Shampoo system not foaming

SYSTEM:
Will work with:

• Kirby G3 vacuum cleaner
• Kirby G4 vacuum cleaner
• Kirby G5 vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Gsix vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Ultimate G vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Ultimate G Diamond vacuum cleaner
• Kirby Sentria vacuum cleaner
• Sentria II (Sentria2)

This is unused shampoo attachment. We buy new parts and assemble this shampoo attachment so you will be the first one to use it.
Set includes:

1. Tray with shield
2. Nozzle
3. Brush roll
4. Belt
5. Container with cap
6. Hose
7. 12 oz. shampoo

NOTE - pictured Kirby Sentria shampooer box may not be included.
If you have never used this shampoo, we highly recommend reading our ONLINE MANUAL. This is a simple but very effective unit but you have to learn how to use it and "common sense" will not be enough! HOW TO - V I D E O S

Tank with soapy solution is attached in place of the bag. It utilizes the air coming out of the exhaust to blow soapy water on a small screen that turns it into thick foam. The foam is simply laid over the carpet (you must vacuum before you shampoo). Foam allows the spread of a small amount of water over the area so carpet is not soaked all the way through. Foam is left on the carpet for a few minutes so it has just enough time to moisten the fibers of the carpet and loosen the dirt (not too long otherwise foam may dry). Then foam maker is set to "OFF" and you slowly pull Kirby vacuum over the area where you laid the foam. The rotating brush in the shampooer nozzle rubs the moisture off carpet fibers and and throws it into the tray in front of the unit. You will not see gallons of dirty water but that is because you did not put it on the rug in the first place. Carpet should dry within 1-4 hours (depends how many times you laid the foam and what is humidity in the room). After it dries it has to be vacuumed. Solution that did not get picked up with the shampooer brush dries and shampoo additives do not let the dirt stick back to the fibers of the carpet. It is loose when it dries so in order to pick up what is left, you must vacuum again.
Shampoo:
You can use any carpet shampoo sold in your local store but make sure that this is carpet shampoo that makes foam and pay attention how much you have to dilute it with water as various shampoo products come in different concentration. Avoid using "just anything" that makes foam. Some household chemicals (such as dishwasher fluid) will do great job but it will leave carpet unprotected so dirt will stick to it so well that you will have a filthy rug in no time. Kirby Vacuum Shampooer


800-775-6586
GoodVac com

Yes as long. As it Is a foaming shampoo. Do not use extractor detergent

no!, use no shampoo system or cleaners on the memory foam . it will damage the foam itself, and you can almost never get the soap/ water completely out which will lead to molding and odors. contect the manf. and ask about how to properly clean the item.

Try changing the water before you turn it on the first time -- that will probably help you resolve the issue. It seems like there is probably some sort of soap or carpet shampoo in the system causing your foam issue. If your carpets have been shampooed or if you have spilled soap or detergent on your carpet at any point, the vacuum is probably picking up remnants of the soap when you are cleaning, and it is working its way into the water supply of the vacuum. This will continue to happen until you have completely removed the soap from your carpet -- and if you haven't cleaned out your vacuum very well. Try rinsing out the hoses and water tank really well, to make sure that the soap is not stuck in the vacuum itself and give it a try. Hopefully just rinsing out the machine will fix the problem.

The answer is no. This type of shampoo doesn't work as well in the Kirby. It should be dry foam shampoo only.

Few possible causes

1. Valve under the sponge (water tank) is clogged. Replacement HERE.
2. Tray is now lowered all the way down.
3. You use non-foamy solution.
4. Carpet is very dirty so foam gets broken up very fast

Hope this helps,
Rocky

You need to check that the little round screen is in the hole where the hose attaches to the shampoo tank. My guess is that the little round screen is wedged sideways in the end of the hose.

Marci

I found this on a website. Hope it helps others...

by Mainelyvacs in: Kirby

• First a short explanation of how the Kirby shampoo system works: Kirby uses a “Dry Foam” type of shampoo. Basically, it spreads a shampoo foam solution on the surface of your carpet. This foam needs to stay on the surface of the carpet until it is completely dry (usually 1 to 2 hours depending on temperature and humidity) As the foam dries, it soaks up grease and dirt. You then vacuum the carpet and up comes the shampoo residue along with the absorbed dirt and grease. It does a very good job on the surface but will not extract stains from the bottom of the carpet or carpet pad. Several other brands such as Electrolux, Hoover and Koblenz make Carpet Cleaning machines that use the same system.
  So, you’ve read your manual, you’ve removed the carpet cleaning nozzle and the bag assembly from your Kirby, you’ve installed your shampoo tank and carpet shampooing nozzle tray and you start to shampoo but all you get on your carpet is a puddle of soapy water and no foam. Here’s a few things to look for:
• Make sure you are using a Dry Foam Shampoo(preferably Kirby) and NOT an extraction shampoo, the Rug Doctor shampoo you had left over from your last rental will not work.
• Make sure you have the correct mixture. If you are using Kirby Dry foam shampoo you simply fill the tank with water and put a tank cap full of shampoo in with the water. You can use other brands of “Dry Foam” shampoo, but the mixture ratio may be different, so read the label first.
• Don’t reuse last year’s leftover mixture, it’s probably no good.
• Make sure a family member didn’t pour any leftover mixture back into the empty shampoo bottle - further diluting a mixture will not produce any foam.
• Don’t use shampoo that’s seen extreme temperatures.
• Check the tank and make sure that the sponge filter is in place and if it is in place that it is not deteriorated. The sponge filter is located under the tank at the point where you attach the tank to the hole that you removed the bag assembly from.
• Check the hose that runs from the tank to the nozzle. It should have a screen in the end that attaches to the tank (older models had a cloth screen with a metal retainer, models after 1989 have a 1 piece metal and plastic screen.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT BRAND OF SHAMPOO ARE YOU USING??? KIRBY IS NOTED FOR REQUIRING ONLY, KIRBY SHAMPOO. PART OF THE REASON IS THAT THEY HAVE A UNIQUE FORMULA THAT WORKS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE KIRBY.
THE OTHER POSSIBILITY IS THE DISPENSER IS PLUGGED AND NEEDS A REAL GOOD CLEANING. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE FOAM TO THE CARPET, YOU NEED TO GO REALLY, REALLY SLOW.
THE NARROW BAND OF SUDS DOES INDICATE YOU MAY BE MOVING THE DISPENSER TOO FAST. GOOD LUCK.

Ok, I will try to explain this as well as I can. Please bear with me. Remove the dust bag, cover and all, from the machine. Attatch the shampoo tank to the part where the dust bag attatched on the machine (not on the handle). Remove all attatchments from the front of the machine, and attatch the shampoo foam "collector", ensuring that the belt is over the drive. Connect the small hose between the tank and the foam collector. Mix the water and shampoo as directed on the bottle, in the tank. Turn the knob on the top of the tank to on, then start the machine. I run the foam over about three sections, and then turn the knob back to off, lower the collector, and run back over it to pick up all the foam and dirt. I hope some of that makes sense.