Best Miele Vacuums for 2021 – Miele Vacuum Buying Guide

Have you ever used a sub-par vacuum before? I know I have and suffice to say, the experience is infuriating. Rather than sucking up dust, dirt, hair, and more, those lessor vacuums simply push debris around – or worse, just grind it into the carpet. Even some big-name brand vacuums can do this, making it hard to know what names to trust when shopping for a new vacuum cleaner.

While I can’t vouch for other vacuum brands, I can advocate for one name you can reliably associate with quality and performance – Miele. This German company continues to produce some of the best consumer-grade vacuums around, each of which is packed with innovative features that will leave your floors and carpets like new. While their vacuums can be a bit pricy, take my word for it when I say that they are a wise, long-term investment in your home’s cleanliness.

But as you might guess, Miele doesn’t just offer one type of vacuum cleaner. In fact, they offer a wide array of options designed to fit every need and every budget. This guide will take you through several of these top-tier Miele vacuums as well as highlight some of this brand’s most outstanding features. Once you’re done reading this guide, you will begin to see why so many homeowners are trusting their interior floor cleaning to a new Miele vacuum.

Table of Contents

Best Miele Vacuums – Comparison

PictureProduct NameWeightMaximum PowerPrice
Miele Complete C3 CalimaMiele Complete C3 Calima19.4 pounds1,200w
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Miele Scout RX2 Miele Scout RX2 7 pounds30w
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Miele Swing H1 TacticalMiele Swing H1 Tactical9.4 pounds900w
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Miele Dynamic U1Miele Dynamic U121.4 pounds
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Miele Blizzard CX1 TurboMiele Blizzard CX1 Turbo19 pounds1,200w
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Miele Classic C1 PureMiele Classic C1 Pure10 pounds1,200w
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Miele Complete C3 MarinMiele Complete C3 Marin35.1 pounds1200w
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Types of Miele Vacuums on the Market Today

Miele has been making consumer vacuum cleaners since the 1920s. As such, it’s no surprise that their modern product collection includes a variety of different types. Each of these types stands at the peak of innovation in their form factor class, too, making them as effective as they are easy to use. Regardless of which type you choose, you’ll be fully satisfied with its performance compared to its competitors.

This high standard of performance is certainly present in Miele’s first type of vacuum, the canister-style unit. These models follow the classic sled design, with the canister container mounted on a rolling cart that allows for maximum mobility. In particular, these units are best suited for use in large rooms with lots of furniture. That’s because their weight won’t fatigue you hardly at all, especially while you reach under each chair to clear out all of the dust.

Next up are Miele’s upright vacuums, which are also some of their most powerful in their class. To that end, Miele’s upright vacuums can lift dust and dirt from hard-worn carpets with ease. This is made possible by the rollers built right into this unit’s active head. Miele’s upright vacuums are also aesthetically stylish, particularly those that come in vibrant exterior color.

Miele also makes a line of stick vacuums that are ideal for users who want to maximize their cleaning potential without requiring additional storage space. In fact, Miele made these units to suit apartment owners’ need for space-saving cleaning options. Regular homeowners can utilize these stick vacuums as well, particularly if they want hassle-free portability and the ability to clean hard and soft floors without changing many settings.

Miele isn’t a brand to be left in the past. In fact, their tradition of vacuum cleaner innovation still continues today with their automated robot vacuum cleaner units. These small, round units can be programmed to scoot about your house on a schedule, picking up any debris it finds along the way. These units are even smart enough to recognize obstacles and work around them using their on-board navigation system.

What Makes Miele Different?

When I’ve recommended Miele vacuums to folks in the past, their first question usually revolves around the brand’s most unique qualities. There are many to consider, but the top among them is this brand’s commitment to innovation. Miele routinely reengineers their best models to make them even better than before. Along the way, they routinely add features (such as a built-in HEPA filter) that enhance a user’s vacuuming experience beyond expectations.

A Miele vacuum’s performance may feel commercial-grade at first. But when it comes to actually using a Miele vacuum, you’ll quickly see that they couldn’t be more suited to consumer use. Each and every model’s most important switches are easily within reach, for example. Meanwhile, emptying each unit usually requires very little effort at all. In all, using a Miele vacuum is a hassle-free experience that may even compel you to vacuum your home more often.

