Miele Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide

If you have allergies or asthma, then your vacuum cleaner can be either your best friend or your worst enemy. When you purchase a Miele vacuum cleaner from achoo! ALLERGY, you can breathe easier knowing that you'll receive the best allergy-friendly vacuum cleaner available. As they say at Miele, anything else is a compromise.

Studies have shown that vacuuming with a standard vacuum cleaner actually increases the number of allergens in the air; what's more, standard vacuums do not have the ability to capture allergens. We recommend vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters, which are guaranteed to capture at least 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. (Household allergens average 1-10 microns in size.)

Miele HEPA canister vacuum cleaners take the HEPA standard to the next level. Because of their sealed system engineering and high-quality construction, Miele HEPA canister vacuum cleaners capture 99.99% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns in size.

Miele vacuum cleaners also feature self-sealing, hygienic dust bags to help you avoid exposure to allergens.

Since they're the best on the market, Miele vacuum cleaners tend to be more expensive than many standard vacuum cleaners – but they're worth every penny – and they're tested to last for 20 years. (Have you ever heard of another vacuum cleaner that lasts 20 years?)

We understand that purchasing a Miele is no small investment, and so we want to make sure that you order the Miele that's right for you. Because Miele offers so many options, sometimes it's difficult to decide what's best for your needs. Before you invest in a Miele vacuum cleaner, consider these important factors:

While most people seem to prefer upright vacuum cleaners, Miele HEPA canister vacuum cleaners are more effective when it comes to allergen control. They feature more powerful motors plus sealed system HEPA technology. The Active HEPA filter also comes with a generally actived charcoal filter to trap chemicals and odors. Additionally, the flexible hose offers greater versatility, making it easier to clean on stairs and under furniture. If you're looking for the aboslute best allergen control from a vacuum cleaner, choose a Miele HEPA premium canister vacuum cleaner.

The Miele S168 Universal Upright vacuum cleaner also offers an Active HEPA filter with sealed system engineering, and while the S168 is versatile and easy to use, it is not recommended for large homes. The S163 Universal Upright comes with a Super Air Clean Filter, but a HEPA filter is optional.

If you have mostly carpeted floors and prefer an upright vacuum cleaner that's always in front of you, choose the Miele S184 Powerhouse Upright vacuum or the Miele S183 Powerhouse Upright vacuum. These two upright models also feature larger dust bags so you won't have to change them as often.

If you have a large home, you'll want a larger vacuum cleaner with a larger dust bag capacity. The Miele S5 series vacuum cleaners all have larger, 4.76 quart capacity dust bags: Miele Capricorn, Miele Aquarius, Miele Callisto, and Miele Pisces.

The Miele S184 Powerhouse Upright and Miele S183 Powerhouse Upright also have large, 4.9 quart bags.

FJM bags work well for standard size homes. FJM bags have a 3.5 quart capacity and come with the Miele Capella, Miele Carina, Miele Luna, Miele Antares, Miele Orion, Miele S514 Direct Connect, and Miele Plus.

If you have an apartment or loft, consider the Miele S163 Universal Upright or the S168 Universal Upright.

Air Flow - When it comes to measuring a vacuum cleaner's cleaning ability, air flow is more important than power. Not all vacuum cleaners have adequate air flow, which is necessary for superb cleaning.

Suction Control - Miele vacuum cleaners not only offer great air flow, but they also allow you to control the level of section. Different models offer the suction controls as slide bars, radial dials, +/- foot controls, or convenient fingertip controls. The Miele Aquarius vacuum cleaner features intelligent automatic suction control.

Operating Radius - How far will your vacuum reach before you have to find another power outlet? The Powerhouse Uprights have an operating radius of 22 feet; the Universal Uprights have an operating radius of 25 feet; and the Miele canister vacuums have an operating radius of 26 to 30 feet.

Turbobrush vs. Powerbrush - A turbobrush is air-driven, and a powerbrush (or electrobrush) is electrically-driven. While turbobrushes work well for low to medium pile carpet, if your home has high pile carpet or wall-to-wall carpet, you'll probably want a powerbrush. Luckily, even if you have a straight suction model or turbobrush model and move to a new location where a powerbrush would work better, you can upgrade to a powerbrush with the rechargeable, battery-powered Accu-Nova Powerbrush.

Noise - Despite their awesome power, Miele vacuum cleaners feature quiet operation - so quiet that you can hear the phone ring while vacuuming. The following S5 Galaxy models feature extra quiet sound insulation: Miele Capricorn, Miele Aquarius, Miele Callisto, and Miele Pisces.

Conveniences, Ease of Use & comfort - All Miele vacuum cleaners are easy to use with intuitive controls and hygienic dust bags, and select models offer the following additional conveniences: automatic suction control, fingertip suction control, safety shut-off to prevent overheating, automatic shut-off when parked, silence insulation, and ergonomic deluxe handle assembley to prevent strain on the wrist.

Accessories & Attachments - Miele vacuum cleaners give you the option of several different accessories like extra brushes, the handheld turbobrush, the car clean kit, and the micro clean tool set for electronics and delicate items.

Manufacturer's Reputation - In 2007, Germany's leading market research institute awarded Miele with the "Best Company" prize for being the most successful company in Germany. To give you an idea of just how successful Miele is, Google came in second, and Porsche came in third. The secret behind the Miele's success lies in their motto: Immer besser – which is German for "Forever better."

Durability & Warranty - If you're looking for a vacuum cleaner with durability and longevity, choose a Miele. Miele vacuum cleaners are designed and tested to last for 20 years. Miele vacuum cleaners come with a seven-year warranty on the motor and a one-year warranty on parts and labor.