Kirby - Avalir Platinum

I love kirby vacuums. You can get a used one for a steal.

Are we talking upright or canister vacuum? If upright and mostly carpets, I'd go with a second hand Kirby machine. Something from the later Generation series up to the Avalir (they are all fundamentally the same machine) If a canister, then yeah probably a Shop Vac. Although if he has no patience for being able to fix the vacuums I don't like his chances of dealing with the Kirby, as far as maintenance goes. Also, sounds like the bf needs to do some growing up, if he's breaking stuff regularly because it doesn't work I think he needs to learn some emotional regulation. Sounds like a spoiled child to be honest. If he's breaking them he should be paying for them, and if he doesn't have a job, well you guessed it, he should be working if he wants to break shit. Sure he may have some mental illness or problems, and I can relate, but that doesn't excuse him from acting like an idiot? This is not cute behaviour and it only gets worse if validated. EDIT: Just went through your post history.....get rid of this fucking deadbeat. I'm sorry he had a rough upbringing but he's still alive and he's fucking 33. It's time for him to take responsibility for his own life and stop blaming his past. None of this behaviour is endearing or worthy of any sort of coddling or admiration, it's just plain toxic. You DO NOT owe him a thing and it's time to move him on and find someone more aligned with you, and the fact that HE gave you an ultimatum some time back about moving in or he would leave, I'd have called his bluff and taken that opportunity to leave.

As well, a Kirby is probably the best carpet cleaning Vacuum made. It’s just antiquated.

used kirby for pet hair

This was 12 years ago... mine is a cloud something or other. The name wore off so I don't remember it all. But yes, it was a great gift and I have always liked running the vacuum so win for me. Wifey thinks it's to much and would rather have her lil shark then complain it doesn't work like 'my kirby' No shade at the wife. Her shark works wonders in our car. so WIN for her!!!

I advise anyone to stay away from the new Dyson's. My first Dyson from 2006 lasted almost 15 years. It was an amazing vacuum before it died. Then I bought a new one. Their quality deteriorated significantly between my first one and second one. I stopped recommending them. Now I have a Kirby. Bought it used off marketplace for $100. It works great and is very durable, but it is too tall to get under furniture and the hose attachment process is ridiculous. Maybe I'll check into the Miele's.

The Kirby is a lot of fun - it’s like vacuuming your carpet with a jet engine. They do need tune-ups though. The silicone seal in the fan chamber eventually wears out, and the handle actuator sometimes needs adjustment. Vintage Electrolux machines are always a hit (they actually still make the same body style, just without the good smooth motor). Hoover constellation is fun: floats like a hovercraft. Zero-G uses the same technology in a modern machine. I miss mine. It was the reproduction model from the 2000s. Hoover fitted it with a beefy 1400w suction motor and it had gobs of power. I’m praying to the vacuum gods I can find a New Old Stock one. There’s of course the Hoover Convertible (decade 80 too) and eureka F&G machines. Hoover Concept I and II are excellent cleaners. There’s some really neat Kenmore cleaners too. Whirlpool was their manufacturer then they switched mainly to Panasonic.

For carpet, it’s hands down the best. It has the most of everything a vac needs to super clean carpet. Airflow, agitation, etc. 132 - 150 CFM is monstrously high, and that is measured where the carpet intake is. On other vacs, the airflow is about 1/4 - 1/3 of that at the carpet intake, and they don’t agitate as well. I keep a Kirby around for deep-cleaning carpet but daily a Miele C3. The Miele C3 with the SEB 228 nozzle is impressive on carpet, but it still isn’t like monstrously powerful.

KIRBY VACUUM. Get a Kirby. I just ran a google search for "used Kirby's under $200" and came up with several options for purchase. I've had my Kirby for over 20 years with kids and cats and I love it. The attachments are simple to use and allow me to easily dust ceilings, tops of cabinets, hanging lamps and fans. I use it to vacuum the car, my mattress, sofa, etc. A simple attachment switch and I'm vacuuming my hardwood floors. Very long cord, too.  Yes they're expensive brand new, but you can find used or refurbished ones all over the place. The fact that so many old Kirby's are still out there available for purchase is testament to how sturdy and  long lasting they are. Plus, nothing sucks up dirt and dust and cat dander as well as a Kirby. Good luck!

Kirby will last forever.

Kenmores are a dime a dozen on marketplace. Likewise, a light use kirby can be had for 60 bucks.

I’ve owned Kirby, Dyson and Shark. I’m sold on Sharks.

I love my Kirby.