 Top Miele Vacuums

As you may have already seen, Miele offers a wide number of high-quality vacuum cleaners at this time. As such, you may not know which models are regarded as the very best by current users. However, I’ve shuffled through hundreds of reviews to discover that the following models are the best picks from Miele’s current catalogue. If you choose one of the following models, you’ll be fully satisfied with their performance, even after years of regular use.

This list of top Miele vacuums covers their entire spectrum of model types, as well. As such, those in the market for a stick or robot vacuum will surely find an option that carries the Miele name in this collection. Along the same lines, this list also includes some special-use models. So, if you have a distinct need to clean soft floors or vacuum up pet hair, you’ll find a purpose-made model that meets those needs in this collection.

1. Miele Complete C3 Calima – Best Overall Miele Vacuum

Miele Complete C3 Calima

Regardless of your home’s size or carpet distribution, the Miele Complete C3 Calima will likely serve your needs well. As the best overall Miele vacuum available today, you can bet that this model includes many of the key features and specifications that have made this brand well-known. This includes a 4.75-quart filter bag that can handle multiple full-home vacuuming sessions before needing to be emptied.

That canister won’t fill itself, of course. That’s what this model’s outstanding 1,200-watt Vortex motor system and multiple cleaning wands are made to do. One of those attachments is a stainless steel telescoping wand, which won’t bend under pressure and can reach a cleaning radius of 36 feet. The Miele Complete C3 Calima also comes standard with a special-use wand that can effectively loosen ground-in dirt in high traffic areas.

Using the Miele Complete C3 Calima is also as easy as can be. That’s because it features components such as a parquet twister, which can rotate 180 degrees without apply much extra effort. It also utilizes all-rubber wheels, so it will roll along on hardwood and soft carpet floors with ease. All in all, this model’s compact form factor makes it an asset to most any homeowner who wants to keep their floor is peak condition.

What We Like:

  • Large dust cup
  • Extra-wide cleaning radius
  • Easy to maneuver around furniture
  • Safe for use on hardwood floors

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Requires several passes over medium and high pile carpet
  • New filters are expensive

2. Miele Scout RX2 Robot Vacuum – Best Robot Vacuum

Miele Scout RX2 Robot Vacuum

Robot vacuums are all the rage today, which is no surprise at all. While other brands like Roomba have owned this market up to this point, there’s a good chance that the Miele Scout RX2 Robot Vacuum will give them a run for their money. That’s because this unit is super easy to program and control using Miele’s smartphone or tablet app. There, you can set up a map for the Scout RX2 to follow so that it can easily differentiate between the rooms in your home.

Of course, the Miele Scout RX2 Robot Vacuum can also figure out its own environment with ease on its own. That’s because it utilizes 3D Smart Navigation technology that allows its built-in camera to actively identify obstacles. The Miele Scout RX2 Robot Vacuum is even smart enough to find its way back home after a full sweep of your home using its homing apparatus.

In terms of cleaning capability, this compact unit is no slacker. In fact, this model utilizes Miele’s new Quattro Cleaning Power system that includes side brushes, a rotary brush, a sealing lip, and a brushless motor. Taken together, these components can clean dirt out of carpets and off of hard floors with ease.

What We Like:

  • Easy to program and control via an app
  • Utilizes innovative navigation system
  • Includes side brushes and a rotary brush for full coverage
  • Transfers smoothly between soft and hard floors

What We Didn’t Like:

  • App interface could be more user-friendly
  • Does not always see ledges before rolling over them

3. Miele Swing H1 Tactical – Best Stick Vacuum

Miele Swing H1 Tactical

Many folks who purchase a stick vacuum anticipate sacrificing some power and capacity. But as Miele has recently shown with their Swing H1 Tactical model, you can get both and still maintain a slim form factor that is ideal for apartment-dwellers. To that end, this model utilizes a multi-level filter system that prevents particles from infiltrating the motor. Still, though, it can hold a full 2.5 liters of material at once – a major improvement from stick vacuums of the past.

Miele also hasn’t cut corners with this model when it comes to its vacuum head. In fact, the Swing H1 Tactical is equipped with an AllTeQ Combination floorhead that can efficiently draw in dirt from most hard and soft surfaces. That includes low-pile carpeting, over which this vacuum can travel without slowing down at all. Should you need to disengage this unit’s built-in bristles, you can also do that easily by hitting the conveniently placed rocker switch on the head.

In many ways, the Miele Swing H1 Tactical is setting a new standard for stick vacuum performance. This should definitely be your pick if you want to maximize your vacuum’s storage potential without sacrificing almost any of its core capabilities.

