Advice Please Kirby Cleaning system

greenfinger

Just bought myself a G5 Kirby, and want some shampoo for the carpet clearner attachment. Does anybody know if I need to use the branded Kirby stuff (if so where is the cheapest to buy) otherwise what other clearner can I use? I tried 2001 3 in 1, for machines, but it didnt work very well, I think the Kirby needs one that generates loads of foam. Thanks in advance, hope this is the right section for this request...

mrs_lds

I would stick with the branded stuff although it is pricey it does the job well. I have had my Kirby 13 years and I would not trade it for any other vaccum cleaner by far the best.

penrhyn

£18.50 for a litre at the Kirby owners club!!!

http://www.kirby-vacuum-owners-club.co.uk/g5.html

PS How much is a G5 these days?

chrisw

I use the 1001 or Vanish but you have used the wrong one. There are 2 types - the one for 3 in 1 machines is non-foaming and the wrong one. The one you need describes on the back whipping the shampoo/water mix into a foam and applying it to the carpet. I think it also says notsuitable for 3-in-1 machines as they work on different principles.

The 3-in-1 put the shampoo/water into the carpet and suck it out again, whereas the Kirby works the foam into the carpet.

I don't think it works quite as well as the Kirby stuff at getting the dried in stains out, but it's about £1 per litre rather than £18. I usually mix a bit with water in a bowl and scrub the worst bits first with a nail brush. With 2 children and a dog the carpet soon gets dirty again anyway with spillages and things, but at that price you can afford to do it quite regularly.


They showed me the latest model last time they serviced mine and it was about £2500!

mrs_lds

Where is the best p[lace to get cheap bags for the kirby? I resent paying £20 for them

greenfinger

Thank you all for your comments and advice, I bought the G5 locally for £180, which was comparable to the prices on ebay. Yesteday I compared the suction between the G5 and the Dyson 07 that we also have. The dyson won, but the G5 does look like it needs a new fan blade. The Kirby cannot be beaten in terms of brushing power, it cleans in a far superior way to the Dyson, but the Dyson does score on portability, its light, and easier to clean into smaller spaces, shame the Dyson built quaility so very poor. One of these machines will still be working in another five years, and it wont be the Dyson!

kirbyownersclub.com

Hi Guys

You don't need to use genuine Kirby shampoo, as chrisw says 1001 is okay but better still look under Janitorial Supplies in your local yellow pages and ask for a "Dry Foam" shampoo. You should get 5 litres for under £10.

We used to list an unbranded shampoo on the club website but the bottles often leaked or split in the post.

When comparing please remember that it costs almost £5 to post a one litre bottle of shampoo (included in the price) and that the Kirby brand is designed to reduce allergens.

While it is okay to use an unbranded shampoo mrs lds please think carefully before using those cheap copy bags that are all over the internet. They are cheap because they are poor quality and often either leak or split at the seams. Consider using a lower priced Genuine Kirby G3 bag instead because they are quality controlled and tested by Kirby and cost just £7.55 for a pack of 3 bags. G3 bags fit: Heritage II, Legend and all Generation models.

Happy to answer any questions, hope it helps.

Steve - kirbyownersclub.com