Thread Number: 36951
/ Tag: Brand New Vacuum Cleaners
Kirby Avalir 2 Questions - Am I doing it right? |
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Post# 394966 , Reply# 1   7/14/2018 at 21:33 (2,105 days old) by blackheart (North Dakota)   |   | |
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They've never fared well on hard floors with their standard carpet nozzle. There is an insert for the main nozzle you can use to adapt it for hard floor (seen below) but it's really quite inconvenient you need to deactivate the brushroll and this unit clips into the bottom of the floor tool. The best way to clean hard flooring with a Kirby is just to use the hose and the hard floor tool.
Yes they will struggle with large amounts of large debris but typically that's not what is encountered in the home. When the crevice test was done it sounds as though the main nozzle was used? While we do have a high amount of flow it's also distributed over a larger area. I'd say it'd be better to use the hard floor tool for it, as that's how a Kirby should be used on hard flooring. Yeah high expectations often lead to disappointment, I feel there's not much in the same class as Kirby in terms of pure carpet cleaning ability that massive flow of their combined with a strong vibration producing agitation makes for a wonderful deep down clean. Oh, before I forget. The height adjustment has a bit of a learning curve to it the suggested method is to raise it up then lower it one click at a time until the tone of the motor changes then lower it another 2 clicks. You don't want it too low cause then you don't leave room for the vacuum to pick up the carpet and beat it like it's supposed to do. I apologize if i over-explained anything I tend to do that even when it's not needed.
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Post# 394987 , Reply# 2   7/15/2018 at 09:09 (2,105 days old) by VacuumWars (Blue RIdge GA)   |   | |
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@Blackheart Thanks that was really helpful! |
Post# 394993 , Reply# 3   7/15/2018 at 10:45 (2,105 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)   |   | |
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@Vacuumwars,
Blackheart is correct. The best way to clean hard floors with a Kirby is to use the Hard Floor attachment in Canister Mode.
When cleaning carpet in Upright Mode and with a new filter bag installed you need to first raise the floor nozzle all the way up to position #7 then with the motor running, lower one click at a time until you hear the brushes contact the carpet, then lower one more click. I have found that for most carpets the nozzle height ends up at position #3.
As your bag fills up with dirt and airflow is somewhat reduced, you may find that you will need to go down to position #2 to maintain ultimate cleaning performance.
Hope this helps,
~Stan
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Post# 394995 , Reply# 4   7/15/2018 at 11:04 (2,105 days old) by Rivstg1 (colorado springs)   |   | |
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Post# 395017 , Reply# 5   7/15/2018 at 17:48 (2,105 days old) by sleepdoc (St. Louis, MO)   |   | |
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I don't understand why Kirby doesn't include a better hard floor tool. Using a Kirby with the hose is somewhat inconvenient, but they do work well. A Kirby generates ample suction and airflow at the hose end to clean with a floor attachment, such as they had prior to the Generation series. I don't like the wheeled attachment they include now at all. At Kirby's price, they could include a floor tool with a decent soft brush. The Electrolux (Aerus) uprights are an identical situation: turning the spinning brush off and just running the vacuum over the floor without a brush doesn't clean as well as using a brush attachment. Electrolux includes two full-length wands in the attachment caddy but omits the floor brush, even though they make at least two floor tools, one of which is decent and the other a standard setter for decades. In both cases, I guess the strategy is to encourage customers to think the upright can clean hard floors without converting to the hose, but the actual performance is much better with proper tools. It seems hard to believe that their only motivation is to reduce the production cost by excluding the tool.
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Post# 395029 , Reply# 6   7/15/2018 at 20:35 (2,104 days old) by Rivstg1 (colorado springs)   |   | |
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I"m interested in why you think the hose/floor wand is THAT much better? I'm not truly doubting your thoughts...just wanting justification. I ask, because I use both the hose/floor tool AND sometimes us the power nozzle attachment ( hard floor) that clicks on from under the nozzle, and it appears to pick up any and all debris I run the Kirby over in my kitchen. Its definitely easier/quicker to use that attachment than get out all the hose/attachments....granted, the hose attachments can get 'under' cabinets etc better where the Kirby power nozzle won't..... thoughts?
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Post# 395056 , Reply# 8   7/16/2018 at 00:24 (2,104 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)   |   | |
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I use the Wessel Works hard floor tool with my Kirby when I have it in the hose mode.SO MUCH better than the largely useless Kirby tool.Kirby REALLY needs to redo this tool-or better yet provide a carpet suction only tool AND a good hard floor tool. |
Post# 395060 , Reply# 9   7/16/2018 at 04:20 (2,104 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH)   |   | |
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Post# 395380 , Reply# 12   7/21/2018 at 02:49 (2,099 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)   |   | |
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The Wessel Works Tool I have I bought it from the vac shop near me.It can fit any other vacuum with 1.25" wands.The vac store operator stocks them for central vacuum users.I use it on my central vacuums,too!The tool has a dual way swivel neck-side-side or up-down. |
Post# 395418 , Reply# 13   7/21/2018 at 16:18 (2,099 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)   |   | |
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The amazon posting you listed is amazingly similar to my Rainbow floor attachment which I have found, thus far, to be the best. Your posting of that is a good reminder to possibly NOT stick with an attachment if you don't care for it anyway
www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Ge... |
Post# 395493 , Reply# 14   7/23/2018 at 20:03 (2,096 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)   |   | |
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I find the pre-G floor tool works much better than the post-G one with the wheels. The pre-G one is what I always use. |
Post# 395856 , Reply# 15   7/31/2018 at 11:19 (2,089 days old) by mariotron (Texas )   |   | |
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For hard floors I usually just use it in upright mode with the power nozzle one click up from the lowest setting. I only turn off the brush roll or use the floor attachment when picking up larger stuff like cat litter. I'd like to to know how the attachment that goes on the nozzle works though
BTW dont use it with the brush roll on with hardwood floors or laminate. It works fine on linoleum and tile aslong as you're not trying pick up large pieces. |