Many people miss the old days when products were made to last, from cars to appliances.
Ask your parents and even your grandparents and they will tell you that a lot of products made in the past were made of metal, yes that includes vacuum cleaners.
Kirby is one such product, if you look at the rich history of vacuum cleaners, Jim Kirby was one of the pioneers in the vacuum cleaner industry.
He is among the first to use water purification (Both Rainbow is not the first to develop water purification).
But he was frustrated with getting rid of dirty water, so he later developed his own version of a cloth filter (also known as a bagged vacuum cleaner) to make it easier to get rid of collected debris.
The Sentria 2 was first launched by Kirby in 2006. But further improvements are made with the 2012 model that includes a polymer base bowl that reduces overall weight, an F-filter bag for easier bag changing, long-lasting LED lighting and better airflow for improved cleaning performance.
This product is more than just a vacuum cleaner, if you buy this alternative on Amazon, it comes with a carpet shampooing system and HEPA filtration that allows you to shampoo and deep clean your carpet as well as a vacuum function.
If you are feeling nostalgic and appreciate history, this is one of the products you should have in your cleaning arsenal. It’s not cheap but it will last for a few generations.
Remember that this is not your typical plastic vacuum cleaner like Shark or Dyson, they are mostly made of metal so they are built to last but at the cost of weight.
There will be two options to buy this, the first will be to buy it directly from Kirby’s seller.
While it will be more expensive (ranging from $1800 to $3000 depending on how good the bargaining is).
But it does come with a 3-year warranty. Go for this option if you don’t mind haggling and dealing with annoying sales offers.
The second option would be to go online through Ebay and comb through some listings to find the best possible deal.
There is a risk here as most of the list is second hand but if you look hard enough you will find some gems.
There are also sellers selling this on Amazon, so be sure to do your due diligence and check with the seller first before purchasing the product from them.
Quick look at the features
- Vacuum packed system with fully enclosed HEPA filtration system
- Made of mostly aluminum
- Turns the scales at 25 lbs
- Comes with carpet shampooing attachment
- LED headlights
- The 2012 version comes with improved airflow thanks to the Mini Em-Tor’s less restrictive air path
- 3-year warranty (if purchased from an authorized seller)
Positives
- Versatile – In addition to the vacuuming function, you can shampoo your carpet, clean upholstery, stairs, and even use it as a vacuum cleaner to clean nooks and crannies
- Powerful suction – deep cleans carpets
- Combines old-school durability with new-school amenities like LED lighting and HEPA filtering
- Great for people with asthma or a related respiratory condition
- Built to last for years
Negatives
- This is a heavy piece of machinery that weighs about 25 lbs
- Expensive (about $1800 and up if you buy it directly) but you need to remember that your carpet can be vacuumed and shampooed
- Not for weak or old people who find it difficult to carry heavy things
- Durability is a big concern (the strap is the weakest point but these are cheap and easily replaceable) and absorbency weakens over time
- Very noisy, some describe it as the sound of a coffee grinder
- If you buy this through a kirby seller, expect a lot of arm twisting and very strong sales pitches
Table of Contents
What do you expect from this old school upright?
This product is a blast from the past with a modern twist.
What do you mean?
This all-metal construction gives this a very sturdy foundation and is as solid as it comes.
All the metal adds to the weight, if you look at Amazon’s spec sheet, this product tips the scales at 25 pounds – not for the weak guns! If you struggle to carry a large piece of metal, I suggest you go with something lightweight.
When you look at the suction power, Kirby’s vacuums are known to have very good suction power – strong enough to deep clean rugged carpets.
But the weight there is more …
In addition to the vacuuming function, the Sentria 2 can also shampoo your carpet thanks to the carpet cleaning attachment that shampoos your carpet. After shampooing, you can soak up the excess shampoo with the same supplement, leaving a nearly dry, smelly carpet.
You could say that kirby is an all-in-one carpet flooring solution.
bare floor performance
The main floor attachment has a brush roller that turns on and off, so if you don’t want to do any disassembly, simply turn the brush roller off when cleaning the bare floor.
Another option is to use a hardwood floor attachment, designed specifically for cleaning hardwood surfaces.
If you feel the straight shaft is too large, you can remove the main floor tool, and attach the hose to use as a drum vacuum.
The video above shows that this device has some versatility. And you will be able to turn this into a vacuum cleaner.
Here is a solid ground test…
Depending on how much dirt the dirt gauge picks up, this device is perfectly capable of cleaning just about any exposed floor surface.
One potential problem is dirt getting inside the wheels which will need to be cleaned from time to time.
It is not difficult to clean but it does take a long time.
Carpet cleaning
Now this is where you pay the money you invested. The Kirby is known to have excellent suction and agitation.
This combination makes it one of the best rolls to have if you want to deep clean your carpet.
If you don’t mind putting up with this, this would be a very good investment.
Here’s how to vacuum carpets…
The second function of this product is that it can double as a carpet pre-wash.
an offer …
If you don’t know what a pre-cleaner does, it basically uses a detergent and agitates the carpet — separating the dirt from the fibers.
This step will remove any stains from the carpet before applying any detergent or shampoo. This will help prepare the carpet before you run the carpet cleaner on it.
These are the steps that professional carpet cleaning companies use to prepare the carpet before applying the shampoo.
