Kirby shampoo system review (with pics)

[matt8808]

After...

 

[matt8808]

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?

 

[marks_here]

I used my mom's G4

on her carpet, came out looking great BUT after the bearings on the vacuum started screaming a couple weeks later. I called Kirby & they said that I set it up wrong.. took the machine in, showed them how I set it up, they said that wouldn't do it so he tried it, & the smart azz found out that water was being pulled in some how so now the vacuum just sits in the closet & she uses the Sentria I got her. Once I get back there, have to tear it apart to check the bearings. Hopefully this won't happen to your machines. CHEERS!!

Mark D.

 

[beko1987]

Ah yes, I have many water beading videos on YouTube, they get slotted into detailing world threads! That would be Swmbo's Meriva, but there will be lots of my old puma on there too. Would be Natty's Blue paste wax and Farcela G3 that I got a free pot of to review once!

Then I had children and don't get the time to spend all weekend washing polishing and waxing...

 

[matt8808]

Mark - No idea how that happened... I know there was definitely no water ingress on my machine and its not a fault I've heard of before!


Beko - I think it will of been the pot of G3 you got to try... I was thinking about trying some but decided to stick with what I already use....
I thought it might of been you when I saw the username haha

Got a vid on there myself...

 

[durango159]

WOW!!

Very impressive!!! Looks great. I've heard remarks of the Kirby not being so great at carpet cleaning on Facebook pages. But seeing is believing!! Those rugs look great.

Thanks for being so thorough and sharing with us all of the detail every step of the way. Glad you're enjoying your Kirby Home Cleaning System!!

Quick Question: Does the foam dry up completely or do you have to scrub it in more with the Kirby so it's not so visible?

 

[matt8808]

I applied the foam, let it sit for a few mins and then went over again with the foam turned off to groom the existing foam into the carpet and give the pile a good fluffing. I think if the foam was just left sat on top of the pile the results wouldn't be so great

 

[beko1987]

I have a friend who has a pot of collonite who keeps offering me a lend, looking at that video I might take him up on it this year! Lovely sheeting!

Sorry for the thread drift! Although I used to use my g5 to blow water out of the right work so there's a tenuous link there!

 

[lori_ann]

Glad I searched!

I was planning on using my shampooer this weekend (in the mood to spring clean) when I read this thread! Was wondering how the kirby does on shampooing.. your Demo is excellent!

The comments to vacuum regular for about six weeks has caused me to back off my idea to shampoo just yet! Guess thats ok considering it's raining and lots of mud here!

 

[sptyks]

Lori,

FYI - There are several videos on youtube that show demos of the Kirby shampoo system.