Review of Miele Vacuum Cleaners

In 1899, the Miele company was founded by Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann. The German company specialized in making safe household appliances. In 1927, they began making household vacuum cleaners. They broke new ground with plastic to create lighter weight vacuum cleaners. They also significantly reduced the threat of electrical shock which was a great risk at the time from vacuum cleaners.

Miele Canister

If you have a lot of bare floors or low pile carpet, you’ll most likely want a canister vacuum cleaner. Canister vacuums almost always have a bare floor attachment or a switch to turn off the beater bar.

Miele offers several lines from their S200 compact series to their top of the line Galaxy series, featuring the S4780 Orion model. They are considered mid-level vacuum cleaners at $400-$800 each, which may be shocking to some. They are available through licensed dealers in several stores, but they are widely available at much lower prices online.

Canister Pros

When you buy a canister Miele vacuum cleaner, you are getting a quality product. According to Consumer Reports, Miele canisters are the brand least likely to have to be repaired. There are warranties on the vacuums just in case. There are several features of Miele canister vacuums that make them worth their prices.

• The emissions are almost nonexistent. There is almost no leaked air or particles, even without a HEPA filter.
• You have your choice of three air filters, including a HEPA filter. All are of extremely high quality.
• Miele canisters are quieter than most of their competitors.
• Most of the Miele canisters are light weight ABS plastic for easy pushing and pulling.
• The casters (wheels) under the vacuum rotate in all directions for easy maneuverability.
• The vacuum hose is sturdy and crush-proof.
• The suction power is very good, and almost all models offer suction control to allow you to clean draperies, blinds, rugs, and ceiling fans.
• There is a beater bar/brush control to switch between bare floors and carpets.
• Attachments lock securely into place with no air escape.
• Miele vacuum bags are of superior quality with double layers so very little dirt and particles escape when changing bags.
• Miele vacuum bags are around $3 each, which is average vacuum bag cost.
• The strength and long life of Miele canister vacuums make them good for both home and commercial use.

Canister Cons

• The high quality filters are expensive to replace – anywhere from $30-$60.
• The heavier models (20 pounds and over) are sometimes difficult to push and pull.
• The crush-proof hose is sturdy, but not very long. If you want to vacuum stairs, you’ll need to purchase a hose extension.
• The power cord isn’t very long. This will mean longer cleaning time because you’re likely to have to change outlets.
• Most models offer very few attachments. You’ll have to purchase them separately if you want more.
• The beater bar for carpet can be turned on, but not manually adjusted lower or higher. This can mean eventual carpet damage or not as clean carpets.
• Bags, replacement filters, and attachments have to be purchased from a licensed dealer or online.

Miele Canister Recommendations

Overall, Miele canister vacuums are excellent. If you have special considerations such as stairs or a need for specialty attachments, you will need to purchase additional accessories. If you have a lot of high-pile carpet, Miele canisters are not recommended.

Miele Upright

Miele uprights come in two different categories: Universal Uprights and Powerhouse Uprights. Miele’s Universal Uprights are much like stick vacuums or electric brooms from other brands. These vacuums should not be relied upon for general carpet cleaning. They are ideal for quick messes, but they don’t have the power of features that you need for regular vacuuming. If you are in the market for a stick vac for quick fixes, Miele’s Universal Uprights are better than most. The motor is more powerful, and the emissions are much less.

There is a small Dustbuster-type vacuum that disconnects for conveniently cleaning up messes in a car or other hard-to-reach areas. You shouldn’t rely upon these types of portable vacuums for stairs, however. Most stairways in people’s homes are used often, and they need more powerful suction than portables can give.

Miele Upright Recomendations

Miele’s Powerhouse Uprights have some great features, but they are missing enough to make the basic models less than a great buy. Three of the best features are the weight, the motor bypass system, and the emissions. Miele Powerhouse Uprights are usually around 15 pounds. This makes it convenient to use and carry up stairs. The motor bypass system is excellent. Unlike many other vacuums, the dirt and particles sucked up through the hose are not capable of entering the motor housing. This is a problem with a lot of other vacuums. Miele’s system makes the vacuum last longer without repairs. Like Miele’s canister vacuums, the emissions are very low, and what the vacuum misses doesn’t get past the excellent filters.

With these great features, you’re probably wondering why the basic uprights aren’t recommended. The most notable problem in most models is the lack of a manual pile adjustment. This might not sound very important, but if you have carpet, you shouldn’t do without it. Longer pile carpets need to be vacuumed with a higher adjustment. Vacuuming them with a lower pile setting will mercilessly beat the carpet, destroying carpet fibers. Vacuuming low pile with a high pile setting will not sufficiently get the dirt up from your carpet. Vacuuming with the wrong setting is pointless. You are either damaging your carpet or not cleaning your carpet. You will have to pay more for the models that offer adjustment.

Miele uprights are also clumsy when you use the attachments (which you might find lacking as well). The vacuum easily tips when you use the hose to get stairs or corners, for example. It’s not well-balanced. The cord on the basic models is also short. You will have to pay more for more attachments, a longer cord, and filter replacements.