22 in Vacuum Cleaners
Kirby - Model 516
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Mar 17, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
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"it outperforms 90% of vacuums on the market. ... you will be hard-pressed to beat the performance without spending over a thousand dollars."
"Kirby when the carpets need a good once over..."
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"My Grandmother bought a Kirby in 1969. I still have it"
"At the time they had parts available for all machines."
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"You can get a used Kirby for $150 or so."
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"At the time they had parts available for all machines."
Disliked most:
756g43 0.0Kirbys are great because they're so easy to fix. Every single part is user-replaceable
aabum 0.0My first choice is Kirby. I don't understand others' posts implying they aren't reliable. Mine is 40 years old and probably has another 60 years left. Plastic crap, Dyson and Shark, is just that. Crap. Panasonic commercial vacuums have been a standard for many years.
actionvac-Box2165 0.0As well, a Kirby is probably the best carpet cleaning Vacuum made. It’s just antiquated.
Aggressive-Age-5796 0.0I love kirby vacuums. You can get a used one for a steal.
Altered-BeastOG 0.0Altruistic_Drink_465 0.0Bought my Kirby in 1987....still use it today. Well, not today.
Automatic-House-4011 0.0Yep. Kirby user here. Just replaced our old one of 15 years with a new model. Worth the $$$.
awooff 0.0Kirbys are great at cleaning carpet but thats it. Its just an overpriced upright that can be found used for 20 bucks all day long. No money to be made by vac shops when kirbys are a dime a dozen - many vac stores have dozens upon dozens of used kirbys in the basement. Money is made by selling something rare like sebo, miele. Vacs that are not resold by the thousands for pennies.
Did any royals have powerdrive? Admittedly kirbys tech drive does allow for easy, effortless vacuuming on all types of carpets.
Kenmores are a dime a dozen on marketplace. Likewise, a light use kirby can be had for 60 bucks.
BigTimeGregory 0.0high 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
browneyedgirlpie 0.0I 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.