Thread Number: 23792
Kirby questions - bag smells and shampoo system ect
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Post# 266466   2/6/2014 at 16:57 (3,702 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

A few years back I bought a brand new Ultimate G Diamond Edition from our local Kirby dealer. After around 3 years I sold it as it was becoming impractical. We had 2 hairy smelly dogs and the machine used to stink to high heaven. Once the bag started to fill with the hair it would start to fester and whatever room the Kirby was being stored in would then start to stink too. A new bag = no smell, but it was costing a fortune replacing the dust bag all the time. You name it I tried it, but I couldn't neutralise the smell coming from the machine as the bag filled over the weeks. So I sold the machine and switched back to a bagless machine where the smells would be sealed inside the machine when not in use. The smell issue was purely the smell coming from the machine when it was not in use. Other than that I thought the machine was great!

Anyway, fast forward a few years and we no longer have dogs. The house has been fully updated since too so there is no trace of doggy odour - new flooring ect ect

I'm considering buying a Kirby again - a brand new Sentria II.

I have 3 main questions -

Firstly, to the Kirby owners who don't have pets. Once the bag has been in your machine for say 5 - 6 weeks of daily use, do you find any stale bag odours escaping from the machine when not in use?
The machine would be stored upstairs when not in use and I don't want to go forking out mega money to find the machine stinks out the room where it is being stored again. I'm hoping the previous smell issue I had was purely down to concentrated amounts of dog hair festering?

Secondly, how effective is the Kirby shampoo system on normal carpet soiling? For example a cream carpet that has discoloured slightly from dirty shoes? I never really used the shampoo system on my ultimate G as I also have a commercial style extraction machine. I just can't see how the foam system on the Kirby can really clean a carpet? Thoughts, opinions or even better pictures of befores and afters please! The whole idea of it sounds much more appealing than the method used by an extraction machine due to quicker drying times - but I'm just not convinced about the promised end results. Obviously if I were to take the plunge again I'd only ever be using the genuine Kirby shampoo.

And thirdly, carpet care - Are they really 'the best'? My two current daily drivers are a DC39 Animal and a Sebo X4 Pet. Would a Kirby be much better than the Sebo for the carpets?

So that's my 3 main concerns - bag smells, shampoo effectiveness and will it be any better than what I already have?

On a final note before it is suggested - I know fine well I could pick up a slightly used machine for a fraction of what the Kirby dealer would charge for a new machine - I'd rather pay more and have one nobody else has touched.


The only reason I sold the Ultimate G is that I couldn't see us ever not having dogs. Now that we are doggy-less I'm kicking myself!

I've been thinking a lot lately about if I can justify buying another one, so figured who better to ask than you guys!

And for all the Kirby lovers out there here's a pic of my Ultimate G all spruced up before I sold it...


Post# 266476 , Reply# 1   2/6/2014 at 17:25 (3,702 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi,

kirbymodel2c's profile picture

Hi Matt, I wish you lived closer you could of popped in for a cuppa and I could of talked to you about the issues you have raised.

I'm going to bed now and don't feel like writing allot more lol.

If I have time tomorrow I'll try and give a better reply. I'm glad you would only use genuine Kirby shampoos.

 

Hopefully chat later.

 

JamesSmile

 

 

 


Post# 266486 , Reply# 2   2/6/2014 at 17:55 (3,702 days old) by moojuiceuk (Southampton, England)        

moojuiceuk's profile picture
I've got a reconditioned Gsix and I'm in a house with no pets. I've never noticed the bag smelling after a few weeks of use (and thats with a smoker living here, and I don't smoke). I would imagine a scented capsule popped in the bag would certainly help if you were worried about bag smells.

I personally wouldn't spend £1k+ on a new Kirby when a second hand Sentria I or Ultimate G diamond could be had for much less (after all, there's almost bugger all difference). I would also say why bother if you already have a Sebo X4 pet? My mum has an X4 and a Jack Russell dog. Having compared both machines, the Kirby will always bring the pile up on a carpet way better than an X4 (due to its rather conservative auto height adjuster) but the Sebo is easier to move about & quicker to deploy hose attachments.

