Thank you for this! I was leaning toward the C1 Cat and Dog as it seems to have everything I would need. I am going to a local retailer, so we will see if the higher models are what I pick. :) You are right that I do value the best, and I can blow through my budget if needed, the only reason I wasn't looking at the higher models is they get heavier with the attachments on board, so I liked the simplicity of the C1 Cat and Dog.
We have a 4000 square foot home, but would be using this on the main and upper level. I have been looking on FB marketplace for like a month but nothing near me. I am going to the local vacuum store today to try a few.
Second this answer! Amazon has them on sale all the time. We got this vacuum after our Dyson animal died, and it is so much better. I use the handle with the wide upholstery nozzle for dog hair on our couch, works like a charm. We have two, long haired Australian shepherds that shed year round and love sleeping on the couch.
The bags take getting used to if you’re coming from a bag-less model like Dyson. But they filter dust so much better and are overall way “cleaner” to use. We go through about 1 bag a month, and I would say we are probably on the abnormal end. My in laws have the same vacuum, no dogs, and their bag lasts 2-3 months.
Note - You absolutely need a Miele model with the powered head (electrobrush) for carpet and rugs. It’s confusing because Miele advertises the TurboTeQ head for hair on carpet, but it is not powered, and works by airflow, not belt. If you have dogs that shed long hair, the TurboTeQ doesn’t really work and is harder to clean.
Miele
Grew up in a family that only used them, when I moved out I tried all the trendy ones, shark, Dyson, nothing beats Miele.
Ended up getting the C1 for cats and dogs 2 years ago and it still works like its brand new
Miele C1 cat and dog. It’s amazing.
Edit: to add, it’s amazing because it’s not bagless, has fantastic air filters, and a variety of attachment brushes. These things are meant to be workhorses. It’s the best money I’ve ever spent on a vacuum.
Truly. It clogs way less and doesn’t lose suction power over time. The initial sticker shock was bad, but if you can afford it, it’s so worth it. We also stock up on bags and filters for the entire year during Black Friday sales and such.
I will say, I’d like to get a cordless Miele just for quick daily clean ups just because I’m lazy, but it’s a nice to have and not a necessity.
Currently, a C1 Cat & Dog canister because it comes with the seb228 power nozzle and a parquet floor tool. I use the parquet floor tool for hard surfaces, but if you turn off the brushroll for the power nozzle that's fine for hardwoods, too and the switch is right there on the handle. It's also great for delicate rugs, I run the brushroll until I get to the edges, then switch it off so it doesn't try and "eat" them which can lead to unraveling.
Edit to add: if you have a local vacuum shop that carries Miele, you'll likely get a better price than anywhere online (including Miele's own website) because they reserve the best price points for those local outlets since they need us to do warranty repair.
Unfortunately, a canister with a powerhead, parquet floor tool and full suite of hand attachments is really your best bet for the needs you listed. Sure, you can get an upright with a hose attachment/tools, but they always tip over (not great for the machine) and for hard floors, even with the brushroll off, they leave a lot behind/can't get into tight spaces. Once you get used to (a good) canister, there's really nothing as versatile. Even my favorite uprights can only do what they're designed for, so I would need an additional canister like a Mighty Mite to cover all my bases if air quality weren't a concern. But air quality is a big concern for me and my cleaning clients, so I use a Miele with an SEB228 powerhead/tools almost exclusively.
Former vacuum repair tech, current professional cleaner chiming in: a Miele canister with an SEB228 powerhead and a parquet tool for hard surfaces is what I use 99% of the time, and all I truly recommend for most homes. Usually when folks have issues with Miele, it's not the model best suited to their needs/they're not using the proper tool/suction/height adjustment for the job. Folks will buy a model with the air-driven head because it's cheaper, try to use it on wall-to-wall carpets, but that's not what the head was made for (stiff, low pile rugs mainly). Conversely, they'll spring for an SEB228 model, but use that on hard floors adjusted to carpet height with the brushroll spinning, so it'll just kick dust around.
Also, most of my clients have mixed flooring i.e. carpets in bedrooms, hard floors with area rugs everywhere else... I have a set of cheap aftermarket plastic wands I keep the parquet tool on (because it's light) and leave the heavy electric wand attached to the powerhead since that only gets used on carpets. I can vacuum walls and baseboards with ease, and when I switch heads, it's at waist height instead of bending down. Most folks don't strictly *need* that, but since I'm vacuuming up to 20hrs a week, it's a massive time/back saver.
Before I went into cleaning, I was a vacuum repair tech for a brick and mortar vacuum/sewing store... one of the last certified warranty repair shops in the region, so whether or not we sold it, I fixed it.
Miele is really the only brand I can recommend wholeheartedly for homes. The next top 3 (and it isn't even close) all have massive drawbacks and cost about the same anymore. The lowest tier Miele is a better machine than the highest tier from anyone else. Both from a repair and use standpoint. The only limit they have is super shag carpets, and if that's what you've got: cleanliness clearly isn't a priority.
I'm an outlier here, but as a former vacuum repair tech, Miele all the way, Sebo after that. Not a fan of Shark at all, terrible to repair and horrendous to deal with for warranty issues.
Top Vacuum Cleaners on Reddit
1
SEBO
AIRBELT E3 Premium
88% positive of 202 users
Ultra-durable, 10-year warranty, but expensive with short cord.
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