Is the Kirby vaccum really better than a Hoover?

Question

People I have worked with tell me it's the best vaccum cleaner...sucks up more than a regular vaccum... many tell me they would own one but the cost is too much. My Hoover (which was rated as the best upright model by Consumer's Report) needs to be replace after almost 4 years. I need to purchase a new vaccum in a few days...two cats and a dog + a long haired daughter....I can't wait too much longer. Maybe a canister vaccum this time.

Answer 1

My mom bought A kirby 30 + years ago when it was still relatively inexpenisve when she first got married. It was built like a tank and suction was great but could not do hard wood floors. The maitenence costs lately finally gave my mother to say the boot about a year ago. They last forever. Hoover in my opinion is about the lousiest vacum cleaner. Every single hoover our family has bought has broken down within six months.

Answer 2

they last forever.

Answer 3

Yes, a Kirby is much better than a Hoover. However, I don't know where to get bags and other parts for the Kirby. I personally own a Dyson upright, and have had no problems with it in the 4 years I've owned it.

If you would rather have a canister vacuum, my mom has had 2 Kenmore canister vacs in the last 17 years. Her first one lasted 11 years with no problems (the head quit working. She still uses it to clean her car.) The other one she's had for 6 years with no problems. Just maybe a belt once in a while if she accidentally sucks up the drapes that drag on the floor.

Answer 4

My mom & I bought new vacs about the same time.  She got a Kirby, I got a Dyson.  I wouldn't trade my Dyson for her Kirby ever!!!  It's true, a Kirby will last you probably the rest of your life.  But personally, I would hate to think I had to spend the rest of my life wrestling with the thing.  I've had my Dyson about 2 years, so have no real knowlege of it longevity.  But for 1/3 the price, I'll take my chances!

Answer 5

I have a Hoover windtunnel and I just love it. I've had it serviced two times. Once because a friend borrowed it and vacuumed over the cord and made bald spots on it with exposed wire. I had the cord replaced and had a tune up. It worked like new! The second time my kids vacuumed up yuck in the garage (I didn't know) & it just stopped. I took it in and he cleared out the whole machine. Works like new again. My Hoover was bought in 1998 and still runs great! I vacuum somewhere in my house about every other day. So it gets a lot of miliage on it. I stand by my Hoover!

Answer 6

I had them all!!! After many years and different types, including the very expensive Kirby, Dhyson....I now have a Kenmore Progressive. It is the best!

Answer 7

My husband worked for a Kirby for a while, and although the experience of working for the Kirby company was bad, we learn a lot about vacuums......

A Hoover wind tunnel is almost as good as a Kirby, but not quite, I don't know about the Dison.

The problems with the Kirby:

PRICE.......yep a new one is quite expensive, but you can buy a refurbished one for less than half of the price, and it is worthy, they last forever.

HEAVY....... it is heavy because they are not made of plastic, but once you turn it on is pretty smooth.

What I like about it:

POWERFULL machine, if you decide to buy it new, call for a free demonstration at your house, they will basically clean a whole room for you! And show you all the features and the

ATTACHMENTS! make sure to buy the shampooer, is a good thing! and you can change the hose and it becames an air blower, it will inflate an air-mattress, and even regular balloons! That is pretty cool for a vacuum.

HEPA FILTER BAGS are pretty good.

CHANGING THE BELT  is pretty easy, compared to other vacuums.

Answer 8

Yes a Kirby is better than a Hoover but in my opinion, a Dyson is better than a Kirby. I have tested both of them on my carpet and the Dyson picked up more than the Kirby. I have 2 dogs that shed also my daughter and myself have long hair. I bought a Dyson and I love it. Hopes this helps.

Answer 9

Well I guess I am going to be the only one that complains. I had a Kirby it was a G3. I found out later they trouble with that year.  I continually had trouble with it, everything kept breaking so I finally used it to clean my pellet stove with and when I moved I threw it in the dumpster very happily. They have a a good reputation I guess. I just got hold of a lemon.

Answer 10

Keep in mind that a Kirby is also a shampooer,blower,and can be turned into a portable. I've heard Dyson's are powerful but maybe to much. Some say the beater brush on the Dyson rips at your carpet. A kirby forms a suction to the carpet. The only vacuum that does this. My new Kirby is 8 years old and I would'nt trade it for anything.

Answer 11

Yes Kirby is probably the best dry vacuum you can get as far as longevity but it has bags, bags and filters are breading grounds for germs and bacteria to grow and every time you turn you blow that back into the air that's why so many people suffer from allergies and you can ever get rid of the dust in you house because filters and bags have holds in them to allow for airflow and dust comes out of them also, so call me and I will show you how the Oceanblue cleans without filters or bags using water to filter the air(Rainbow's used to be good but they added a filter which should be changed once a year at $75 and also allows germs and bacteria to grow on it) Thanks John 225-366-0673

Answer 12

I've had my G-3 for 16 yrs, no repairs no rebuilds.=)