As for the shampoo system for a Kirby, I've never bothered with the one that came with mine as it's got no facility to suck up the wet suds afterwards, as demonstrated by this video:





I purchased a Bissell Big Green for wet shampooing and it not only cleans deep but also sucks up most of the water leaving the carpets pretty dry. Absolutely brilliant machine. Really need to do a video and full-on review one day.

www.amazon.co.uk/BISSELL-Green-De...




Post# 266504 , Reply# 3   2/6/2014 at 20:13 (3,702 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        
Something is wrong

sptyks's profile picture

with the Kirby shampoo system in moojuiceuk's video above. It looks like one or both filters in the tank are partially blocked or installed incorrectly.

 

I own a 2009 Kirby Sentria with shampoo system so I know how it's supposed to work. My shampooer lays down foam nice and even for the full width of the shampoo head. The foam should completely disappear within a few minutes and be completely dry within an hour. When the foam dries, it becomes a very fine powder which is almost invisible. The Kirby shampoo fluid is specially designed so that the powder attaches itself to the dirt in your carpet. The final step is to vacuum your carpet with a NEW or ALMOST NEW bag installed for maximum suction so as to suck up that fine powder and the dirt which is attached to it. You should see a great improvement in the cleanliness of  your carpet.

 

There is no need to own a seperate shampoo machine when if used properly, the Kirby Sentria Shampoo system does a fine job. That is one of the main reasons to own a Kirby, is that it is multiple machines all in one.

 

Click the link to watch a video of the proper use of the Kirby Shampoo system.



CLICK HERE TO GO TO sptyks's LINK



This post was last edited 02/06/2014 at 21:43
Post# 266506 , Reply# 4   2/6/2014 at 20:36 (3,702 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

I forgot to mention that I have never experienced any smelly odor emitting from my Kirby bag after several weeks. We have one cat and no dogs. I use the new 6 layer HEPA bags and have never had any odor problems.

 

I have never tried it, but I believe GoodVacs.com sells bottles of fragrances, for those who have pet odor problems. You put a couple of drops on a cotton ball and place it between the inner and outer bags of your Kirby. there are a few fragrances to choose from.

 


Post# 266513 , Reply# 5   2/6/2014 at 21:16 (3,702 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
The video that moojuiceuk is showing us actually belongs to James S. (mrxr2)

~Ben


Post# 266582 , Reply# 6   2/7/2014 at 11:48 (3,701 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        
I've got a price.....

Well I phoned our local Kirby dealer today to enquire about pries.

She started rambling on about how the sales people are self employed and how I'd need to have a home demonstration first ect ect and the machines are usually around £1200 but I may be able to strike a deal with the sales person.

So I basically said 'cut the cr@p'... I explained I'd bought the Ultimate G Diamond from them a few years back and that I would say now what I said back then...

"I want to buy the Sentria II machine DIRECT, cutting out the sales pitch. I want a brand new unused machine still in the box, with ALL the extras - shampoo system, Zip brush ect ect and I'll pay cash - give me your best price because I won't be haggling"

She asked me to hold and there was a Ilot of mumbling, then she came back and said I'd be looking at £970.

They also have them in stock (I'd had to wait a few days for the Diamond Edition)

I thanked her and said I may be down on Wednesday (that's my next day off work)...

This is what I was expecting. I paid £995 for the Diamond Edition so the price is still pretty much the same.

Sooo.... hmmmmmm.....

Decisions!!


Post# 266589 , Reply# 7   2/7/2014 at 13:49 (3,701 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

dysonman1's profile picture
The Kirby shampoo system won't remove spilled beverages from the carpet. It cannot help actually remove any kinds of stains, those have to be washed out with an extractor. What it can do, is remove discoloration from foot traffic. You have to remember why it was developed. To allow the salesmen to gain access to the home by offering 'free shampooing'. Basically, it's like applying shampoo to your hair, letting it dry, and trying to comb it out.

Depending upon what the dirt inhaled smells like, the bag would have to eventually stink like the dirt. When the Kirby is used to clean the vestibule at work, it takes two days to start stinking - and that's only asphalt dust from the parking lot. But stink it does.

One of my favorite reasons to like a Rainbow is because it never smells, since the dirt is never stored in or on the machine.

