18 in Vacuum Cleaners
Kirby - Model 516
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 15, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
1
0
"used kirby for pet hair"
5
0
"it outperforms 90% of vacuums on the market. ... you will be hard-pressed to beat the performance without spending over a thousand dollars."
"The Kirby is a lot of fun - it ’s like vacuuming your carpet with a jet engine."
"Nothing else has the power of one."
4
0
"Once you understand the machine, you’ve got something that’ll last you a lifetime."
"My Grandmother bought a Kirby in 1969. I still have it"
"they’re built to last and to be fixed by the owner Instead of tossed after a few years."
2
0
"they’re built to last and to be fixed by the owner Instead of tossed after a few years."
"At the time they had parts available for all machines."
2
0
"you can find dirt cheap if you re okay with pre owned."
"You can get a used Kirby for $150 or so."
Disliked most:
1
1
"The silicone seal in the fan chamber eventually wears out"
"the handle actuator sometimes needs adjustment."
0
1
"They’re heavy"
0
2
"You do NOT want a Kirby if you have stairs - trust me."
"They’re heavy"
0
2
"You do NOT want a Kirby if you have stairs - trust me."
"stairs can be a haste"
756g43 0.0Kirbys are great because they're so easy to fix. Every single part is user-replaceable
aabum 0.0My 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.
If you're looking for a vacuum cleaner that will last several decades, Kirby is the solution. My Kirby is over 40 years old and will probably be going strong 40 years from now.
actionvac-Box2165 0.0As well, a Kirby is probably the best carpet cleaning Vacuum made. It’s just antiquated.
Aggressive-Age-5796 0.0I love kirby vacuums. You can get a used one for a steal.
Altered-BeastOG 0.0Altruistic_Drink_465 0.0Bought my Kirby in 1987....still use it today. Well, not today.
Bought my Kirby in 1987. Still in service, heavy, but no regrets. So..38yrs of use.
analogliving71 0.0used kirby for pet hair
i love my Kirby and if you have shedding pets it will do the job and then some. My only advice is to save money and buy used. You can get them cheap on places like ebay. They generally only require some minor reconditioning like a new belt or roller (replacement parts are easily available and cheap as well).
Ashirogi8112008 0.0Personally can't recommend Kirby enough, I'm still rocking the Kirby that my Grandmother won for perfect attendance back when she worked at Kirby maybe 35-40 years ago? It's needed the odd belt replaced here & there and some other very light repairs over the years, but Kirbys are ultra-easy to repair & maintain
Fond memories of throwing/knocking my Gramma's kirby *down* the stairs as a kid to go finish vaccuuming because it was heavy & I was too lazy to carry it down. The kirby? Didn't even notice I'd done anything, would usually land upright, and would kick on without a fuss right after
Automatic-House-4011 0.0Yep. Kirby user here. Just replaced our old one of 15 years with a new model. Worth the $$$.
awooff 0.0Kirbys are great at cleaning carpet but thats it. Its just an overpriced upright that can be found used for 20 bucks all day long. No money to be made by vac shops when kirbys are a dime a dozen - many vac stores have dozens upon dozens of used kirbys in the basement. Money is made by selling something rare like sebo, miele. Vacs that are not resold by the thousands for pennies.
Did any royals have powerdrive? Admittedly kirbys tech drive does allow for easy, effortless vacuuming on all types of carpets.
Kenmores are a dime a dozen on marketplace. Likewise, a light use kirby can be had for 60 bucks.
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