Do you have a spinning brush on the Sebo? Anyway, Kirby's are overpriced, IMHO. However, they are one of the best vacuums out there. Whether they are filter bagged or just bagged, the dirt always goes through the impeller first, then to the bag. There is zero loss of suction along the way, and normally when you are using the regular head (as opposed to the hose attachment), it's a very short ride for the dirt before being flung at 100 mph towards the bag. This is why they have great suction. The Kirby's major downfall is the design - that is, dirt needing to go through the impeller first. This causes two issues: over time, the impeller gets full of gunk, which hardens and gets caked in real good. You need to take the head off, clean it (with a flat head screw driver) as well as the impeller. The other major fault is that if you suck up a hard item (like a coin) the impeller is toast. You will need to replace it. I remember as a kid, we had a Kirby salesman come by. My mom was big with her Filter Queen (another overpriced vacuum) and asked the sales person to suck some coins. Firm no, and she showed him her Filter Queen doing this with zero issues. Anyway, the design of Kirby winds up making it one of the best cleaners out there, and they will last a lifetime, even if you need to replace the $30 impeller ever so often. Very little plastic to break. They are heavy. So my opinion is that you're not doing anything wrong, the Kirby is simply getting the dirt you vacuum couldn't. However, if you don't have a powerhead for the Sebo, that makes a huge difference as well, and the Kirby wouldn't get as much dirt if that was the case.

You do NOT want a Kirby if you have stairs - trust me. Coming from a former Kirby collector/restorer.

So I have 2 GSD's and I have a Kirby Vacuum that was gifted to me as a wedding present from my mother (god rest her soul). I reconigize they are rather expensive however the worst I've had to do is replace a belt (and bags obv) Belt was $15 USD to replace. It as a vacuum works flawlessly and can even put up with Nala trying to 'fight it' and 'defend' me.

They're the top dog in cleaning performance on carpets in my opinion, but that's about as far as they go. They're a one trick pony. They also weigh a ton too. Basically they're great if you have a single story house with mostly carpet.

If you're looking solely for a carpet vacuum and nothing else, a Kirby is my preferred choice. They are the kings of carpet cleaning but come at a cost of weight and size. The newer models have transmissions in them that make them very easy to push and pull though. They haven't changed much in decades and parts are plentiful. DO NOT BUY ONE NEW! Go to a local vacuum shop and I guarantee you'll find a used one for like 80% off of what a new one would cost. If you need to use attachments or need to use it on the hard floors (which I see you already go covered) then I'd look elsewhere. Kirby's are one trick ponies. Amazing at cleaning carpet, terrible at everything else.

No Kirbys? That's the most BIFL vacuum ever, I've had mine for over 30 yrs, other than belts and bags this thing won't quit.

Rip off IMO. They clean carpet well, but they are insanely heavy. They literally have a transmission because they’re so heavy. They are also more expensive than they’re worth. There are definitely some diminishing returns, and I honestly would rather have a Miele or Sebo with an electric powerhead that I can do more with for cheaper than a Kirby I can only clean carpet with.

My hubby bought a Kirby about 16 years ago. His dad had one that he loved, so we had to have one too. Seems to work well. We have a dog that sheds a lot, and it still keeps up with him.

high airflow but low suction power? how would that make any sense. the kirby literally lifts the entire carpet off the pad

I always thought of Sharks as cheap vacuums. I have a central vacuum in my house and I bought a refurbished Kirby. The Kirby needed a repair so I went ahead and bought a Shark Navigator til I could get it fixed. I never bothered to take it to the shop. This Shark is amazing with what it pulls out of the carpet. Wish I would have bought one sooner.

I would consider Kirby a BIFL product but unless you have a ton of carpeting in wide open areas, they’re not convenient to use at all and I own two of them. They’re heavy and don’t maneuver well even with the self-propelled function.

We had a bone pile of Kirbys in a shed. I had one as a kid but after working on them, nothing special. I did like the metal Royals better, but even they were relics decades ago.

Kirby’s only legitimate perk other than being powerful is that it’s easy to service. Like Kirby is a relic from a bygone era (as evidence by their predatory MLM sales tactics) and is designed to be super easy to service. I recommend people who have carpets or businesses to buy used <$500 Kirby’s because when they aren’t absurdly priced they are legit good but their price when new and the bs sales tactics to get you to buy one are bullshit and the company doesn’t deserve new money. Non-Kirby commercial vacuums are simply designed to be more durable because businesses don’t like purchasing stuff frequently and they are cheaper than Kirby so probably worth it

Heavy, stupid design for the hose, loud, bad filtration. They do have a good electric motor and are repairable but a Sebo or Miele are much better especially with stairs.

I see what you're saying. Although in this case "suction" power as you put it isn't really relevant for the situation described by OP, and doesn't explain why it picked up so much after the sebo. Cleaning sand off a bare floor is much different than vacuuming your carpeted living room. I agree with your last sentence about getting a kirby used for $100 and would not purchase new from a salesperson. Also to clarify I was a 3rd generation kirby vacuum salesman edit: I should say inches of water lift is completely irrelevant for cleaning carpets

I'd probably grab a Kirby or a Sanitaire if those were my priorities. Both are awesome on carpets, but basically one-trick ponies (especially the Sanitaire).

I see the appeal of a stick. I have a V15. It’s about 3 yrs old. It’s primary role is for in-between cleans, small messes. Touch-ups. But, if I am going to vac our main living areas or the entire house, I can get the job done a lot faster with my Miele. If I am going to deep clean the carpet, I don’t pre-vac with my V15. I use my Kirby. If I am going to detail a vehicle, Miele. If I am going to use attachments for deep cleaning, Miele.