The current wholesale price of a Sentria II in the USA to the factory distributor is $625 (including shipping). For cash, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to find one to sell me the entire package for $800. Including the rug renovator and zip brush.


Post# 266590 , Reply# 8   2/7/2014 at 13:58 (3,701 days old) by madabouthoovers ()        

£970? for the whole lot? that's cheaper than they were in 1994 when I had a go at selling the G4 for a dealership in Wolverhampton at the time.

They must be desperate for sales if they are selling the Sentria2, with all the trimmings for under a grand. The question is will they actually honour that price when you go back on Wednesday? - or will some gaffer have decided that suddenly they don't have any stock to sell you?

 

Back in 94, you want to have seen the cars that the management had parked on the depot car park - Mercs, top of line BMW's etc, to show us potential "salesmen" what we could get if we sold a lot of Kirbys. Commission some successful sellers earnt was enormous. I didn't do very well, and left quite quickly - I just didn't like the pushy sales techniques they taught us, and customers were rude and cold towards me, because of Kirby's bad reputation from being on consumer programmes back then.


Post# 266591 , Reply# 9   2/7/2014 at 14:05 (3,701 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

Well I paid £995 for the Ultimate G Diamond with all the trimmings back in about 2006 so I'm not worried about them bumping up the price if I go down on Wednesday for one as it is pretty much the same price.

Obviously it would be more expensive if I'd faffed about with the demonstration from the sales man.

I've basically cut out the middle man trying to earn his extra slice of profit.



Post# 266593 , Reply# 10   2/7/2014 at 14:38 (3,701 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi,

kirbymodel2c's profile picture

Hi Matt, Let us know how you get on.

I got the whole package last year.

Why your at the distributor ask how much the kirby odorific or homefresh is as well as the shampoo,heavy traffic,spot remover are.

 

JamesSmile


Post# 266594 , Reply# 11   2/7/2014 at 14:39 (3,701 days old) by madabouthoovers ()        

Well, we look forward to the pics of it, when you get it - there aren't that many Sentria 2's about in the UK yet, and the blue and brown colour scheme wont appeal to many either. Personally I love the colour scheme, very 1970's. I just wonder if Kirby will be replacing the entire G platform this year though to mark the 100th anniversary, thus if they launch a new platform you may want one of these in a year or so's time. The Sentria is, as you know, based on a design going back to 1990, and is long overdue a replacement. Even the classic platform only ran for 20 years (1970 - 1990) before the G platform came out, so the G/Sentria series Is now 24 years old.


Post# 266595 , Reply# 12   2/7/2014 at 14:50 (3,701 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        

kirbyclassiciii's profile picture
Compare the lifespan of both Kirby designs (the Classic/Legend and G3/Sentria II) to the first one they'd used since the first model to bear the designer's surname in 1934 (model C), despite alterations to the motor design in the years 1956 to 1970.

~Ben


Post# 266605 , Reply# 13   2/7/2014 at 17:24 (3,701 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

The reason the Kirby "G Series" platform has lasted so long is that if something works really well, DON'T MESS WITH IT!

 

The Kirby Sentria II has incorporated all the engineering changes over the last 24 years making it the Best performing Kirby home maintenance system ever developed.

 

 One of the major developments is the new Amodel suction fan which is the most indestrucitble fan ever made. It is made of a new polycarbonate substance that is stronger and more durable than metal fans. I know this means nothing to all you folks that have bypass air machines, but it is very important in Direct Air cleaners like the Sentria II.

 

The Tech Drive power assist transmission has undergone many changers over the years making the Sentria's transmission the smoothest ever.

 

 




This post was last edited 02/07/2014 at 19:49
Post# 266608 , Reply# 14   2/7/2014 at 18:12 (3,701 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

turbo500's profile picture
sptyks, don't you think you're being a bit unnecessarily rude? Dysonman1 has just been singing the praises of a Rainbow, well known its reliability I understand. His comments regarding the Kirby are hardly praising of cheap, unreliable vacuums but just pointing out the flaws in the Kirby. I find it very hard to believe than any member of this site has ever come across a cleaner without it's flaws and it's great that we can discuss both the pros and cons of all the cleaners we've used.

