Dedicated to the most glorious house cleaning device, known simply as the Vacuum Cleaner. We cover all vacuums old to new, and are eager to help you find a part or fix a broken machine. NOTE: Discussion of other cleaning products (mops, brooms, shampooers, etc.) is welcome here as well.
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I have two, both got them for free and I like them. Have you owned one before? Kirbys are probably the most divisive machine here in this subreddit…. In a good way! You must know they can either feel heavy and clunky or solid and cool. Depends on how you look at them. They do an amazing job on carpets and a great job on bare floors while in canister mode, but the change is not that practical. Also, know that although there are plenty of bags out there, including HEPA ones, they are not sealed. We have people with bad allergies here at home as well as dogs, and never been an issue, but if you suffer from really bad allergies, a sealed vacuum might be better.
Other than being both an upright and a canister, I wouldn’t bet on using any other “mode” since they are mediocre and cumbersome to use. BUT, if you like Kirbys and intend on using it as an upright for lots of carpet, a used one can be had for a small fraction of a new one, and be just as good.
One thing I think Kirby has every other vacuum beat is their longevity and the easy of maintenance and repair. Super easy to repair and parts are plenty everywhere. So you’ll probably buy it for life… or until you get tired of it and sell it on marketplace, just like the one you are buying, right!
So to recap :
Buy used for lots of carpet or keeping it in canister mode with bare floors attachments = Good!
Have stairs? = Well, at least now you don’t need a gym membership.
Buy a used one because all the bells and whistles = meh…
Buying a new one = NEVER!
I love USED Kirbys. Kirbys are heavy, they last forever, and they actually clean carpets too. Kirby's are loud and they aren't the best for hard floors. However, there's no reason to spend $1800 or more on a brand new Kirby. They're all practically the same, they barely change. The biggest changes to the Avalir 2 are they got rid of the tool caddy for a soft bag, they changed the color, and they used "2" instead of "II" i.e. Sentria II, Legend II.
All the Kirbys from the mid-80's and newer use the same hepa bags. Power has inched up slightly over the decades but nothing significant.
If you want a good Kirby you can find a good-condition used Kirby with all tools and attachments for $100 or less. If you are specifically looking for an Avalir 2 because you like the color and want a newer machine you can still find used Avalir 2s for $200-500.
Also what's your flooring type and mix? If you have mainly hard floors there are better and cheaper vacuums. Hope this helps.
It really does. Thank you so much for your feedback and time. Greatly appreciated.
Listen to the comment above. Should be able to find a current model Avalir 2 with all accessories slightly used for $250 or less. Paid $170 for mine over 2 years ago on Facebook. Absolutely don’t buy new. The Avalir 2 has been around 6 years and the design has not changed since 1991.
So I should pick up this Kirby that someone is selling on marketplace for 75$?
If a Kirby and all its strengths and weaknesses meets your needs $75 is a fair price for a Kirby. It will outclean any bagless vacuum on carpets. It should have all the tools and attachments. You don't need the carpet shampooer because it doesn't remove any dirty water. But the hose and wands and tools are good. It also takes standard 1.25 inch tools so if you have hard floors I would get a better hard floor brush than the Kirby brush.
Not trying to argue here, what do you mean it doesn't remove dirty water? I admittedly don't use the shampooer thing very often (I should be though), but it seems to get a good bit of dirt out of the fabric? I vacuum first, and the water that ends up in the tray is dirty, always glad I did it.
No problem. Most carpet cleaners or carpet shampooers like Rug Doctors and Bissell Big Green Machines spray cleaning solution, it gets scrubbed, and then it gets sucked up into a dirty water tank.
Kirby vacuums use a dry shampoo method, it sprays a little cleaning solution, it gets scrubbed, a little foam and liquid get brushed into the collection tray. You let it dry and then you are supposed to dry vacuum the carpet. Dirt gets stuck to the foam and when it's dry it is now able to be vacuumed up.
