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 us, 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 99.99% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. (Household allergens average 1-10 microns in size.)

Miele canisters and Miele uprights 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 feature hygienic self-sealing, AirClean or Intensive Clean 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. Miele vacuum cleaners are tested to last a minimum of 1,000 operating hours or an average of 20 years of residential use (45 minutes at the highest setting once per week).

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:

Do you need a HEPA filter?

Miele Capricorn S5980 Vacuum Cleaners


Miele AutoEco S7580 Vacuum Cleaners



Miele Marin S8590 Vacuum Cleaner



Miele Topaz S6270 Vacuum Cleaner

As mentioned above, if you have allergies or asthma, we recommend a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Unlike other "HEPA vacuums," the Miele HEPA filtration system is independently tested and meets, or exceeds, US and European filtration standards by trapping up to 99.99% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger.

The following Miele vacuum cleaners come standard with an Active HEPA filter:

Canister Models
Upright Models

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:

As a combination of the generally activated charcoal, found in the HEPA filter, and the Super Air Clean filter media, Miele also has what is called the Active Air Clean filter. This filter has more activated charcoal for greater odor control. The combination of it and the Super Air Clean filter provides particle filtration of 99.5% down to 0.5 microns. This filter comes standard with the Miele Cat & Dog Vacuum Cleaner but the same filter fits all Miele S7, S5 and S4 vacuum cleaners.

Do you prefer canister or upright vacuum cleaners?

Miele Quickstep S194 Vacuum Cleaner

Most people prefer upright vacuum cleaners.  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 S194 Quickstep vacuum cleaner comes standard with the Active Clean filter and sealed system. Though, for better filtration, add the optional HEPA filter.

Long the mainstay of the Miele brand, the Miele canisters feature the very best Miele has to offer and are just as effective in cleaning all types of flooring. For those concerned with filtration, but prefer a canister style vacuum, there is a Miele canister to suit your needs. They come in a variety of colors and offer more features than we have space to list. Regardless of whether you are looking for an upright or canister, for the absolute best allergen control, choose a Miele vacuum with a HEPA filter.

How big is your home?


Miele Jazz S7280 Vacuum Cleaners



Miele Callisto S5281 Vacuum Cleaners


Miele Delphi S2120 Vacuum Cleaners


Miele Titan S2120 Vacuum Cleaners

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

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 S8 and Miele S5 series vacuum cleaners all have the larger AirClean G/N dust bags with a 4.76 quart capacity:

If you prefer canister style vacuum cleaners and have a standard sized home, the new Miele S6 series models use smaller sized AirClean FJM. The FJM bags are 9-ply dust bags with a 3.5 quart capacity. These models come with FJM bags:

The Miele S6 canister vacuums are a direct replacement for the S4 line (Polaris & Neptune) in both form, function, and capacity.

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 AirClean dustbags:

While a Miele S7, S5, S6, and S2 vacuum cleaner would more than suffice, if you have an apartment or loft, you should also consider the Miele S194 Quickstep.

What type of flooring is in your home?


Miele Twist S7210 Vacuum Cleaners


Miele Libra Vacuum Cleaners



Miele Pisces S4580 Vacuum Cleaners



Miele Olympus S2120 Vacuum Cleaners

For those with carpet throughout the house or high pile carpet, 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:

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,

The other upright option is the Miele Quickstep. 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:

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

Other Factors to Consider Before Purchasing Your Miele Vacuum Cleaner

Miele Air Flow

Miele S7 Electronic Controls

Operating Radius

Turbobrush vs. Powerbrush

Miele Microset

Power - All Miele canister and upright vacuums feature a powerful 1200 Watt motor that provides enormous suction. The Miele Universal Uprights features a slightly smaller motor that comes in at 1000 Watts.

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.Miele Hose Test

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 Swing and Miele AutoEco 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 28 feet; and the Miele canister vacuums have an operating radius of 29.5 to 33 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 sound insulation, and all are quieter than comparable vacuum cleaners. With the introduction of the Miele S6 vacuums, this insulation was improved upon. Now, with the Miele S8 models, an encapsulated motors makes this line the quietest vacuums Miele has ever manufactured.

Conveniences, Ease of Use & Comfort - All Miele canister and S7 vacuum cleaners are easy to use with intuitive controls and hygienic Air Clean 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, one-touch cord rewind, LED lights, sound reducing casters, 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). Some Miele vacuums, like the Miele Swing, now come standard with the Miele Micro Set and Flexible Crevice Tool as free, bonus accessories. To see what additional accessories are compatible with any given Miele visit our Miele S5 Attachments, Miele S6 Attachments, or Miele S2 Attachments pages.

Miele Vacuums are Good HouseKeeping Approved!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, including top rankings by consumer reporting agencies. Regardless of the product, the Miele brand is consistent when producing top of the line home appliances.

7 Year Motor WarrantyDurability & 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.  The UniQ is the only exception to this - offering a full 10 year warranty on the motor and 5 full years 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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