Kirby Ultimate G Review

It all started when I moved into a different house and had new carpet installed.  While I wouldn’t consider myself to be a picky person in general, I admit I am VERY particular about carpet.  I hate carpet where every little thing shows up on it.  Even more, I hate having to vacuum and shampoo constantly in order to keep my carpet looking clean.

So when it came time to pick out new carpet, I went all out and bought a Karastan frieze shag that combines flecks of different colors.  The result is exactly as I had hoped – a carpet that looks clean even when it isn’t.

Much to my dismay, however, my Hoover vacuum did not work well on my new carpet.  The carpet was too thick for it to handle.  The roller brush was too low and would grind against the carpet, causing it to fray.  Not good.

That’s when I began the lengthy process of researching for a new vacuum.  My list of must-haves included a vacuum that:

• Adjusted in height so that the roller brush wouldn’t grind against the carpet.
• Had the potential to last 20 years or more.
• Is easy to use.
• Has excellent suction.
• Comes with a variety of attachments, including an attachment for hard floors.

I finally narrowed it down to two choices – a Dyson model or a Kirby.  I initially decided on the Dyson, because it was more affordable, and I also didn’t want to have to deal with a salesman coming out to my house to hard sell me a Kirby. The Dyson was selling for around $400 – $500, whereas the Kirby was selling for $1200 – $1500.

Before I was able to make my purchase, however, I discovered that I could get a used Kirby for a decent price on ebay.com.  I was a little hesitant at first, but I watched the listings for awhile and found one that was next to new.  I won the bid on it, and the total amount, including shipping and handling, came to $389.00!  That’s quite a savings over buying brand new and was even cheaper than the Dyson I was going to buy.

Pros

I was thrilled to find my Kirby Ultimate G vacuum in perfect condition when it arrived Christmas Eve 2007.  It looked like maybe it had been used a couple times at the most.  It came with all the standard attachments, and included the never-used before shampoo system.   I was pumped!

While the Kirby is nothing special to look at in comparison to the sleek designs of the Dysons and Hoovers, I love the fact that is mostly made of metal parts rather than plastic.  The plastic designs might be prettier, but my experience is that they don’t hold up over time.

The height of the roller brush is easily adjusted with the tap of my left toe.  No more grinding against my new carpet!  It has excellent suction and unlike other vacuums, the suction doesn’t decline as the bag fills up.  It does a great job of picking up the fur shed by my golden retriever.

It comes with a long cord, so I can easily move from room to room.  It has a hose attachment for cleaning hard floors and for using the many attachments it comes with.  Some of my favorite attachments include the upholstery nozzle, duster brush and crevice tool.  The two extension tubes help me to reach high enough to clean my ceiling fans and vacuum cobwebs off my high ceilings.

My last two Hoover vacuums had canisters rather than bags.  While I appreciated the money I saved by not having to buy bags, I found that the canisters were hard to clean and dust would fly in all directions when emptying them into the trash.  My Kirby Ultimate G uses bags and I must say I like how everything stays contained and nothing escapes, even while changing them.

As a person who suffers from allergies, I especially appreciate the Kirby’s filtration system.  The manual claims it captures and retains 99.97% of household dust, pollen, dust mites and other particles and 99.5% of other particles.

Two years later, I can say without reservations that I love my Kirby!  I’m absolutely thrilled with the deal that I got on ebay and it’s one of the first things on my brag list when I have guests in my home.

Cons

The Kirby Ultimate G is heavy to carry up and down stairs.  It takes a bit of effort to switch from using the floor vacuum to using the hose.  Overall there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to figuring out how to use some of its features.  It’s worth taking the time to sit down with the Kirby and the owner’s manual – it will save you time and frustration in the future.

Recommended: Yes

Have questions about the Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Series vacuum?  Leave them in the comments section and I will be happy to answer them.  Already have one?  Post your review below.

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1. Bissell Total Floors Velocity Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner (Model 3990) Review