Washing Kirby 512 Bag

[aspie62]

Hey everyone. I was wondering if it is safe to put the bag of my Kirby 512 in the washing machine, and if so, is there a particular detergent to use? I hate the idea of the bag restricting airflow and hurting the motor.
Here's the bag.

 

[vacuser]

washing kirby bag

any clothes detergent,warm water not hot wash, cold rinse, either air dry or low heat dry. no fabric softener.should do fine for you.

 

[aspie62]

Chain

How can I remove the chain, or can that be washed too?

 

[super-sweeper]

hey Floridian Kirby guy,

That's a 70s Kirby replacement bag, I'd recommend you take the bag off it's emptor, turn it inside-out and vacuum it thoroughly. Instead of a machine wash, if you're not afraid to get dirty, I'd also recommend hand-washing the bag. I've done this before with a replacement bag on a now-parts 1-CR,packed and bloated to the brim with nasty old dog hair,came out nearly to clear!


 


Simply use a soft scrubbing brush and some dish soap in a sink or outside, fill the bag with soapy water and pulse it up and down, like a agitator in an average automatic washer, only gentle!


 


Remember, filtration quality and overall ballooning of the bag will drop after washing, as washing allows more air (and sound!) To pass through the bag. After extensive use the bag should begin to plug up, thus returning the filtration quality and beautifully large ballooning of the bag!


 


The 512 could use some polishing while you have that bag off!


Good luck fellow Floridian Kirby man!

 

[super-sweeper]

forgot to add,

Those replacement bags should have a metal, sliding clamp at the top of the bag, lift the fabric cover and prepare to get in a tussle over removing a stuck clamp that's been sitting 40 something years!

 

[chicagomike]

This is what I do:
1. turn the bag inside out and beat the bag against a post or a tree to knock-off as must dust and junk that you can.
2. I then use packing tape and attach strips of the tape long way all the way around the bag --- as when the tape is removed all the hair and junk which was not beat out in step ones comes off stuck to the tape. Using a lint brush works well too but found tape works faster.
3. I then rinse and soak the bag in cold water until the sink water is not heavily filthy
4. I then turn the bag material inside out again rinse soak it again until the water is no longer muddy.
5. I then add spray wash to the stain areas, I then turn the bag inside out and wash in cold water in a wash machine and let the bag air dry.
****NOTE if the bag has screen print on it, you should never wash the bag in a wash machine as the screen print will come off of the bag --- screen print bags in my opinion should be cleaned with a air hose/compressor