Kirby - Avalir Platinum

In another life I was a Kirby service tech and I serviced machines on a number of occasions > 40-50 years old. At the time they had parts available for all machines. They ARE expensive (and the sales process leaves a lot to be desired) but are generally built like tanks. If there's a weak point, it's the fan. Even if it is Lexan, hard/heavy enough debris (eg bolts) can shatter the blades. The nice thing about the design is that instead of putting the bag inline with the fan, the bags fill from the top so it's able to maintain airflow. We have one (though it was a gift) but generally use our Dyson cordless day to day.

The bifl vacuum is Kirby, get a used one, definitely not from the salesman going door/door. They are both rugged and repairable. They can last 50+ years. This issue becomes qualities beyond bifl. They are also heavy as hell, large, difficult to get into many spaces, and generally difficult to use. …but it’s bifl.

Get a Kirby if you're actually not concerned about price. Kirbys are corded, but you will never have to charge or replace your vacuum. It will outlive you.

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.

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)

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.

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.

Kenmore canisters for carpet are very good. For hard floors, they’re awful. Obsolete. Deal breakers. Etc. Why not buy a refurbished Miele or Sebo, or if you have wall to wall carpet in most of your home and rarely use attachments, definitely go for a Kirby, or a Rainbow if you have a mix. Goodvac dot com for Kirby parts, Rainvac dot com for Rainbow parts. Miele parts and Sebo parts are easily accessible. Hyla parts are not, in contrast, but they too last a long time. I think they’re easier to use than the Rainbow but they don’t clean carpet very well at all. Kirby is about the best you can get for carpet.

My first choice is Kirby. I don't understand others' posts implying they aren't reliable. Mine is 40 years old and probably has another 60 years left. Plastic crap, Dyson and Shark, is just that. Crap. Panasonic commercial vacuums have been a standard for many years.

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

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

Used Kirby

Bought my Kirby in 1987....still use it today. Well, not today.

used kirby for pet hair