How long to fill a bag?

[wyaple]

This has probably been asked before, but how long does it take you to completely fill a bag to the recommended disposal level? This would be for your daily machines, not your occasional use ones.

I try to fill a bag in my Kirbys, but after two months, they begin to smell a little, even with scent tabs, so I throw them out. I would guess about 4 months for me if they didn't smell.

BTW, I vacuum about 1500 sq ft of carpet twice a week.

Bill

 

[sptyks]

What kind of scent tabs are you using? I use the little bottles of Kirby highly concentrated liquid scent which works very well. It comes in 2 or 3 different scents. You can put several drops on a cotton ball then suck it up into the bag. I put several drops directly on the cloth HEPA bag itself and let it soak in. You will smell a wonderful scent as you vacuum.

 

[wyaple]

I knew someone would ask that...

I've tried the Kirby tablets (they're OK, but only last about 1 month) and dryer sheets. The sheets actually last just as long but now the whole house smells like laundry, which isn't too bad.

Anyway, so how long does it take for y'all to fill a bag in your daily driver?

Bill

 

[sebo_fan]

3 to 5 months with SEBO uprights.
3.5 to nearly 4 months with Miele S8 cylinder/canister.

 

[charleskirby66]

How long to fill a bag?

I use the universal fit Kirby HEPA cloth bags in my Kirby Ultimate G Diamond, which is my primary daily driver.  It took me about 6 months to discolor and fill one to the Full Line.  This was during the winter, however, when our xmas tree fell over and I got so mad that I chopped it up and vacuumed up all the needles.  So, perhaps the bag would have lasted longer without vacuuming a tree into it.  LOL


 


I also use the EnviroCare lemon scent tablets, which release a wonderful, lasting scent.  I put one inside the permanent bag zipper.  I usually have to replace those every 2-3 weeks, but I don't mind because they are cheap and smell wonderful.  Even the closet where that Kirby is stored smells wonderful!


 


I also have the Kirby Odorific II concentrate in original scent, however I use that primarily on my Dirt Meter Test Pads when I  use my vintage Kirby units.  Seems appropriate to smell that musky-cologne scent when using an old fashioned, vintage Kirby!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

When I used a Guardsman, by HOOVER

in my church,  it took 2 hours to clean St. John's.  After cleaning, I'd have to change the bag.  So,  usually 1 a week.


  In my home,  HOOVER Convertible saves the day.  It usually gets changed once a month.  The Handivac fills up quickly.  The Conatellation.... about a month..... the Celebrity canister fills up fast too. Sometimes, I'll use several different types of Hoover.  They'll all get replaced usually once a month.  Remember,  this is a 12 room house.

 

[sptyks]

I use a Kirby G3 as daily driver and Sentria with the stiff brush roll for a monthly deep cleaning. I replace the G3 HEPA bag about every 4 months and yearly in the Sentria.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

The Kenmore canisters are 3 times a year, the Electrolux canister's are every other month, and the uprights are once to twice a year, depending on usage

 

[tolivac]

For me-fill Royal and Kirby bags about once every three months-vacuums used in rotation.NSS M1 caniser 6mo to a year.Same with my central vacuums.I have a new canister vac in my collection-A ProTeam FS6 HEPA canister mounted on a cart.Normally that is a backpack vacuum.I also use my older ProTeam backpack-PV100 as well.Bags in these are kinda like TriStar-Compact bags-change once a month.I did pick up a wasp nest full of wasps in the garage with my NuTone 450 central vacuum-replaced the bag just in case!!The bag was about near full anyway.With this machine change bags when about half full to avoid bursting-this machine has about 120"suction and 100+ CFM!Don't want debris to get in the motors.Its a two motor machine.

 

[pinkge]

Bag change and bag smell

I change he bag in my canister about every 4 to 5 months.Depends on the usage.Summer time more and winter less.For the bag smell put a 3rd of cup charcoal and a scented tablet and it will last.
Michael

 

[tolivac]

Smells-I use Featherlyte vacuum deoderizer.Safe for any vacuum and doesn't clog bags.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Depends

If it's shedding season or not. I live with an American Eskimo dog, and a long hair orange tom cat. I can fill a bag in a week, vacuuming everyday with a Lux Guardian Platinum. The Filter Queen usually lasts a week before I have to dump it. The Kirby with the HEPA bag will go for a month if used each time. The Simplicity Synergy will last about a week.

I never let them go til the change bag light comes on, so the ones with indicators probably could go longer, but I change when I feel they are getting packed, or notice a drop in suction.

 

[dysonman1]

With a 100 pound border collie, I just cannot let more dirt accumulate than about two cleanings worth.

My mother had a Rainbow when I was born, so I grew up NOT storing dirt in the closet. I always thought vacuum bags were filthy things that should be thrown out with each use. My Aunt had an AF Electrolux, she threw out the bag every two weeks.

My father's aunt had a hoover convertible. She bought Blue Luster bags (the only ones available at the hardware store in her town where she bought the hoover) and threw it away after each use. I remember when a Compact salesman tried to sell her a Compact and he couldn't get any dirt out of her rugs. I believe it was because she always used a new bag each time she cleaned.