It's also very rude of you to imply that he does not know what he's talking about. I'm sure Tom has used his fair share of Kirby's and therefore legitimately formed his own opinion based on his own experience.

I grew up in a house with a Kirby and, quite frankly, you couldn't pay me to one anyone one. I find them completely over-rated, excessively heavy, stupidly expensive, inconvenient, loud and awkward to use. The dry foam shampoo system does not do a great job on carpet at all - I've always found spray/extraction uprights with a stuff brushroll to be the best for washing a carpet.

And before you say it, I don't care how reliable they are. My 1978 Hoover Senior is still going strong and cost nowhere near as much as a Kirby. It's also very common for Miele, Sebo and (in the UK) Numatic vacuums to last 20 years plus. I'd much rather spend £250 on a Sebo or Miele and spend the other £750 on, say, a holiday.

And as for your patronising comment about "not meaning anything to those who use bypass air machines", I would ask that you please remember who you talking to. This is a vacuum cleaner collectors forum. We have all used many many many vacuums of all different types. Collectively, we are the experts.


Post# 266623 , Reply# 15   2/7/2014 at 19:57 (3,701 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        

sptyks's profile picture

Well turbo500, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion as I am to mine, so I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.

I do not wish to cause any problems so I have deleted the sentence you found so offensive.


Post# 266639 , Reply# 16   2/8/2014 at 06:44 (3,701 days old) by dysondestijl (east midlands, UK)        

Under a grand???? I thought these where at least double that??

Post# 266657 , Reply# 17   2/8/2014 at 09:43 (3,701 days old) by man114 (Buffalo NY)        

Having 5 Kirby's and 2 Rainbows I can see Tom's points here. Having a dog & 3 cats and having used many different vacuums I concur that a Rainbow never smells, unless you put fragrances in the water (or leave water in the bin & store it, which should never be done). What he didn't really mention is a Rainbow can actually effectively be used to shampoo because it can wet pickup.

In regards to Kirby, I have mixed feelings about them, I have various models up to the G6. My largest gripe is they are on the heavy side. Newer bags eliminate a lot of the odor issues but not entirely. They do clean well and are reliable, can't say I ever had an issue with that. I find them more awkward to use tools on than a canister or other uprights. The shampooer is mostly useless, and based on how many I see at thrift stores even for newer models it doesn't seem like a lot of people use them. If I use a Kirby I use it to sweep the floor and nothing else, the older machines are heavy to push before they added the drive. The only one I really ever use is a classic 3 to vacuum the carpeted half of my garage which receives little dirt is not that wide and it doesn't take long to vacuum. I couldn't tell you the last time the G6 was used. In contrast I use my Rainbows twice a week with a Dyson or Fantom for a quick run here or there.


Post# 266663 , Reply# 18   2/8/2014 at 10:09 (3,701 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        
Kirby Shampoo system

sptyks's profile picture

I always have great results with my Kirby shampoo system.

The only people who have used the Kirby shampoo system on the G series and found it to be ineffective are those who did not set up and/or use it properly. If those people took the time to watch the official Kirby instruction video and take the time to make a couple of practice runs with the shampoo system, they would have had good results. Most of the problems can be attributed to the suds screen not being inserted properly and/or failure to vacuum the shampooed area with a new or almost new bag installed. I have found that the results are much better when vacuuming with a new bag installed in the Kirby.


Post# 266680 , Reply# 19   2/8/2014 at 12:46 (3,700 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Well...

kirbymodel2c's profile picture

Hi, Well I've always found the Kirby Shampoo system to do a great job when used correctly and with the genuine shampoos and sprays. Especially using the G series machines. I've found most of the domestic spray/extraction uprights to be rubbish over rated and very unreliable. You also have to be careful of over wetting the carpet and rotting the underlay if used regular.

 

If you have a spillage remove the bulk of it with paper towel and absorbing as much of it as possible. Remember dab don't rub.Wink

Then treat with the applicable Kirby shampoo spray following the instructions and going over with the full Kirby shampoo system if required.

The key to stains and spills is acting quickly. Vacuuming regular with the Kirby will keep you carpets looking great and shampooing regular will help maintain them. Using the spot remover and the heavy traffic sprays as needed.