What We Like:

  • Slim form factor
  • Ideal for homes with limited storage
  • Sizable dust cup, despite compact overall size
  • Specialized floorhead comparable to that of a larger vacuum
  • Bristles can be disengaged

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Suction is a little too strong for use on carpets
  • A little top heavy and hard to stand up

4. Miele Dynamic U1 Cat and Dog – Best Vacuum for Pet Hair

Miele Dynamic U1 Cat and Dog

If you own a few furry friends, then you know the struggle of trying to keep your floors and furniture free of their hair. To handle that kind of problem, you need a purpose-built vacuum like the Miele Dynamic U1 Cat and Dog. This model comes with a mini turbo brush, which makes it super easy to pick up every last strand of pet hair on just a single pass.

The Miele Dynamic U1 Cat and Dog comes with other attachments as well, thus making it easy to pick up pet hair and more from every surface in your home. In fact, you’ll be able to utilize a dusting brush, an upholstery tool, and a crevice nozzle with this unit that makes vacuuming soft surfaces and hard-to-reach spots a breeze. This model even makes use of this brand’s user-friendly, double-jointed SwivelNeck to ensure that you can always manipulate the entire unit around your home with ease.

Also, the Miele Dynamic U1 Cat and Dog allows you to forgo the annoyance of needing to constantly adjust your brush roller’s height. This model simply uses a spring-loaded system that automatically adjusts to the height of the current surface. This, in turn, allows you to efficiently sweep up every grain of debris without losing any suction.

What We Like:

  • Mini turbo brush optimized for picking up animal hair
  • Comes with multiple accessories for cleaning tight spaces
  • Neck structure allows for easy maneuverability
  • Automatically adjusts head height

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Handle isn’t super sturdy
  • Requires pricey replacement bags

5. Miele Blizzard CX1 Turbo – Best Suction Controls

Miele Blizzard CX1 Turbo

The Miele Blizzard CX1 Turbo’s name alone gives you that hint that this unit is a force of nature when it comes to in-home vacuuming. That immense standard of power starts with this vacuum’s core, which itself features a 1,200-watt motor. This powerful motor runs efficiently enough to enable the main suction components to create an internal vortex at speeds up to 62 MPH. Combined with this model’s 4 different suction power settings, you can bet that your floors will look brand new after a pass from this vacuum.

You’ll also be able to breathe easily both during and after using the Miele Blizzard CX1 Turbo – literally. That’s because this model includes a HEPA filter which is rated to last as long as the vacuum unit itself. In addition, this unit also utilizes a secondary CleanStream fine dust filter to prevent any fine particulates from escaping back into your room. Then, once you’re finished vacuuming, you can empty this unit in a very hygienic manner using this model’s Click2Open system. It prevents a cloud of dust from rising up as you empty this unit’s dust cup.

The Miele Blizzard CX1 Turbo also comes with a remarkable 7-wear warranty for both its motor and casing. That’s certainly longer than average and can help justify this unit’s heightened price tag somewhat.

What We Like:

  • Powerful motor with 4 different suction settings
  • Includes built-in HEPA filter
  • Filter system prevents dust from escaping
  • Allows for hygienic dust cup emptying

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Sometimes “whistles” when on highest settings
  • Difficult to clean the canister

6. Miele Classic C1 Pure – Best Budget Vacuum

Miele Classic C1 Pure

Shopping for a Miele vacuum on a budget can feel challenging at first. That may be because you overlooked the Miele Classic C1 Pure on your first pass. Priced at around $300, this model is as affordable as it is light and nimble. To that end, this model’s compact form factor makes it easy to maneuver around your furniture. That tight form factor isn’t even inhabited by its inclusion of 3 special accessories, all of which remain constantly in reach through their hose-mounted clip on.

While its mobility is noteworthy, you may not really need to move the Miele Classic C1 Pure all that much. That’s because this model features an impressive 29.5-foot cleaning radius when fully utilizing its stainless steel wand. With that kind of range, you’re sure to fill up the Miele Classic C1 Pure’s multi-liter filter bag in no time at all. You need not worry about dust blowing back out of that bag, though, even when it is close to capacity. That’s because those filter bags also include an AirClean exhaust filter that effectively grabs onto fine dust particles.

Also, much to my surprise, the Miele Classic C1 Pure comes standard with 6 different suction settings. Each are easy to engage, too. Simply turn the Rotary Dial on the main unit and you’ll be ready to tackle a new job.

