Kirby shampoo attachment help

[KirbysNphones]

My Kirby G7 Ultimate with I think a G5 shampoo kit doesn't do what I expect for a well built product, and I was wondering what I'm doing wrong.

I've watched several vids on how to use it, including a Kirby "official" one and followed them to the letter, and still it won't get all the stain up. (high traffic area in front of a couch)

I'm using the genuine Kirby solution and mixing it as per instructions, I've also cleaned the foam filter as well as the hose, screen, and the dip tube.

It makes the carpet a little cleaner, but not what I'd expect. Am I asking too much of it or just not operating it right?

 

[pr-21]

Lower toe touch control all the way down.....

I forgot to do this once.....Also for traffic areas, Kirby has pre treatment products.


PR-21

 

[KirbysNphones]

Thanks for the info! I did lower the control fully, but didn't know of the pre treatment option. I'll try that next time.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I know this will probably start a flame war, that is not intended, but it this only my personal opinion:

I am a Kirby lover born and bread. I do not care for the shampoo system, but to get the best results here's what you do.

1: With the brush roll all the way down. Turn on the Kirby and in a overlapping strokes lay down the suds. Continue to do this until the area you are cleaning is done, or the suds tank is empty. On the newer models you can shut off the suds, this should be the case on your UG.

When the tank is empty, or when you shut off the suds dispensing. Go back over the area in back an forth overlapping strokes to work the suds into the carpet and loosen and pull the dirt out of the carpet. This should deposit into the tray.

Once you have finished, go over again with no suds using the scrubbing.

Of course the pre-treat is handy for soiled areas, prior to the above steps.

Allow the carpet to dry and then vacuum slowly to allow the residue to be removed with the loosened dirt.

**Warning opinion coming up again**
I feel that this system leaves too much residue that allows redeposits on the carpet. I understand the suds have been reformulated and are not as sticky as they used to be so good luck.

 

[Miss Mercy]

@kirbysthebest

I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[dysonman1]

I always suggest that after the Kirby Shampooer has done the scrubbing job - one should use just water in an extractor (like a Hoover Spin Scrub) to remove the suds and residue. You'd be shocked how clean the carpet is AFTER rinsing. Since the Kirby cannot do this step, I've always thought it was kind of like shampooing your hair but not rinsing it out. I personally use a spoon full of Downey fabric softener in the Hoover extractor to cut the suds, as well as make the carpet very soft. The Kirby and a Hoover together make the "one two" punch that really gets the rug cleaner than either of them could "by themselves".

 

[anthony]

Kirby carpet cleaning

i do that with mine i let the Kirby do the scrubbing and then i go over the carpet with a Vax three in one machine filled with clean water [no detergent ]its amazing what the Vax gets out after the kirby has loosened everything .

 

[kirbysthebest]

dysonman1

I agree with your method, I just skip the Kirby renovator step and use the spin-scrub.
I wouldn't want to use softener in the water, however, because it again leaves a residue. I like to rinse with a little white vinegar in the water. This will help neutralize the detergent which is alkali, and helps in removing the browning of traffic areas.

Mind you this is a second pass with the spin scrub using plain water and vinegar, I would not mix the vinegar in the detergent mix.

 

[KirbysNphones]

I'd have to agree with you guys, Don't get me wrong, Kirby is an awesome machine, but I'm not a big fan of the shampoo attachment. I'll try your techniques next time I use it. Thanks!

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Harley and Tom very well said I agree 100 percent

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Hi Will you MUST use Pre Treatment with any make shampooerDoug

 

[floor-a-matic]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Is there a way to turn off the shampoo <span style="text-decoration: underline;">WITHOUT</span> turning off the Kirby Classic III or older models?</span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I once tried the Classic III (in shampoo mode) & it did a nice job scrubbing the carpet; but I think the Lux is easier to use I. M. O.  I like both Lux & Kirby units.

</span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Does it take time to use a Kirby in shampooing mode correctly or does it depend what model Kirby one uses for shampooing carpets?

I really like how the Kirby fluffs the carpet at the same time during the shampooing process; it's much easier than using a rotary unit like Electrolux & then having to fluff the pile after shampooing. The Electrolux also scrubs the bare floors; but I don't know if the Kirby can too?</span>

[this post was last edited: 6/9/2013-00:50]

 

[KirbysNphones]

Floor A Matic, on the older ones, the hose end that connects to the tank's suds screen has a cap you put over the suds screen to stop the flow. As far as how much time it takes, I can't say, as I haven't used many carpet cleaners.

 

[kirbysthebest]

"Is there a way to turn off the shampoo WITHOUT turning off the Kirby Classic III"

Depending on how full the tank is you can just take the cap off the suds tank, or you can remove the tank, empty the contents and put the empty tank back on. This is how you "used" to have to do it. On newer models they put the valve on the tank where you can turn off the suds.

 

[jfalberti]

Turn off suds on shampooer,

When I demoed the Tradition and the Heritage, i used to show customers how to stop the suds, simply pull the hose off the tank and put a piece of plastic wrap on the hose port, then replace the hose.  When you want to make suds again, remove the plastic wrap and off you go.

 

[kirby519]

On the pre Heritage models the recomended procedure to scrub the carpet with out adding additional suds was to reomove the tank cap where you filled the water tank. There for no pressure built up in the tank and thus didn't produce suds. It would splash water out of the tank at times if the tank had any cleaning solution in it.

I have to agree the shampooer isn't all that it was made out to be. I am one for hot water extraction. It is nice for a quick freshening up. However I find it lacking in effective deep cleaning of high traffic lanes. I do use it as a precleaning method to work in pretreatments and then extract the carpeting.