 

With regards to smells most vacs smell if you have pets. Believe me I get enough of the coming in smelling to high heaven, bagged and bagless machines alike. Best thing to do is change the bag regular and don't let it sit idle for extended periods of time.

I've done this before when using one vac a few times then start using another for a few weeks only to start using the previous vac again which then smells.

Also you can use Homefresh and or Odorific.

 

I've used several Rainbows over the years the SE and E series and found them disappointing for a "high end " vac with there own "issues". Not that you see many over here as they've never been successful over this side of the pond.

 

Why the Miele, Sebo are more reliable than most off the shelf vacs the older ones are better built than what their putting out now.

In the original X series Sebos you could get away allot of the time with replacing the carbon bushes in the motor.

In the X1.1,X4 etc most of the time you can't.

Mieles parts can be more expensive than Kirby's. I had a Miele cylinder S3... come in a few weeks back and the cord rewind had broke and needed replacing. Miele wanted to charge me £168+VAT for it and then my labour would be on top and the machine only cost £200ish.

As for the Miele S7 cat and dog when I had one that had a snapped handle they wanted £178+VAT for it.

Henry's are not what the was 20 years ago lol.

 

As I've said before VALUE is a individual thing. I wouldn't waste £250-£420 on a vac that has problems sucking up fine dust. Yet other people will. Some people see spending any more than £50 on a vac is a "waste of money."

Weight as well is a individual thing. I was told the other week the Oreck XL is heavy!Laughing

I've also been told this quite a few times on Sebos, Dysons and the white bagged Panasonic uprights which say "Super Lightweight" on them.

 

 

I'm going to stop now before I get a worn out keyboardLaughing

 

JamesSmile

 



Post# 266684 , Reply# 20   2/8/2014 at 12:59 (3,700 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

James! You sir are the ideal man to answer some questions for me....

How do you find build quality? I'm sure I read somewhere that it is slightly lighter than previous models... Is it to the usual high Kirby standard or have they scrimped on anything to reduce the weight?

Is the machine any louder than the G series?

When you purchased yours was there anything that surprised you? For example something that used to be metal is now made from plastic?

In a nut shell, will it live up to the same quality expectations that my Ultimate G Diamond delivered?

I'm pretty set on buying one now...

I LOVE the design and colours of the bag... it's very retro and funky.
I also like the newly designed furniture guard and the softer lines on the power plant unit itself.

I do not however like the way the handle flares out at the bottom where it joins into the power plant unit.

I also think the carry handle would of looked better in brown than duck egg blue but that's just me being fussy.

Aside from the way the bottom of the handle flares out its possibly my favourite modern Kirby design to date.

I also notice they have changed the design of the zip brush.

Out of interest, how much did you pay for yours James?

They said that the £970 they want from me includes all the standard dry tools, zip brush and shampoo system. I'm not sure if it includes the floor waxing/polishing head and power sander tool... But as the saying goes 'in for a penny in for a pound'... I want every possible accessory I can get for it!


Post# 266719 , Reply# 21   2/8/2014 at 14:10 (3,700 days old) by baglessball ()        
Hey Matt,

Just a little idea before you sink so much hard dollar into a machine that you may later find unsuitable for your needs..

I know you said you wanted new, BUT! What about getting a cheap refurbed G series machine to practice with. If it starts to smell after a couple of weeks it won't be a massive loss to sell on. And if it doesn't, sell the damn thing anyways and buy yourself a new shiny one!

Just a suggestion. Keep us posted either way!

I used to have BIG problems with smelly Mieles, I think any vacuum with these newer fleece bags suffer with the stale bag smell. I vac up a small amount of bicarb every couple of uses and this really seems seems to keep the cleaners smelling fresh.

Shaun :)


Post# 266734 , Reply# 22   2/8/2014 at 14:34 (3,700 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        
Matt8808

sptyks's profile picture

The Kirby Sentria II build quality has not slipped. It is the same excellent build quality as ever.