Most people want a carpet cleaner to suck up dirty water like a Rug Doctor or Bissell would do, so they don't have to vacuum again. A more traditional carpet cleaner also allows you to use plain water to rinse excess cleaning solution out of the carpet.
So in my opinion if you find a good used Kirby that doesn't have the shampoo attachments it isn't a big loss not to have them.
I would not buy a brand new one. If you have a refurbished one from basically 1990 and above, you essentially have the new model. Even some of the later 1980s variants such as the Heritage II and Legend II are safe to buy as long as they are refurbished properly and you use the HEPA bags, and some folks prefer them due to the lighter and more simple nature. As far as the current design goes, there have been minor changes here and there since the 1990s, mostly to some of the attachments, but nothing overly significant. If you find something such as the original Avalir, or even the Sentria and Sentria II, refurbished properly, it is most likely a way better deal than buying one brand new. They mark the prices up so high through the dealers and they lose a ridiculous chunk of value the second you buy them. Heck, I have even seen the new Avalir 2 models pop up for under $200 locally from people who were pressured into buying one and just want the thing gone.
I am not talking about the quality of the machine itself, either. I am more complaining about the methods used to sell them and how hard they hit the customer over the head. The Kirby vacuum cleaners themselves, in my opinion, are nice vacuum cleaners, and they are fantastic to buy on the used market. Sure, they do harken back to the 1990s in terms of overall design and weight, but they have stood the test of time in many ways such as their excellent carpet performance and being some of the most durable vacuum cleaners on the planet. They are more finicky than most modern designs for use on hard floors and in attachment mode on top of being relatively heavy, so do keep those traits in mind. If you know somebody who has one or have access to one at a local vacuum cleaner shop or anything along those lines, I suggest you get to know a Kirby before committing to buying one. They are not for everybody. If you have lots of carpet and either not a lot of stairs or do not mind the weight with the stairs, then you may like a Kirby. Also, if you want a vacuum cleaner that can likely outlast you with proper care, a Kirby is one of the most sure choices. If you like to bounce between attachment mode and upright mode, have tons of carpeted stairs to clean, have tons of hard floors, or anything along those lines, I usually steer people towards other options because many folks do find the Kirbys less than ideal for such tasks compared to some other types of vacuum cleaners. Again, I like Kirbys, I just want to be transparent about their positive and negative traits.
Can't speak for the new ones but I'm on this sub right now looking for a new option myself because my 20 year old passed down model finally kicked the can. They're damn heavy and the wife always complained about taking it up the stairs. Otherwise they are a total BIFL tank. Makes a hell of a boat anchor now too lol
Kirby is Hands Down the BEST VACUUM (I've ever owned/used). They LAST FOREVER!! Just look at the 60s models still going strong. Sadly, my 2000s is out, but you can rest assured, I'll be buying ... you guessed it, another KIRBY - maybe a used one because that's how much I trust KIRBY VACUUMS
Older kirbys are more reliable and can be found easily for under 50 bucks on marketplace. The great thing about kirby is the clothe/nylon outer bags can be removed and hand washed in the sink resulting in a brand new bag condition.
There's no reason to upgrade a Kirby if you already have one. If you're looking to pick one up here's a guide on that.
https://youtu.be/56wobGskhkk
Not new. Go on Ebay and buy 2-4 year old model. You'll pay 300 bucks and will have the same thing as a salesman will try to sell you for 2K. Since 1990 they have not changed much. Same motor same tech drive.
I've had my Avalir 2 since 2017. I demoed Kirby's for a month (the job was an absolute scam) but I do have to admit they make a great product. I wanted one for years after and my ex got me a used one from eBay for like 550. I was through the moon. All these years later it still works fine without any problems. For someone who doesn't already know how to use a Kirby there is definitely a learning curve. I've leant it to family and friends and every time I had to give them a run down on how to use it properly. They are definitely heavy and clunky. But clean better than any vacuum I've ever had and you can do so much with it with all the attachments. I shampoo my carpets at least twice a year and I hope it outlives me so I can make it a family heirloom lol.