Kirby - Sentria

As well, a Kirby is probably the best carpet cleaning Vacuum made. It’s just antiquated.

I love kirby vacuums. You can get a used one for a steal.

Used Kirby

Bought my Kirby in 1987....still use it today. Well, not today.

used kirby for pet hair

Kenmores are a dime a dozen on marketplace. Likewise, a light use kirby can be had for 60 bucks.

high airflow but low suction power? how would that make any sense. the kirby literally lifts the entire carpet off the pad

I see what you're saying. Although in this case "suction" power as you put it isn't really relevant for the situation described by OP, and doesn't explain why it picked up so much after the sebo. Cleaning sand off a bare floor is much different than vacuuming your carpeted living room. I agree with your last sentence about getting a kirby used for $100 and would not purchase new from a salesperson. Also to clarify I was a 3rd generation kirby vacuum salesman edit: I should say inches of water lift is completely irrelevant for cleaning carpets

I sold Kirbys for about five years. If you have a nice vacuum (not just a kirby) and use it multiple times a week I would barely get any dirt and the whole situation would get awkard quickly and I'd leave with my tail between my legs. Often times when people do demonstrations they are literally pulling up years worth of dirt because most vacuums just push it into the bottom of the carpet

I always thought of Sharks as cheap vacuums. I have a central vacuum in my house and I bought a refurbished Kirby. The Kirby needed a repair so I went ahead and bought a Shark Navigator til I could get it fixed. I never bothered to take it to the shop. This Shark is amazing with what it pulls out of the carpet. Wish I would have bought one sooner.

They're the top dog in cleaning performance on carpets in my opinion, but that's about as far as they go. They're a one trick pony. They also weigh a ton too. Basically they're great if you have a single story house with mostly carpet.

If you're looking solely for a carpet vacuum and nothing else, a Kirby is my preferred choice. They are the kings of carpet cleaning but come at a cost of weight and size. The newer models have transmissions in them that make them very easy to push and pull though. They haven't changed much in decades and parts are plentiful. DO NOT BUY ONE NEW! Go to a local vacuum shop and I guarantee you'll find a used one for like 80% off of what a new one would cost. If you need to use attachments or need to use it on the hard floors (which I see you already go covered) then I'd look elsewhere. Kirby's are one trick ponies. Amazing at cleaning carpet, terrible at everything else.