 

The bottom of the power plant motor housing as well as the back side of the handle are now made of a space-age polycarbonate material which is lighter but actually much stronger than aluminum. This was done to reduce the overall weight of the machine by approx. one and a half pounds. According to Kirby, the new Sentria is built lighter but stronger than previous models. The polycarbonate material is more expensive than aluminum and more costly to manufacture as well.

 

The Duck-egg blue on the carry handle is also on the power switch, the right half of the Tech Drive pedal and is also lightly incorporated into the pattern on the bag. You would need to see a close up picture of the bag to notice the blue in it.

 

 


Post# 266750 , Reply# 23   2/8/2014 at 15:27 (3,700 days old) by kirbymodel2c (Nottingham, England)        
Hi Matt,

kirbymodel2c's profile picture

Hi Matt, I'll reply later as I've been looking at the screen for a while now and my eyes are turning squareWink

 

JamesSmile


Post# 266756 , Reply# 24   2/8/2014 at 15:58 (3,700 days old) by man114 (Buffalo NY)        

Matt, I don't disagree. Rainbows have issues of their own, but it will never smell and will shampoo a carpet quite well. They all have great airflow. The newest powerhead is great and they are easier to use with attachments. On top of that they are fairly reliable D4s are everywhere stateside.

On the downside you have to fill and empty it with each use, sometimes more than once. You have to clean it, store the bin separately etc.

Rainbow is a decision you make and you either do or don't. It will do the job but requires totally different maintenance than a Kirby. I would choose a Rainbow over the Kirby but because I like the benefits and find it lighter to push around.

Kirby is more traditional in operation.


Post# 266779 , Reply# 25   2/8/2014 at 18:47 (3,700 days old) by Durango159 (State College, PA)        

durango159's profile picture
Working for Filter Queen, I love seeing a Kirby emerge from the customers closet!!! I knew right away that finding dirt was going to be very easy and also that the Kirbys smell to high heavens!!! On a Filter Queen demo we're supposed to do a 100 pass test with a customers unit. A demo with a Kirby G5 I got to 32 passes and felt sick. The smell and dust emitted was just a nightmare. My last demo with a Kirby was about 2 weeks ago, it was a G3. The husband told me he'd pay me to take the Kirby out of the house!!! Some customers love them but many do not like them and there are many vac shops where Kirbys have been traded in for Miele, Riccar or Simplicity and the Kirbys are building up. Consumers and vac shop dealers have found that Miele and many other brands are far easier to use, groom rugs better and clean rugs just as well if not better in most cases!! Emissions on most hard bagged machine is better too because there are post motor filters on Miele and others to not only capture incoming dirt that may have surpassed the HEPA bag but also capture carbon dust produced by the motor!! Many households have the Kirby in the basement as a back up with a Kenmore canister or Dyson as their regular driver upstairs in the main house!!

Vacuum cleaners are used to pick up DIRT and FILTH. That filth stays with the machine until emptied. The machines are stored inside of your home which is a WARM environment. At night time or in a bag compartment it is DARK. A filthy, warm, dark environment and any moisture from humidity in the air creates a fantastic breeding ground for all sorts of germs, bacterias, fungi, and viruses to breed. When you turn on that vacuum with all of that bacteria, fungi, germs and viruses breeding inside and the filters are porous for air to escape, the result is germs and viruses and things being exhausted into the air in your home. It is those things that produce the foul odor primarily. Any vacuum with a bag or filter with 3 weeks or so of not being cleaned will smell. A pet one will smell more due to increased amount of moisture from the pet dander and pet hair that was cleaned up. Tablets and other fragrances can be used but all you're doing is temporarily masking a smell produced from Bacteria, fungi, mold and viruses!!! Hard case bagged uprights do much better with this situation as the odor is trapped inside the case and there are many more filters on this system for it to pass through before being exhausted out. Even with a HEPA bag on the Kirby it is still the 1st protection and the outer bag for filtration offers essentially nothing!!

I haven't personally used a Kirby dry foam system. But there was just a major discussion of this on this on a few Facebook vac pages I'm on. The general consensus is that dry foams are highly unimpressive and only good for a light coating. If you want a true deep clean and get rid of stains then an extractor type machine is the way to go. On the low end a Hoover Steamvac with Spinscrub brushes works well. For vast performance a canister style extractor with pump and spray measured in PSI's and airflow/ suction displayed with a measured Water lift capability then you have a very powerful cleaner!!

