best way to get a new bag, that is exactly the one you need.

Do you remember those door to door sales? Do you think that is still happening when it comes to vacuums? You might think it doesn’t, because it’s kinda hard to drag a vacuum with you and show it to potential customers, but this is exactly what Kirby does.

Kirby vacuums are still visiting their customers because they want to remain closely attached to the people so they can listen to them and find out what they need. A good vacuum cleaner is a cleaner that does what an owner wants him to do. Kirby realized that long time ago and they still talk to their customers one on one, showing them the power of Kirby vacuums in their homes and get priceless information in return. The only company that does this beside Kirby is Electrolux.

This company is with us for more then 70 years, and that means a lot on the super competitive vacuum cleaners market. They are able to hold their place between the giants such as Dyson, Hoover, Bissell and Dirt Devil. It is the constant improvement and close relation to the customers that keeps the Kirby vacuums on the right track.

Kirby cleaners are very light and can be easily used. Besides handheld cleaners, you will find upright models too. For any type of stains and dirt there is a specific Kirby cleaner to remove them. And they are getting better at it each and every year. The latest is a generation 3 which is built from aluminum parts and has a new technology of removing even the smallest dirt particles from your home. For anyone who has problems with asthma or is allergic on dust, Kirby vacuum is a great solution.

One of the cool things with Kirby is that you can go to Kirby.com and order a visit from one of their agents. They will come to your home and show you the vacuum you want. It is quite convenient option and we think there isn’t a better offer for browsing then that one. It’s the best way to see how cleaner performs without really leaving your house. You can arrange the appointment and order the Kirby vacuum online, with just few clicks.

If you doubt the durability of Kirby vacuums, check out reviews that can be found on the net. And talk to some from Kirby’s owners club. Because there are lot of Kirby cleaners that are passed from one generation to the next. This practically tells you everything about the quality of these vacuums.