Miele Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide

If you have allergies or asthma, your vacuum cleaner can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. When you purchase a Miele vacuum cleaner from AchooAllergy.com, 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 ensure the filtration of 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 and upright vacuum cleaners take the HEPA filtration standard to the next level. Because of their sealed system engineering and high-quality construction, Miele Active HEPA filters capture 99.99% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns in size.

All Miele vacuums, whether uprights or canisters, feature hygienic, self-sealing, HyClean dust bags to help you avoid exposure to allergens.

Since they are the best on the market, Miele vacuum cleaners tend to be more expensive than many standard vacuum cleaners but they are worth every penny and they are 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 is difficult to decide what's best for your needs. Before you invest in a Miele vacuum cleaner, consider these important factors:

As mentioned above, if you have allergies or asthma, we recommend a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

The following Miele vacuum cleaners come standard with an Active HEPA filter with sealed system engineering, guaranteeing the elimination of 99.99% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns:

• Miele Capricorn S5980 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Earth S5481 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Callisto S5281 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Pisces S5281 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Titan S2180 Vacuum Cleaners

• Miele Tango S7580 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Bolero S7580 Upright Vacuum cleaners
• Miele Calypso S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Jazz S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Salsa S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Universal Upright S168 Vacuum Cleaners

Miele also offers a slightly less efficient air filter: the Super Air Clean filter. The Super Air Clean filter is guaranteed to trap 99.95% of particles down to 0.5 microns and 94% of particles down to 0.3 microns.

The following models come standard with a Super Air Clean filter, but HEPA filtration is optional with all of these models:

• Miele Twist S7210 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Neptune S4212 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Polaris S4212 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Delphi S2120 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Olympus S2120 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Solaris S514 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Universal Upright S163 Vacuum Cleaners

Most people prefer upright vacuum cleaners, and to meet this demand, Miele has developed the S7 Upright Series. These upright vacuum cleaners come with many of the same great features that have made the Miele canisters so popular, including Miele's Active HEPA filtration. Like their canister counterparts, they feature the powerful Vortex motors plus Sealed System technology. The Active HEPA filter comes with a generally activated charcoal filter to trap chemicals and odors. Additionally, the flexible, crush-proof hose offers greater versatility, and this, with the slim 6" profile while lying flat, makes it easier to clean on stairs and under furniture.

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.

Each of the Miele S7 upright vacuum cleaners are well equipped to handle larger homes. With a 6.3 quart U bag, the Miele upright vacuum cleaners will retain more dirt and debris than any other Miele vacuum cleaner.

• Miele Tango S7580 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Bolero S7580 Upright Vacuum cleaners
• Miele Calypso S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Jazz S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Salsa S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Twist S7210 Vacuum Cleaners

If you have a large home, you'll want a larger vacuum cleaner with a larger dust bag capacity. For those who prefer canister style vacuums, the Miele S5 series vacuum cleaners all have the larger G/N dustbags with a 4.76 quart capacity:

• Miele Capricorn S5980 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Earth S5481 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Callisto S5281 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Pisces S5281 Vacuum Cleaners

If you prefer canister style vacuum cleaners and have a standard sized home, the Miele S4 series models use smaller sized FJM bags that work very well. FJM bags have a 3.5 quart capacity. These models come with FJM bags:

• Miele Neptune S4212 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Polaris S4212 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Solaris S514 Vacuum Cleaners

If you prefer a more economical canister style vacuum cleaner with the same performance and a larger vacuum bag, the Miele S2 vacuums are perfect for your needs. With an apartment or a small home, models that use larger G/N bags work well and save you money in the long run. The G/N bags have a 4.76 quart capacity. These models use the new Miele G/N HyClean dustbags:

• Miele Titan S2180 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Delphi S2120 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Olympus S2120 Vacuum Cleaners

While a Miele S7, S5, S4, and S2 vacuum cleaner would more than suffice, if you have an apartment or loft, you should also consider the Miele S163 Universal Upright or the S168 Universal Upright.

