Kirby shampoo system review (with pics)

[matt8808]

Now that I have my shiny new Sentria2 I figured I'd do a little review of the Kirby shampoo system.
When I was thinking about buying the machine I couldn't find an in depth review with pictures so I hope this may be of use to some people.

Anyway, most of the carpet in our house is less than 3 months old, so I've had to be creative with my test samples.

Firstly I've got the rug from my grans patio door as can be seen here.

It is 80% wool carpet. As you can see it has discoloured with surface soiling from them trampling in and out of the garden and is looking quite grubby...

 

[matt8808]

Secondly I have the carpet mats from the front of my car

 

[matt8808]

The passenger side mat has a greasy mark left by a bottle of car trim dressing

 

[matt8808]

The drivers mat is generally filthy and worn from the rubbing of heels in the pedal area. I AM NOT EXPECTING THIS AT TO CLEAN UP A GREAT DEAL. NOT LONG AGO I SPENT SOME TIME CLEANING IT WITH A DEDICATED EXTRACTION MACHINE USING A PREMIUM SHAMPOO AND IT DIDNT LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT ONCE IT WAS DRY

 

[matt8808]

So firstly we give everything a good vacuum with the Kirby.
Note that I've also got a second rug from another doorway from my grandparents

 

[matt8808]

The machine is easy to set up for carpet shampooing

 

[matt8808]

...

 

[matt8808]

I'll be using the sample Kirby shampoo that came with the machine. It is Lavender scented and smells very nice, although once the wool carpet is damp from the foam all you can smell is damp wool. This is normal with any machine and any product

 

[matt8808]

So first we apply the foam.

Two passes, let it sit for a few minutes and then pass over again to really work it in and groom the pile of the carpet

 

[matt8808]

Car mats too. I could of probably turned the shampoo flow down slightly, although this is my first attempt at using the Kirby shampoo system

 

[matt8808]

The foam is very thick and not overly wet or drippy

 

[matt8808]

So... Results....

Before...

 

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After...

 

[matt8808]

Before...

 

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After...

This is genuinely the best that this mat has ever cleaned up and I think the most impressive result. I think that this is due to the Kirby cleaning from the top downwards, where as an extraction machine pulls the dirt from the bottom to the top.

OH AND ALSO NOTE THAT ONCE DRY THE CARPETS HAVE HAD A GOOD VACUUM WITH THE KIRBY IN DRY MODE TO REMOVE THE POWDERED SHAMPOO AND DIRT

 

[matt8808]

Both together...

 

[matt8808]

Back in the car and looking great

 

[matt8808]

OOPS! Wrong pic in last post!

 

[matt8808]

Before...

 

[matt8808]

After...

 

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Looking brighter and cleaner...

 

[matt8808]

So my conclusion is that the Kirby shampoo system does a good job on normal surface soiling. I'm certainly happy with the result on the drivers mat from my car. I'd previously tried all kinds of pre treatment sprays and such like and it has never cleaned up fantastically, so I think the Kirby has done a fine job on it to get it as clean as it has.

I'm not saying that the Kirby shampoo system is the answer to everything.
For example if a pet was to make a mess (of the vomit or poo variety) then obviously I'd choose to use a dedicated water extraction machine.

For normal surface soiling the Kirby does a more than acceptable job though.

It is important to vacuum thoroughly before AND after shampooing once the carpet is dry. The biggest change happens when vacuuming once dry.

The Kirby shampoo encapsulates the dirt and dries to a powdery crystal like state.
Vacuuming removes the dried foam along with the dirt.

Personally I'd only ever use genuine Kirby shampoo also.

I'm sorry my test patches of carpet couldn't of been on a bigger scale... I simply couldn't find anything else dirty enough!

 

[sptyks]

Matt:

Excellent photo's and review of the Kirby Shampoo system!


 


My carpet was heavily soiled from tracking in mud and road salt. We live in Massachusetts and have had a very snowy winter so far. Also had some pretty bad coffee stains as well. My Sentria shampoo system did an excellent job of getting my carpet looking like brand new again. I was amazed that the coffee stains were completely removed.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi,

<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Hi Matt very good. Also I think the key here is "prevention is better than cure" regular vacuuming and shampooing keeps carpets looking great rather than waiting for the carpet to become bad before cleaning.</span>


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Also we use to recommend  vacuuming with a Kirby "regular" for 5 to 6 weeks before shampooing a carpet that has been down a while to remove as much of the embedded dirt as possible before shampooing. </span>


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">This gave better results and was better for the carpet.</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">I also love the smell of the Kirby shampoo. I wish they did a Home Fresh in the same scent.
</span>


 


<span style="font-size: medium; font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>


 


 

 

[matt8808]

Good idea about using the Kirby for a few weeks before using it to shampoo James!

Another shot of my grandparents rugs before I returned them...

 

[kirbyloverdan]

Proof

Kirby is the best home cleaning system Period !!!

Dan

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Hi Matt,

You did a great job there. Your critique and explanation were excellent!
Tgat is beautiful carpeting, too, the cream w/ red flowers.

And, in case you didn't know, I'm ALL "HOOVER".
John

 

[beko1987]

Wow that's great! I regret not getting some solution and trying my g5 shampoo system out now!

Those car mats came up astonishingly well! I normally hang them on an external wall (using the clip holes as yours had), run the pressure washer over them then extract the water. That would have got the flat spots out of yours but I doubt the rest would have looked any better!

 

[matt8808]

Thanks for the kind comments guys

Beko - A little off topic but do you have a video on youtube showing how a car wax performs and showing the water beading off your car? I think the car was a dark coloured Vectra?