Which Miele Vacuum is the Best for Pets?

If you have read my previous posts finding the best vacuum for pets than you know I already think Miele makes the best vacuum hands down. We’ve had our Miele Callisto for coming up on 3 years now and it still runs just like the day we bought it. Being that we live in a house with 2 dogs (including a Bernese Mountain Dog) and 3 cats that is saying a lot.

If like me you have done your research and are starting to lean towards purchasing a Miele but which one? How do I compare Miele vacuums? The Miele line of canister vacuums is a little overwhelming and to the untrained eye, they may all look the same. Well hopefully this Miele vacuum comparison article will help clear up some of that confusion and lead you to the Miele that is right for you and your household.

First here are some of the features that are common to Miele canister vacuums:

All Miele canister vacuums have the proprietary vortex motor that comes with a 7 year warranty. A 7 year warranty on a vacuum motor is pretty impressive; Dyson only provides a 5 year warranty.

Miele vacuums are very quiet. I was shocked we when turned ours on for the first time. You can easily hold a conversation without yelling while vacuuming; try that with any other vacuum.

Most Miele vacuums have an available sealed HEPA filter. The HEPA filter is extremely easy to change and depending on which vacuum you choose comes with an activated charcoal pre-filter as well. This is an option I especially enjoy because it drastically cuts down on the “pet smell” you get when vacuuming.

Now common features aside, there are two main product lines of Miele canister vacuums: The S4 and S5 series.

S4 Series

S5 Series

In my opinion, the only options that the S5 series of Miele canister vacuums has that the S4 series does not that are of any importance are the direct connect feature and the double casing.

The direct connect feature is required if you want to run any of the electrically-driven attachments. For example if you want to use the Miele SEB217-3 or SEB236 floor tool with an electrically-driven powerbrush you need one of the Mieles that allows for direct connect.

The double casing might not seem important to you but I assure you once you operate one of the Mieles that is double cased you will never want to go back to another vacuum again. Running my Miele S5 Callisto I can still watch television, hear the phone ring or talk to my wife without yelling. When we first purchased ours I honestly didn’t think it was going to clean very well because it was so quiet and typically we associate power with loud noise. Miele breaks the mold and is the quietest and most powerful vacuum I have ever used.

Within the each series there are really no significant differences and it basically comes down to bells and whistles. The one thing to watch out for is the S5 Pisces does not come with the direct connect wand but is upgradable to the direct connect wand which allows for the use of powered turbobrushes. Other than that from one S4 to another or from one S5 to another it just comes down to what accessories are included, how fancy are the controls and what type of indicators does it have.

Overall, you cannot go wrong with a Miele regardless of the model. If the canister vacuum is not your style and you prefer the upright style I have also heard very good things about the Miele S7 upright vacuums. They have the same great vortex motor but are in an upright configuration versus a canister style. Also, if going “green” is your style you may want to check out the Miele Earth Vacuum. It is in the S5 series but features auto adjust power setting which automatically adjusts the power based upon demand for suction at the time. This advanced power saving feature is pretty cool if you can afford the $969 price tag.

Start here at my in depth Miele Callisto Review