I repair vacuums almost everyday (part of my job). The unbelievable stink of dirt in vacuum bags almost gags me. No vacuum ever goes back home with the filthy, stinking old dirt bag that it came in with.

 

[floor-a-matic]

After each time I change the vacuum bag, I use a different machine with a new bag. I mostly use Electrolux; but I also use a Rainbow D or D4SE most of the time now

 

[kirby519]

My Heritage II: I usually get about 6 to 8 weeks. cleaning 500 sq.Ft 3 times a week with one cat and accompanying litter box in the apt. I have had 2 demo's for The current model Kirby at the time. The new machine didn't suck anything out of the carpet to even be notice able. Rainbow failed as well.

Really torks the sales people when your well maintained vacuum cleans just as well as their new machine. Their ace in the hole is the fact that many people don't empty the bag or clean filters often enough much less replace a belt or agitator.

Nothing makes me happier than to sit back and watch them fail. Now they really have a hard sale to make. As there is no evidence that I need a new machine. Much less any of the Extras that are available and that I wouldn't use any way.

 

[tolivac]

I figure the stuff I pick up doesn't smell much.Folks with pets or children-then the bag odors could be a problem.When I do decide to use one of my few bagless machines or dump bag vacuums-empty the bin or bag after the use.Too many folks with bagless machines treat them like paper bag vacuums-they dump the bin when the stuff reaches the "fill" line on the bin.So--STINKY bagless vacuum-esp when that fines stuff clogs the filters.At the vac shop my way see so many STINKY bagless Bissels,Sharks,Dysons,and bagless Hoover models-the stench of them makes me and Mike gag.This could be avoided if the owners would simply dump the machine after using it and clean-replace filters as specified on the machines decals or the owners manuls--BUT--Owners of these things don't read either the books or placards on the machine-After all THEY know how to use a vacuum cleaner!!!--Bagged or bagless-to those users its the same!Also they think with bagless machines the dirt somehow magically disappears or goes to some other dimension.And with bagged machines their owners let the bags get so full that they BURST in the machine--the bewildered owner doesn't seem to know you have to replace the bag when it is full.So the machine stinks!!Esp when really dumb owners of Rainbows use the machine with the water-to clean up puppy poo and puke!GROSS!!!!!!

 

[wyaple]

So far the average bag change seems to be about

once every three months for daily drivers. Some can be as long as 6 months or as short as 2 weeks, depending on the length of your dog's hair.

An observation that I have then is why so many people stay away from bagged machines due to their falsely perceived annual cost? Specifically, I read that owners of bagless machines believe they are saving huge amounts of money by not purchasing those pesky, expensive bags.

At least for Kirby, I can get a 6 pack of the green or black HEPA bags for $12 from eBay or Amazon. If my daily driver uses 6 bags a year, I've spent $12. From 2004 to 2012, I had a bagless Dirt Devil that required an annual internal filter change that ran about $25. I found myself not only cleaning the entire dirt path every month, but also reverse blowing out the internal filter. A very messy business, but I usually do whatever is necessary to get max performance out of my machines, whatever type they are.

Bill

 

[sebo_fan]

Its because they can’t be bothered to buy dust bags - in the same way they can’t be bothered to empty the bagless bin when it is choking with dust. And the same way they can’t be bothered to unclog the vacuum completely or clean out the hose when they can’t work out why the just washed/ dried HEPA filter still reeks of pet hair form the machine. Many just don’t maintain their vacuums and then leave them outside for the recycling or whoever to come and pick it up.

Whilst I have always maintained that I am never likely to see bagless vacuums used in hospitals for obvious reasons, there is more likelihood that people in homes will always line their kitchen refuse bins with a bag - why should it be different with vacuums?

I do like bagless vacuums though. I wouldn’t like my cordless dust buster to have a bag for example. Also when my aunt visits with her hoard of hounds, that’s when I take out a bagless upright I have. There’s no way I’m putting any of my bagged vacuums through the awful oily pet hair smell that ends up lining everything. As a result Im quite happy the bagless vac can pick up all that hair - it won’t be used for anything other than pets.

Buyers are also becoming savvy these days. Most households are beginning to see the light of owning more than one vacuum cleaner.

 

[beko1987]

I use different cleaners all the time, it takes me ages to fill a bag!

Going by my daily driver, Miele Revolution 5000 it takes 5-6 months to 3/4 fill a bag, and it usually starts to smell by then, usually because I use it to clean up after a spa session late at night.

Have never used a Dyson or bagless enough to ram it full of dirt. The worst my keeper Dysons get is a few uses, then a thorough cleanup and back in the loft. My DA001 has dirt in it in the loft because I had to rush it away, I know that will smell a bit when it eventually comes down for new rear wheels.

Judging by how rock solid the bag was in the panasonic icon at the bottom it hadnt been changed in a long while, just luckily not used in a heavy hair/fluff environment, so it didnt fil las quickly. It fecking stank though.

I have a DC01 in the shed that stinks, that will be getting a spa session when SWMBO goes out for the day...