I mean, let’s face it. The main difference - WEIGHT. The Kirby is a tank, other vacuums are well built (unless you’re throwing them around) and will last for decades. Period.

Depends on the needs. I’ve owned many premium vacs. Kirby, Rainbow, Hyla, Riccar, Sebo, Miele, and several cheaper vacs like Dyson, Shark, Kenmore, etc. This includes Riccar Tandem Air upright, Kirby Avalir, Rainbow E2 & SRX, Hyla N and EST Defender, Miele C3, Miele CX1 Blizzard, Sebo E3 and D4 Premium canisters. Canister - Miele Complete C3 Brilliant - easiest canister to use - best-filtering - most suction and airflow out of all canisters I’ve used - best-cleaning power nozzles - comes with my favorite hard floor tool - don’t have to bend over to do things with it Upright - Kirby Avalir - best-cleaning vac for carpet that I have used/ owned - highest airflow available (higher airflow = better carpet cleaning) - most aggressive power nozzle with firm brush roll - this is my heavy-hitter for maximum dirt removal from carpet - can do a ton of other things but carpet is where they shine - I do feel it does a better job cleaning than my Riccar Tandem Air did on our carpet. Water-based Filtration Vac - Rainbow E2 - when paired with the SRX PN3 v1 power nozzle, it cleans carpet very well. - like the Miele C3, it is H13-rated HEPA - parts availability is awesome - super easy to service - The Hyla is a little easier to use and pull around but it doesn’t have as much suction as the Rainbow E2.

It’s not light or cheap, but it will survive a nuclear war. The Kirby.

Kirby. You can usually find them cheap second hand. The newer models will be self propelled. Though Kirby is a hefty built vacuum. Honestly anything with a bag should be good. You will have much less maintenance with a bag.

Dude! This one is super awesome. The guy at the Kirby place near me says they make all their parts standard so it'll work past present and future. Bastian made me have to replace the hose (he chewed it to bits over night) but basically I haven't made and large replacements for it. The Vacuum fucking rocks. Truth be told I will replace it if it breaks in a way I can't fix. It's thst good.

A used Kirby will do that.

I have “favorite” vacuums in each category of vac and for different applications. However, my absolute favorite is my Miele C3 Brilliant, and I use it in tandem with my super high capacity air purifiers to stay ahead of the dust, germs, fur, pollen, etc. Very bad allergies over here. FOR DEEP-CLEANING WALL-WALL CARPET: Kirby Avalir w/ firm brush roll, new belt and bag. It’s a beast. This is my pic for cleaning carpet before extracting. BAGGED UPRIGHT: Sebo X4 Boost BAGLESS UPRIGHT: Dyson Slim Ball Animal BAGGED CANISTER: Miele C3 Brilliant w/ SEB228 power nozzle BAGLESS CANISTER: Rainbow E2 Black w/ PN3 v1 power nozzle CORDLESS STICK: Dyson V15 Detect AREA RUGS: Miele C3 with SEB236 power nozzle HARD FLOORS: Miele C3 with premium parquet twister floor head AUTO DETAILING / ATTACHMENT USE: Miele C3; or the Rainbow E2 Black & RainbowMate EXTRACTOR: Bissell BigGreen Commercial BG10 EXTRACTOR HIGH pH SOLUTION: Hoover Professional 7X Concentrate (amazing!) SHAMPOOER - ENCAPSULATION “DRY” FOAM: Kirby with Kirby shampoo and high traffic pre-spray STAIN REMOVER: Kirby Spot Remover Plus Oxy - but the Unbelievable Stain Remover is identical and is the same solution but without the Kirby label - and without the Kirby price. I scrub stains with a drill and drill brush attachment. ENCAPSULATION POWDER: Sebo DUO-P with the Sebo DUO-P CRB machine. It really does a fabulous job on high traffic areas and for absorbing foot traffic greases and oily soils. LOW pH RINSE FOR EXTRACTION CARPET CLEANING: ProChem All-Fiber Rinse HOT WATER EXTRACTOR + STEAMER + VACUUM (all-in-one unit): Desiderio All-in-One (the big one) MOP: O-Cedar Flat Rinse Mop with 2 bucket system; Kirby mop system; Hyla mop-squeegee system; Swiffer PowerMop with washable microfiber pad. MOP SOLUTION: Odoban LVP + ZEP No-Rinse Floor Disinfectant. We have LVP flooring so we’re pretty limited with what we can use. I love to mop with Clorox, though, when able. CLEANING SPRAYS: Clorox Germicidal Bleach - Healthcare Pro Line Clorox Cleanup + Bleach SprayWay Foam Glass Cleaner Pledge Orange Furniture Polish MicroBan Cleaner & Disinfectant Trigger Spray Bottle AIR PURIFIER(S): BlueAir HealthProtect 7700 series BlueAir Pure Max MedifyAir MA-112 Pro (among the highest capacity air cleaners available)

No Kirby? Them Kirbys are workhorses.