I have the Miele complete or brilliant or something like that. It’s like brown matte with electric brush and electric control handle. It was like $1,500 in 2020 but had a 10-year warranty and was absolutely worth it.
The bags and filters don’t get used up super frequently so it’s not a huge ongoing financial commitment.
With the Miele C3, the most frustrating thing is the top of the metal electric wand - it has a plastic rim that somehow breaks. It’s extremely common. I bought a $1500 C3 Brilliant that this happened to within a year or so, which really pissed me off. So, I bought a Sebo D4 based on reviews and techs praising the bullet-proof from head to toe with quality. I absolutely hated it. I sold I within 3 months, and tried the E3. Again, same story. I decided that the Miele C3’s benefits outweighed those of the D4 and E3, so I kept my Brilliant. The lesson I learned is that there isn’t a perfect vacuum. You can spend $4,000 on a Rainbow or Hyla and have the same issues, very easily. Why? It’s just the nature of mass-produced products. There will always be a set of drawbacks / cons you have to accept as part of the package deal. The better question is, which set of drawbacks are you more comfortable with? For me, I valued cleaning performance, comfort, ease-of-use, filtration, wanted the best-the-best that had each of those things at industry-leading levels, the number 1, and so that wasMiele C3. I can say I have owned it for 5 years now, going on 6, and used it every single day for an hour for the first 3 years. No mechanical issues that have affected performance or overall function. The top of the wand is a cosmetic issue, and will not prevent the handle from staying locked into the wand. The SEB 236 has a recline lever inside of it that tends to quit working so well after some time, but again, that isn’t a big deal to me, and is the C3 is still worth owning many times over despite that. Those are really the only two flaws I can find. I have found flaws and drawbacks with every single machine I’ve owned, and I’ve owned/ repaired many of them from all price points. Overall, they really are incredibly well engineered, but Miele places priority on the motor unit, critical functions, and tolerances, and that’s where you find the Miele-level precision. They are simply tools at the end of the day, useful machines. There is one or maybe two things I’d change, but overall, I can’t find one with more power, a better power nozzle, better filtration, and is easier to use, and all of that in one package.
Sebo has incredible customer service in my experience. Lenny, the corporate technician, had me ship him my Sebo X4 directly to him. He covered shipping, parts, and labor - even knowing I bought it on eBay. Granted the eBay seller was a retiring Sebo dealer who had one X4 left, in stock. Most companies would automatically disqualify it because it wasn’t purchased directly from the dealer itself. I told Lenny this, and he said as long as I could verify it was coming from the original dealer who purchased it from Sebo, that he would honor the warranty. He fixed it. $0 out of pocket except for the time, energy, gas, masking tape, etc I used packing it and taking it to the UPS store. Lenny had sent me a shipping label. I also appreciated that when I called, I spoke to someone I could hear (good reception), understand (linguistically), and made the experience very personal - not the typical over seas call center experience common in today’s world. It was impressive. I still prefer my Miele C3 as far as canister vacs are concerned, but Miele’s customer service line is hit and miss.
I've owned/ own both and prefer the Miele **C3** for a few reasons. It has more airflow, more suction, superior filtration (H13+) available, an aggressive beater bar (Sebo's is too gentle imo), and I find it significantly easier to use. It's also a very serviceable vac, very simple to take apart for tune-ups, repair, deep-cleaning, etc.
I found the Miele C3 to be a lot easier to disassemble than my E3 and D4. I can do it in 2 minutes flat with a drill.
I love the C3 models. They’re hard to beat. I wish more vacs were like them. It wish there was an upright version. Hopefully Miele will make one, at some point.
S8s are super, super easy to repair. What broke?
The C3 is still available in some stores, even from Miele directly. I tried many other vacs and couldn’t find one that had the power and comfort and the S8/C3. The Guard L1 models are slightly less powerful, but still very good vacs.
Alternatively, the Sebo E3 is probably the closest thing. It doesn’t have as much power, and it isn’t available with HEPA-13 (or HEPA at all), nor is it as comfortable to use but they are very durable and well-engineered. People that don’t like them tend to not like them because of the hose, which is also a common complaint with the D4. Overall, the C3 is significantly more comfortable to use, more power, superior filtration, more aggressive carpet performance, more suitable for residential applications. If it is the motor in your S8 that died, the motors can be replaced in 2 - 5 mins. Very easy, not expensive. $130!USD is what I see that listed at.
It’s also important to differentiate between types of HEPA. Miele’s HEPA is H13+ and almost H14. It’s very rare to find H13 in vacuum’s, as most are H11 if they even have HEPA. Rainbows also utilize H13, but aren’t the easiest bags to use if used frequently. I would definitely get a Miele Complete C3, Complete C3, Guard M1 or L1 AllFloors, one with the Parquet Twister floor-head. It significantly better than the AllTeq and FiberTeq heads, and you can get an extra-wide version of it. For rug(s), the TurboTeQ head is sufficient for low pile area rugs.
Miele Complete C3 canister, or a Sebo canister. Both are extremely well engineered. Sebo wands are more durable, but the Miele overlap has the most power, best filtration, and are known for lasting for 10 - 20 years (depending on use rate). It’s also a lot easier to use overall, lots of little things that add up. Sebo’s are commercial grade, more utilitarian, simpler, designed to be used for extended periods every day and still hold up for many, many years; but they come with some traded off drawbacks. I think the Miele canisters are the best choice for residential level cleaning (maybe twice per week for 20-30 mins each time), while the Sebo models are better for commercial level use - using it every day for 45 mins - 1+ hr). Canisters tend to be better for use floors, but both Sebo and Miele sell canisters that are exceptionally effective on carpet - rivaling premium uprights. Get the upgraded hardfloor tool with either brand you go with Sebo Premium Parquet or the Miele Parquet Twister floor head. The Miele version is a lot easier to whip around, but both are premium.
