The Orecks do a good job on the sealed back and glued down carpets-that's is what they were designed for.The Oreck floor nozzle doesn't seal to the carpet as the Kirby,Royal,Tacony tandem air machines do.If I have to use the Kirby,Royal on sealed carpet-you have to raise the nozzle just to the point where the brush just touches the carpet-no further down.The variable height Royals are good for this as opposed to the "Aut-To" matic ones with the height pedal that tries to mimic the Kirbys.
Vacuum tech ama on reddit opinions
- Thread starter maplebanjo
- Start date
jp10558
Member
I'm no expert on Vacuums, but I have read a bunch on this forum and on the subreddit, as well as youtube. Due to recommendations I have recently purchased a Sebo D4 to compliment my Oreck machines (XL21 and IronMan). I could have had my late grandmother's 1987ish Kirby for free.
I think what we've determined is that there's a lot of good vacuums, but what you're doing with them will matter a lot. The Kirby I found impractical - the size and weight and difficulty for people in my family to service it just make it mostly non-working a lot of the time (it's pretty complicated to change a belt or unclog compared to the XL21 anyway - it also weighs 3x or more as much).
The Oreck XL21 was great when we had a LOT of open carpet, but it's not practical for us once we replaced the living room flooring with laminate and throw rugs. (The Orbiter now... it's very practical, but you have to vacuum or sweep first).
The Sebo seems to have the best of both worlds - it's not as light as the Oreck, but it's not as heavy as the Kirby. The ET-1 Powerhead is as even more maneuverable than the XL21, and can get in places the Upright sort of struggled with (we have too much stuff making open areas very non "straight" and lots of chairs to dodge). It has the brushroll off option the XL21 doesn't so we can switch to area rugs or the couch without switching vacuums like we had to with the Oreck XL21 to Iron Man).
Now, maybe we never had the "right" carpets (my grandmother got the Kirby for a a very low pile, and an almost felt over concrete carpet) - but the Kirby never cleaned in any amazing way. We also never hauled it over to the medium carpets for any testing, so IDK if it would have blown away our Orecks there either. But it never really impressed me for anything except being a tank and the little penny catcher thingy. Maybe we just never really understood how to use it either. But no other vacuum I've seen required any special knowledge to use reasonably well. So I really don't get the Kirby love - at least for us it is a great conversation piece, but isn't ever actually used by anyone.
I wonder if the Vacuum Tech on Reddit is actually basing on price (the Sebo D4 was like $200 or more less than the Kirby, and the Kirby sales is very sketchy for new per the net) and what normal people *might* actually be able to do.
I will say, I agree with him that I don't like bagless (too messy to empty, have to go outside and vacuum the bagless with a different vacuum almost lol), and I wouldn't recommend a Wal-Mart or Best Buy vacuum. The XL21 is still running after 11 years, we would kill the "cheap" ($200) vacuums every 6 months to 2 years. After 3 of those, we decided to risk the $750 on the Oreck, and not only have we not had vacuums breaking seemingly all the time, we also haven't had to buy another - the Sebo was for convenience and getting out of sweeping... Even considering that the needs changed, we paid $750 for 11 years vs probably closer to $1200 and 6 hassles of replacing a useless "cheap" vacuum.
I think what we've determined is that there's a lot of good vacuums, but what you're doing with them will matter a lot. The Kirby I found impractical - the size and weight and difficulty for people in my family to service it just make it mostly non-working a lot of the time (it's pretty complicated to change a belt or unclog compared to the XL21 anyway - it also weighs 3x or more as much).
The Oreck XL21 was great when we had a LOT of open carpet, but it's not practical for us once we replaced the living room flooring with laminate and throw rugs. (The Orbiter now... it's very practical, but you have to vacuum or sweep first).
The Sebo seems to have the best of both worlds - it's not as light as the Oreck, but it's not as heavy as the Kirby. The ET-1 Powerhead is as even more maneuverable than the XL21, and can get in places the Upright sort of struggled with (we have too much stuff making open areas very non "straight" and lots of chairs to dodge). It has the brushroll off option the XL21 doesn't so we can switch to area rugs or the couch without switching vacuums like we had to with the Oreck XL21 to Iron Man).
Now, maybe we never had the "right" carpets (my grandmother got the Kirby for a a very low pile, and an almost felt over concrete carpet) - but the Kirby never cleaned in any amazing way. We also never hauled it over to the medium carpets for any testing, so IDK if it would have blown away our Orecks there either. But it never really impressed me for anything except being a tank and the little penny catcher thingy. Maybe we just never really understood how to use it either. But no other vacuum I've seen required any special knowledge to use reasonably well. So I really don't get the Kirby love - at least for us it is a great conversation piece, but isn't ever actually used by anyone.
I wonder if the Vacuum Tech on Reddit is actually basing on price (the Sebo D4 was like $200 or more less than the Kirby, and the Kirby sales is very sketchy for new per the net) and what normal people *might* actually be able to do.