I will attest that I was not happy with experience of older style E series Rainbows. However the current model has tremendous air flow and the power nozzle packs lots of power!! The non-carbonbrush motor sets this machine apart from anything else on the market because when not being used with hose attached to clean up spills, mop floors, shampoo carpets, or dry clean surfaces it is a 24/7/365 running air purifier!!! You never put the Rainbow away in a closet. When finished house cleaner you just rinse out basin with fresh water and let it run as an air cleaner on the low speed mode. The Rainbow requires no bags to buy. The only filter on it is washable and normal users have them last 8 years before ever requiring replacement and replacement of filters is only about $65. The Rainbow has accessories to shampoo carpet, mop and scrub floors, there's even a microfiber mop system called the Super Mop, wet spills and stains are gone with just cold water on the spot and using the normal upholstery nozzle. The new systems hose is wet and dry usage!! Rainbows don't get a stench to them. Water is dumped at end of cleaning just like a mopping bucket!! I just bought a Rainbow on Thursday, 2 days ago and love it!! It's been running just about straight through ever since as an air cleaner. I'll post a new thread of it soon!! That's it below cleaning my air! Or as Rainbow calls it "Air Washing"!



Post# 266780 , Reply# 26   2/8/2014 at 19:13 (3,700 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        
Moldy Rainbow

sptyks's profile picture

I take it you have not seen the thread on here of the Rainbow which is full of white mold. I have not experienced any of the problems you mentioned with my Kirby Sentria. And the shampoo system works quite well for me also.


Post# 266786 , Reply# 27   2/8/2014 at 19:51 (3,700 days old) by joshdonnell ()        
Moldy Rainbow

Well if there is mold in the Rainbow that's because the owner stored the basin with the Rainbow. And that the owner did not need such a nice vacuum. I have Rainbow and i never had a mold problem. We must remember no vacuum is perfect.

Post# 266788 , Reply# 28   2/8/2014 at 20:00 (3,700 days old) by Durango159 (State College, PA)        

durango159's profile picture
A moldy Rainbow would most likely be caused by someone storing water left in the basin. Why store water in an environment like that for a while is a mind boggler!!! Anybody own a Humidifier??? Regardless of Ultrasonic or a filter style humidifier, leave it be for a few days unrunning and see what it looks like!!!

However for issues of that, Rexair does have a solution. Wash Basin, then no water in the tank put about 1/2 cup of the Fresh Air Disinfectant in machine. Run it for about an hour, I believe it is, to kill any growths and cleanse the system!!

With an older 1 speed system or any of the carbon brush motor models, they weren't designed to be air cleaners due to the short life, high heat from hours of use and emissions exhaust by a system with carbon brushes. Therefore after cleaning with those machines you have to wash basin and store it separate so that air can get in completely dry the Rainbow itself and basin. This was a major inconvenience and why some people may not like a Rainbow.

HOWEVER:

The newer series is a 2 speed Non Carbon brush Hurricane motor. It is designed to NEVER BE PUT AWAY!!! The non carbon brush motor is designed to run 24/7 so that once done cleaning surfaces it returns to air cleaner mode! It becomes the cheapest, easiest to maintain air cleaner out there on the market and your air returns WASHED IN WATER and filtered rather than just filtered!! You can even add scents if you like as many people use the Rainbow for Aroma Therapy and have your air smelling of Eucalyptus, Vanilla, Lemon, Pine, Berry, Spice, Violet, Orange, Orange-Ginger, and several others.


Post# 266880 , Reply# 29   2/9/2014 at 17:54 (3,699 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

I've got to admit the Kirby is much more appealing.....
Definitely getting one as soon as I get chance to visit the local Kirby dealer


Post# 266886 , Reply# 30   2/9/2014 at 19:24 (3,699 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)        
Matt

sptyks's profile picture

You have made an excellent decision. You will be quite happy with your new Sentria II.


Post# 266949 , Reply# 31   2/10/2014 at 11:48 (3,698 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

I've got it!! Went and got one after work today.... new thread on it will be up shortly :)


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