getting rid of smokey smell on Kirby Heritage II

[ned_flanders]

Howdy,

I'm new to all this vacuum collecting and maintenance stuff, so feel free to address me like I know nothing. I just picked up a Kirby Heritage II Legend vacuum from the thrift shop and I am wondering how to get rid of the smoke smell. It's not a smell from vacuuming, it's definitely the bag and it stinks up the closet. Seems like the last owner was a smoker or it was used at a bowling alley. I don't know how to dismantle the bag, is this one washable? I've seen some youtube videos on laundering the bags on the newer ones. Any suggestions are good. Thanks.

 

[tazcatsdad]

I don't know if the bag is washable,

<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">but I do know about something that I use to freshen up stinky bags!  It's a product called "ODOBAN".  I buy it at Home Depot: it's a non-aerosol spray odor eliminator that works wonders.  I used it for the first time on my Ultimate G.  Just unzip the outer bag, take out the old paper liner, and spray some around the inside.  Then spray some onto a folded paper towel and put it inside a clean paper liner just before you put it into the Kirby.  Zip up the outer bag and you're all set.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">If you decide to try "ODOBAN", let me know how it works for you!</span>


 


<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva;">Bill W.</span>

 

[twocvbloke]

The bag is held on with a big spring that's sewn into the base of the bag, if it's in good condition it should just pull off the mini-emtor (takes a bit of force usually), unhooking the filltube first, then remove the hanger by bending one side of the metal part down and sliding it off, then turn the bag inside out, give it a vacuuming if it's dirty, then wash it inside out in the washing machine on a usual wash, and allow to thoroughly air-dry (the spring area can still hold a fair bit of moisture when the rest of the bag feels dry, and the spring ends up rusting out and breaking), then refit...

 

[ned_flanders]

I was able to remove the bag and put it through the wash. I'm glad I did, the bag definitely needed to be washed. I think there might be some more lingering smell inside the rest of the vacuum in the motor/housing etc. but not as bad as the bag. I wonder how I can get rid of the rest of the smell. Also, any general advice for cleaning up this machine? I used brasso for cleaning up the metal, and I'm not sure if it did a great job. I don't know how good the metal can look on an old machine. What's the easiest way to clean up dirt and dust on the outside?

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi

Hi Jeff. When your cloth bag is off the mini emptor you can wash the fill tube and emptor as well. Just make sure you give it plenty of time to dry before putting the cloth bag back on and using it. You can also take the brushroller out of he main head and wash the main head out. And if you really want to go to town on it when you take the casing off to see the motor you can wash the back motor casing/cover as well then polish it once it's dry, Same with the main head. Any smell left on the motor or fan casing will fade over time anyway.
Hope this is of some help to you. You will have to take pics of it once you have finshed cleaning and polishing it)

James)

 

[eurekastar]

The smell of cigarette smoke will even get on the cord. You can give it a good scrubbing too. But be sure unplug it before washing it! And welcome to the forum!

 

[truckerx]

Quick -dry bag tip...

Here's something I've been doing for years that works for me and saves time and trouble:
Launder the bag in which ever way you choose. I personally prefer a hand-wash using Woolite in tepid water. I've found that the agitation of machine washing can destroy silk-screened logo and is hard on older more fragile bags.

Here's the drying tip:
While the bag is still damp, put it back on the machine and start it up. It works like a hair-dryer. The warm dry air from the motor will fluff and dry the bag in short order. This is not harmful because the damp air is being expelled rather than being sucked in to the machine. Try it - you'll like it!

 

[ned_flanders]

I am still trying to get the smoke smell out of this vac. Cleaning the bag has definitely helped, but the smell has just manifested itself everywhere. Any other ideas? How do I clean the chord?

 

[twocvbloke]

"How do I clean the chord?"

Move up a couple of notes? :&#92

(had to do that, been messing about with musical stuff the past couple of nights, and chords are not fun!!)

To clean the cable (or Cord), just remove it from the handle and vac base, and take a damp, soapy cloth and pull the cable through it a few times, rinsing and repeating between pulls, should clean off most of the dirt & grime...

 

[eurekastar]

The smoke odor will permeate everything that is porous (e. g. plastic and cloth). The best thing to do is disassemble the vacuum and wash EVERYTHING that is plastic, including the fan, bumper, handle, bag trim, cord, and Emtor. You might get by with not taking the fan off, but I would certainly wash everything else, including the brush roll. It's surprising how smoke gets into everything. I've used a product in the past called "Odor X" very successfully. In lieu of that, you might just try some "Simple Green" and spray it on everything.

 

[briankirbyclass]

Good ol Lysol spray in the aerosol spray can is another excellent smoke smell killer. There are several other scents avalible too,,i prefer the original.
Just spray on, let sit a few min, and wipe off.

Also, after washing and wiping off all of the various parts, and a good Lysol Spray, and another wipe,,let the parts sit outside in the open air in direct hot sunlight,,for several hours, turning them once in awhile so that all areas get several hours of sunlight. If its a breezy day, even better.

If you can STILL smell smoke after all of this,,then its time to take the machine apart,(this should be done by a Professional Vac Tech, or the Kirby experts here could walk you thru it),wash and wipe down everything on the inside, then with the Lysol treatment,and drying in open sunlight.

Then get a whole new Mini Emptor, bag, fill tube, and bag adaptor,,and cord,,throwing the old ones away once and for all.
If that dosent cure the problem,,use the machine outside as a garage/car vac.
Heritage 2s are not THAT rare,,and easy to replace.

 

[kirbyguy]

Stinky dirty Kirby helpful hints.

Ok, so you've washed the cloth bag. Great start. I'm going to assume you didn't add any fabric softener (Downey) to the rinse water. Not to worry, after the bag dries shove a bounce sheet or two up inside the bag.

As for the getting rid of internal odors in the motor housing. Well, that's not an easy task unless your able to actually take the motor housing/casing apart and clean the inside with warm soapy water and a tooth brush. However, Cleaning the brush roll, the interior of the brush roll nozzle and using a Q-tip dipped (not soaked) in Clorox Clean-up or rubbing alcohol and wiping off the impeller blades may help.

As for cleaning the aluminum exterior. I have several methods depending on just how bad the finish and condition is. An SOS pad works great for removing crud on the aluminum, with out scratching it (again DON'T soak) and don't get the interior motor parts wet. Just clean small areas of the aluminum at a time.

As for polishing, I did the Brasso route for years. Then, I found Mothers Mag and aluminum polish. This stuff is fantastic, not to mention it doesn't have a foul odor like Brasso.

As for cleaning the rubber parts i.e. bumpers, cord etc. Again, I use Clorox Clean Up on a damp rag and of necessary a toothbrush. Then I wipe down all the rubber parts with Pledge furniture polish.

Hope this information is of some help.

Have fun and enjoy your new found Kirby.