I will say, I agree with him that I don't like bagless (too messy to empty, have to go outside and vacuum the bagless with a different vacuum almost lol), and I wouldn't recommend a Wal-Mart or Best Buy vacuum. The XL21 is still running after 11 years, we would kill the "cheap" ($200) vacuums every 6 months to 2 years. After 3 of those, we decided to risk the $750 on the Oreck, and not only have we not had vacuums breaking seemingly all the time, we also haven't had to buy another - the Sebo was for convenience and getting out of sweeping... Even considering that the needs changed, we paid $750 for 11 years vs probably closer to $1200 and 6 hassles of replacing a useless "cheap" vacuum.
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
The sebo D4 really is one of the best kept secrets in the vacuum industry and a wonderful vacuum! It would be hard to find a better portable vacuum in my opinion as a vacuum technician.
The Oreck xl21 so pretty good machine as well but serves a completely different purpose.
There are a lot of people who trade their Kirby or say they hate their Kirby because of the weight and how impractical the tools are in the use. You are right on the money as good as Kirby's are there just not practical in today's world.
The Oreck xl21 so pretty good machine as well but serves a completely different purpose.
There are a lot of people who trade their Kirby or say they hate their Kirby because of the weight and how impractical the tools are in the use. You are right on the money as good as Kirby's are there just not practical in today's world.
maplebanjo
New member
Last night I checked out the new house I'm moving into and its entirely hardwood besides a loft in the attic. I guess I now have a carpet vacuum for a hardwood house. Anyone have tips on making a kirby more suited for hardwood or maybe another vacuum you wouldn't be scared to buy used on the cheap? Sorry to derail the subject.
@maplebanjo
I'd look in to getting a canister. Miele offers a wide range of options starting around $200 for straight-suction models (no provisions for a powered head), to around $500 or so for models with a powered head. If you keep your upright for the loft, you might get away with having a suction-only Miele. But if you plan on having area rugs, you might want to pop for one with a powered head, particularly if you have pets.
If you go used, and don't mind having a non-sealed unit, look in to getting a used Electrolux in good condition. I have an Epic 6500 that was refurbished by a seller on eBay. Picked it up for around $250. Love it, use it every day on our laminate floors and our area rug in the living room.
Kirby's will work on bare floors, of course, but having a canister on-hand is very convenient.
I'd look in to getting a canister. Miele offers a wide range of options starting around $200 for straight-suction models (no provisions for a powered head), to around $500 or so for models with a powered head. If you keep your upright for the loft, you might get away with having a suction-only Miele. But if you plan on having area rugs, you might want to pop for one with a powered head, particularly if you have pets.
If you go used, and don't mind having a non-sealed unit, look in to getting a used Electrolux in good condition. I have an Epic 6500 that was refurbished by a seller on eBay. Picked it up for around $250. Love it, use it every day on our laminate floors and our area rug in the living room.
Kirby's will work on bare floors, of course, but having a canister on-hand is very convenient.
@jp10558
You picked a great vacuum. If I were getting a new canister, it would probably be a D4. It's hard to beat Sebo or Miele for the price, especially considering what a new Aerus goes for.
Yes, there is a lot of love on this forum for Kirby, and some of it is blind! I use mine because I like them and they do a good job for what I use them for. I know they're not the best vacuum around, but that doesn't bother me. Kirby's not paying me to defend their reputation!
You picked a great vacuum. If I were getting a new canister, it would probably be a D4. It's hard to beat Sebo or Miele for the price, especially considering what a new Aerus goes for.
Yes, there is a lot of love on this forum for Kirby, and some of it is blind! I use mine because I like them and they do a good job for what I use them for. I know they're not the best vacuum around, but that doesn't bother me. Kirby's not paying me to defend their reputation!
huskyvacs
Well-known member
@ MapleBanjo
I'm not sure for what models but mostly all Kirbys have a hard floor tool that you fit over the brushroll to make it a hardwood cleaner. Kirby also has a dedicated hard floor buffer as well.
I'm not sure for what models but mostly all Kirbys have a hard floor tool that you fit over the brushroll to make it a hardwood cleaner. Kirby also has a dedicated hard floor buffer as well.
jp10558
Member
One other thing about the Sebo I can't get over is how quiet it is. The Youtube videos don't do it justice. It's about 1/2 as loud as "normal" vacuums. You can easily talk over it - it's not a "wake up the house" when you turn it on turbine like the Oreck Iron Man for instance. I keep wondering if it's actually at full suction, but the spinny light and performance assure me it is.
n0oxy
Well-known member
Sebo D series
The Sebo D4 is a great machine, I have the D1 which is very similar but is a straight suction machine and does not use an electric power nozzle, love it. A very quiet full size machine with a large bag. And I'm guessing the smaller K and E series of machines are just as good. And the D series probably has the longest cord on a canister cleaner.
Mike
The Sebo D4 is a great machine, I have the D1 which is very similar but is a straight suction machine and does not use an electric power nozzle, love it. A very quiet full size machine with a large bag. And I'm guessing the smaller K and E series of machines are just as good. And the D series probably has the longest cord on a canister cleaner.
Mike