The lightest-weight upright vacs don’t do the best job, but canisters can be exceptionally effective and are the traditional choice for those that want an easy-to-push vac, have back problems, etc. They’re very handy. I used to hate using them but now they’re my preferred vac. They get under furniture, much easier to use attachments with, clean car out with, and they’re a lot better on hard floors. Miele and Sebo are the best canisters. Out of those, I recommend Miele for residential applications - specific models, though. C3 mainly, Guard L1 Electro. Either with the Parquet Twister floor head. The C3 is the best Miele, and has recently been discontinued so get one while you can. Sebo canisters are more utilitarian, simpler, slightly lower performance, but the wands are a little more durable. Still, I choose the Miele for its higher power, comfort features, and excellent filtration.
From a hose perspective, and the time required to use, upright vacs are annoying. They at first seem like they're the easiest, most powerful, fastest machines to use, but let me tell you, I have learned the truth. If you are like me and hate fighting the hose, hate having the upright fall on you, etc, you need to consider a canister, but not just any canister. THE most flexible, easiest-to-use vacuum from a hose-use perspective is any Miele canister with the Comfort-Grip handle. Why? I'll give you 4 reasons off the top of my head.
REASON 1:
Unlike most canisters, the Miele hose handle pivots left and right, AND rotates 360 degrees. Therefore, it does not tangle, and it does not pull on you or the vacuum nearly us much as other hoses do.
REASON 2:
The hose becomes very pliable over time. My Sebo hose (especially bad), Kirby, Rainbow, Hyla hoses have all been frustrating to use because they are (a) stiff, and (b) don't pivot (so they awkwardly pull on me and/or the machine and/or the floor tool).
REASON 3:
Additionally, with Miele's Parquet Twister hard floor tool, you can vacuum in much tighter, 90-degree angles than other vacs allow; and therefore you don't have to reposition yourself or the vacuum, or move furniture like you would with other machines.
REASON 4:
Ultimate cleaning performance and comfort is my end-game with vacs, and I haven't found a vacuum that beats my Miele C3 in that regard.
IS IT PERFECT?
Yes, and no. Does it have drawbacks? Sure, all vacuums do. It isn't ideal for commercial-level use, but that's okay. It was fine-tuned and engineered for residential household environments, oriented towards the most discerning, demanding customers. There are a couple of features I wish it had to make it even more of a pleasure to use, but my complaints are minor and have not affected my stance. It's the closest thing to a perfect vacuum that I can find, and Miele continues to refine them.
A bagged sealed system Miele HEPA is H13+ is the best filtering vacuum available. Ordinary vacuums use H10 or H11 HEPA, and are not fully sealed. Many “sealed system” vacuums are not actually sealed or don’t maintain their seals for long. It is exactly why I bought my C3. The Guard models are even more efficient than the C3, more like H13+.
After years of trying the best canister & cordless vacuums, I can assure you, no cordless vacuum can ever be as as great a cleaning machine as a great canister vacuum. But you do sacrifice portability & overall ease of use. They both have use cases. So now, we've the Miele Complete C3 Brilliant & the Dyson V15 Detect.
All 3 are excellent. You really can’t do wrong between the 3. Personally I’d place more weight on the price, warranty etc between the two brands.
It’s splitting hairs (see what I did there?) but I’d rank them 236, et-1, 228 in the order of cleaning performance alone. Like I said, they’re all great I don’t think there is a “right” or wrong answer here.
The removable brush is a huge plus for Sebo. But IMO the Miele cleans better. However the Miele’s are not user serviceable. Also know that while I think the 236 cleans the best (by a narrow margin) it does have this awkward belt placement where it leaves a path of uncleaned carpet about 3/4 off to the side. I use that as a guide on how much to overlap but some people find it annoying.
I have one for quick messes and love it. It’s the perfect pair to my C3 (thanks to performance reviews for the tip)
I believe both those models have the powered attachment point. It’s when it’s called the S194 is when you need to do your due diligence.
Worst case, as for a picture of the attachment point. It’s easy to see if it’s electrified or not.
Don’t overpay for a rainbow. You can get a Sebo d4 or Miele C3 for less than half. For allergies you want something corded **and bagged**.
Find a local Miele/Sebo dealer and give those a try. Which exact model depends on your flooring.
I’d avoid any bagless stick vacuum. A canister style is very light in the hand because the motor glides along behind you on the floor.
Sebo K3, E3 or Miele C3 would be the best choices. Your local dealer probably has them on sale. If you don’t have a dealer there are deals to be had online and many users here own stores and will ship
It’s not a waste at all. It’s arguably the best vacuum on the market.
I use my Miele C3 canister 2-3 times a week. It’s less convenient than a stick, sure. But you can always grab a cheap stick for daily quick messes and use the D1 for weekly deep cleans.
Check out r/vacuumcleaners
As mentioned Miele and Sebo are top brands. You can safely ignore any shark or Dyson recs. They’re garbage. As is anything bagless.
Vacuum wars is a paid shark shill and not to be trusted. Hell Chris even appeared in a shark commercial.
BIFL vacuums absolutely exist. They’re corded and bagged made by brands like Miele and Sebo.
Alternative_Party277