For those with carpet throughout the house or high pile carpet, if you prefer upright vacuum cleaners one of the S7 upright vacuum cleaners would work perfectly for you. All are more than capable of tackling even the thickest carpet, and with a separate brush roll control and independent motor, the S7 uprights are able to clean any type of carpet as well as smooth flooring. The S7 upright models are,

• Miele Tango S7580 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Bolero S7580 Upright Vacuum cleaners
• Miele Calypso S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Jazz S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Salsa S7280 Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Twist S7210 Vacuum Cleaners

If you have all carpet or mostly carpet and prefer canister style vacuum cleaners, then you'll want one of the Miele Powerbrush models with an electrically driven brush roll for deep cleaning of carpets. Miele canister vacuums that come standard with Powerbrushes include,

• Miele Capricorn S5980 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Earth S5481 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Callisto S5281 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Titan S2180 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Delphi S2120 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Solaris S514 Vacuum Cleaners

The other upright option is the S168 Universal Upright. This vacuum comes with a combination tool but is able to use certain powerbrush attachments for carpet cleaning.

If you have a mixture of smooth floors and carpet, any of the Miele S7 upright vacuum cleaners will work well. If you prefer a canister style vacuum cleaner, you should select a model that comes standard with an air powered Turbobrush. The Turbobrush works well for low to medium pile carpet. Models that come standard with the Turbobrush include,

• Miele Pisces S5281 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Neptune S4212 Vacuum Cleaners

If you have mostly smooth floors with some low-pile carpet or area rugs, then a Miele straight suction canister vacuum will suffice. Straight suction models include:

• Miele Polaris S4212 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Olympus S2120 Vacuum Cleaners
• Miele Universal Upright S163 Vacuum Cleaners

Air Flow - When it comes to measuring a vacuum cleaner's cleaning ability, air flow is more important than power. Power is necessary to create adequate airflow, but factors such as the type of filtration employed and how full the bag is also contribute to a vacuum cleaner's air flow. 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 suction. Different models offer the suction controls as slide bars, rotary dials, +/- foot control buttons, or convenient fingertip controls placed on the handle. The Miele Earth canister vacuum cleaner as well as the Miele Tango and Miele Bolero uprights feature intelligent automatic suction control settings. Without the hassle of changing the setting manually, these vacuums will automatically adjust their suction according to what type of surface you are currently cleaning.

Operating Radius - How far will your vacuum reach before you have to find another power outlet? The Universal Uprights have an operating radius of 25 feet; and the Miele canister vacuums have an operating radius of 26 to 30 feet, and the Miele S7 Uprights feature a full 55 feet of reach.

Turbobrush vs. Powerbrush - A turbobrush is air-driven, and a powerbrush 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. This is something to keep in mind. While the Miele S5 series is highly versatile, the S4 series is limited in the upgrades available when it comes to adding powered brushes. The S7 uprights all feature an independently powered powerbrush which makes them ideal for homes with thick or wall-to-wall carpet.

Noise - Despite their awesome power, Miele vacuum cleaners feature quiet operation - so quiet that you can hear the phone ring while vacuuming. Both, the Miele canisters and S7 uprights, feature this special insulation, and all are quieter than comparable vacuum cleaners.

Conveniences, Ease of Use & Comfort - All Miele vacuum cleaners are easy to use with intuitive controls and hygienic HyClean dust bags, and select models offer the following additional conveniences: automatic suction control, fingertip suction and/or powerbrush control, swivel-neck design, safety shut-off to prevent overheating, automatic shut-off when parked, HEPA filtration, automatic height adjustment, silence insulation, and ergonomic deluxe handle assembly 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. Miele S7 uprights will fit any Miele attachment to their wands (except powerbrushes). To see what additional accessories are compatible with any given Miele visit our S5 Canister, S4 Canister, or S200/S500 Vacuum Cleaners attachment pages.

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 Miele's success lies in their motto: Immer besser which is German for "Forever better." And in just a few minutes online you can quickly access information regarding numerous awards Miele brand products have won over the years. Regardless of the product, the Miele brand is consistent when producing top of the line home appliances.

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 7-year warranty on the motor and a 1-year warranty on parts and labor.  It is good to keep these two things in mind while considering the initial cost of a Miele.  Purchasing a cheaper vacuum every few years will cost you more over time, while providing lower quality results. 

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