What We Like:

  • Affordably priced
  • Easy-to-access attachments
  • Broad cleaning radius
  • 6 different suction settings that are easy to change

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Hose is a bit flimsy
  • Doesn’t come with a spinning brush

7. Miele Complete C3 Marin – Best High-End Vacuum

Miele Complete C3 Marin

When it comes to high-end vacuums, Miele again makes the grade by offering the Complete C3 Marin to consumers. In fact, this model is a true master when it comes to covering a wide area in mere minutes. This is partly because this model utilizes an Electro Premium Powerbrush, which is itself 13 3/8 inches wide. That width alone is enough to make a quick, clean pass through hallways and furniture. Together with its telescoping wand, this model’s main brush head allows it to achieve a remarkable 36-foot cleaning radius on average.

Besides this, you’ll find the Miele Complete C3 Marin equipped with many of the key components that allow other canister-style vacuums from this brand to succeed. This includes a great filtration system that actively cleans incoming and outgoing air. This same filtration system even prevents dust particles from infiltrating the motor with 4 separate pre-motor filters. This helps expand this unit’s lifespan all the way out to 20 years or more. 7 of those years will be covered under warranty as well, which is worthwhile in its own right.

What We Like:

  • Super-wide brush head
  • Telescoping wand allows for very large cleaning range
  • Utilizes 4 pre-motor filters
  • Rated to last several decades

What We Didn’t Like:

  • The wand is less sturdy than usual
  • Hit and miss when it comes to honoring the warranty

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ

Do Miele vacuums remove allergens?

Yes! In fact, allergen removal is considered one of this brand’s most reliable features, regardless of which model you choose. This is because most models include one form or another of built-in air filtration that operates much like a standalone filtration unit. For example, some if Miele’s newer models include an in-line HEPA filter that is rated to remove up to 99% of all airborne contaminants.

Meanwhile, numerous other units utilize Miele’s own AirClean filter system. This sealed, canister-based system is designed to remove airborne particulates as they pass into the main collection chamber. As a result, only clean, breathable air is left in the wake of these particular units. This can be especially important when it comes to vacuuming up pet hair, which can often lead to breathing discomfort when it is tossed into the air.

Do Miele vacuums pick up pet hair?

Yes, Miele vacuums are a great option when it comes to picking up pet hair. This is certainly true of this brand’s general use of vacuum models, which are often able to pick up pet hair on both soft and hard floors. However, if you live with numerous cats and dogs, then you may consider investing in one of Miele’s purpose-made vacuums.

Take the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog, for example. At its core, this model features AirClean technology that is able to filter air as it passes through the unit. This allows this vacuum to actively remove odors brought on by the presence of pet dander. This model’s STB 101 mini turbo brush will ensure that you don’t miss a single pet hair strand, either. That includes ground-in pet hair, which is common in high traffic areas with cut-pile carpeting.

Are there any reasons to not like Miele?

In many ways, Miele is a top option when it comes to high-performance consumer vacuum cleaners. That being said, the brand and its products are not entirely without their own faults. For example, numerous users of Miele vacuums note that they can be expensive to use over the long-term. This is because their compatible filter collection bags are only sold by this brand, making them more expensive to restock on a regular basis.

Miele’s general warranties aren’t anything too special either. While it’s true that the motor in most units is covered for up to 7 years, most other components in those units are only covered for 2 years. In some cases, several damage-prone components are only covered for a mere 1 year, as well. As such, those buying a Miele vacuum must simply trust that their unit will remain reliable over its expected lifespan.

Also, while Miele’s catalog of consumer vacuums is broad, it is not always deep to the same extent. For example, while there are numerous Miele canister-style vacuums at this time, the brand currently offers only a single iteration on its stick-style vacuum. The same goes for their robot vacuum, which was only recently upgraded for the first time. With this in mind, you may not be able to comparison shop among Miele’s products all that much.

The Bottom Line:

All in all, the case for Miele vacuums should be pretty clear by now. As you’ve seen, this brand excels when it comes to innovation, especially when it comes to making their vacuums more user-friendly and reliable. Better yet, many Miele vacuums are able to hand multiple floor types, while some others are specifically suited to special uses (such as with pet hair).

Regardless of which model you choose, you’ll find Miele to be a wise investment in your home’s long-term maintenance. So, don’t wait to replace your current vacuum! Improve your vacuuming experience today by ordering a Miele vacuum cleaner from your favorite online retailer.

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