The third function of this vacuum is to apply carpet shampoo and then vacuum it up.
This product basically gives you everything you need to keep your rugs in top shape. And help you save because you will not need to hire a specialist often.
If you are religious enough in deep cleaning your carpet, you may not need to hire a professional at all.
Watch this video to see how the Carpet Shampoo System works – from assembly to usage tips…
Upholstery cleaning
Yes, you can actually use Kirby to clean upholstery. You can separate the main floor tool and the handle for cleaning over floors.
Why do you want to vacuum upholstery?
If you see the amount of dead skin cells this vacuum is picking up, you should probably do the same.
Dead skin cells are what feed bed bugs and are one of the main causes of many skin conditions such as eczema.
If you have a young child suffering like this, it is best to clean the sofa and beds more often.
To convert it from portrait to handheld, follow these steps…
Can this area rugs clean?
Even with strong suction, you can still use it on stretchy areas. There is an option to turn off the beater bar if you are cleaning large bits of dirt.
Keep in mind that if the rug you are cleaning is small, you may need to vacuum it up and then wash it in the washing machine.
Pet hair removal
This vertical position can clean pet hair on carpets, bare floors and rugs thanks to its powerful suction and agitation.
When you add a vacuum packed with a HEPA filter, that’s great for pet owners with asthma.
Attachments and accessories
Kirby Sentria 2 comes with a lot of accessories, to give you an overview and look at this infographic.
These attachments allow you to use this cleaner as a vertical upholstery-able carpet cleaner and as a vacuum cleaner to clean hardwood or bare floors and reach hard-to-reach areas.
Here is an overview of the different parts of a vacuum…
Here is the full list of accessories. Note that some of them are optional…
rope length
The wire is about 32 feet long but does not have any wire to rewind, so you will have to manually wind the wire around two wire hooks.
Filter cleaning and maintenance
Since this is a packaged vacuum cleaner, there are no filters to really clean it. Don’t worry, these bags don’t cost a fortune, a pack of 6 will cost about $18 since they hold up to 2 gallons of dry dirt which will last a long time.
As for maintenance (mainly how to replace the belt and brush roller), here are some tips from Kirby themselves…
product specification
| Features | |
| attachments | Carpet shampoo system
hard floor cushion portable sprayer caddy 2 extension tubes dusting brush upholstery nozzle Wall and ceiling brush Suction control handle delivery hose Hard floor nozzle Zippbrush |
| Height adjustable handle |
 |
| rope length | 32 feet |
| Automatic wire winding |
 |
| motorized brush |
|
| Brush on/off switch |
|
| rotates on axis |
|
| the Flashlight |
|
| Filter clogging indicator |
|
| bin full indicator |
|
| without bag |
*This is a vacuum filled |
| multi surface |
|
| self-propelled |
|
| Net weight | 25 pounds |
| Purchase Weight | 42.2 EGP |
| hose length | Unavailable |
| cleaning path | 12 inches |
| public access | Unavailable |
| dirt capacity | Unavailable |
| filter type | hiba |
| Energy | Unavailable |
| Voltage | Unavailable |
| Made in | United States of America |
| Price | Check Price |
Consumer Reviews
While the performance of this vacuum is great, the selling methods used by the sales staff were not. Many consumers shared their experience with Kirby sellers and said that while they were kind at the beginning of the demo, they became pushy and abrasive when they bargained on price.
If you’re concerned about price, one seller started at $3,100—the price of a used car easily. Another started at $2,100—a crazy price even for a versatile product.
The most important factor when dealing with these sellers is standing up for your attitude and bargaining. If they offer you a ridiculous price, let’s say over $2000, try haggling down to $1000 and see how it goes.
Usually these people won’t tell you the price before they give a demo and will tell you how dirty your carpet is and how their product will beat facilities like Dyson. This can erode on you and if you are not careful you can succumb to their downside tactics, be patient and stand your position in terms of price.
Those who have used this vacuum cleaner say it performs very well in terms of deep cleaning carpets but there is a learning curve in terms of accessory assembly and maintenance. If you are willing to take the time to learn how to use these attachments, buy this vacuum cleaner.
Aside from the steeper learning curve, there’s also the weight problem.
This vacuum is mostly metal so it’s heavy at 25 lbs.
If you have trouble carrying things, you’ll be better off with something lightweight like the Shark or Dyson.
Where can I buy this?
You have a few options when purchasing this.
Best for me is to buy it directly from Kirby, but this process involves showing the product from sellers who can instead be pushy when promoting their product.
You have to remember that when you buy outright, you will pay the full price of about $1800 (which is close to the price of a Rainbow vacuum). But you will get the full 3-year warranty (you still have to pay the shipping fee).
Another option is to buy it second hand from Amazon, and you’ll save nearly 50% when you go this route but at the expense of the manufacturer’s warranty.
If you’re the DIY type and don’t mind getting their hands dirty and your Kirby fix, this is a great way to save.
to finish
If you are looking for an all-in-one cleaning tool capable of cleaning every nook and cranny in your home, the Kirby Sentria 2 is a great choice.
It’s not cheap – it costs over $1,500 (most of the time it will cost over $2000 more than $3,000) if you buy it from a Kirby seller.
But you can get used or refurbished units for half the price on Ebay or Amazon but you have to do your due diligence in finding the right seller with some kind of warranty.