Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner, REVIEW

By William | October 5, 2017

Review of the NEW Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner!

Description

New for 2017, the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog is Miele’s flagship canister pet care vacuum. Designed to handle all floor types, the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog combines legendary German engineering with elegance and functionality.

Miele – the Company

Founded 1899 in Gütersloh, Germany, Miele Incorporated has become the most recognized and esteemed manufacture of high-end vacuum cleaners.  United States executive and distribution facilities are located in California.

Miele vacuums are known to last for 20 plus years while providing exceptional cleaning performance.

As a result of their Advanced Design, High Level Filtration, and Premium cleaning performance Miele vacuums consistently earn the Good Housekeeping Seal.

Features

• Low Noise 1200 Watt Vortex Motor generates powerful suction
• 6 Speed Settings with + or – Footswitch Controls enable you to custom adjust the suction power for every type of floor surface
• SEB 228 Electro Plus Power Head w/ 5 Position Height Adjustment Settings for Medium to High Pile Carpet and Smooth Floors
• 3D Bumper protects walls, trim, and furniture
• SBB300-3 Parquet Twister Articulating Hard Floor Brush
• One-Touch Auto Cord Rewind
• Swivel No-Mar Wheels allow it to roll easily on all floor surfaces. It almost seems to float across the floor!
• AirClean Filtration System removes over 99.90% of lung-damaging particulates.
• Additional Accessories: Upholstery Tool, Crevice Tool, and Dusting Brush w/ Horse Hair Bristles
• 7 Year Miele Warranty on Motors and Chassis plus 1 Year on all components (When Purchased at Amazon.com, SEE PDF.)

Watch this Cool VIDEO!

 

REVIEW

Of all the vacuum cleaners I have reviewed, Miele Canister Vacuums have been the most consistent when it comes to quality and functionality.

Weighing only 11.9 lbs., the new Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner is designed to be a total Pet Care vacuum. Sporting a price tag of $1,499 MSRP, Miele has once again targeted the high-end market with this latest model. The number one question most people ask when considering investing in an appliance in this price range is – “is it worth it?”

Miele vacuums are intended to appeal to the same category of buyer who embraces the wisdom of paying a premium price up front to avoid the hassle of having to shop for an average priced vacuum every 3 to 5 years.

There are seemingly endless customer reviews to be found on the internet claiming their previous Miele vacuum lasted multiple decades and touting their almost miraculous cleaning performance. It is true that Miele vacuums are tested for 20 years average usage. But only time will tell whether or not the new Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum will live up to that expectation.

Ease of Operation

When evaluating the construction of this new vacuum I see the same design concepts that have proven successful in other Miele vacuums. The strong yet light weight chassis supports an upgraded 1200 Watt Vortex Motor that is notably quieter that its processor. This improvement along with lots of insulation makes Miele Complete C3 canister vacuums notably quiet to operate.

Swivel Casters with amply large rubber wheels keep it from sinking in to long-pile carpet and won’t scratch hardwood floors. It almost seems to float as you pull it along the floor. The hose attachment is designed to swivel 360 degrees so you do not constantly have to fight the vacuum as you clean from one side to the other. This canister vacuum tracks very well!

A Stainless Steel Telescoping Wand with an Ergo Handle easily extends to reach above-floor areas. Press the button and you can adjust the length that is most comfortable for your height. The attachments easily snap into place and are easy to remove.

I am really impressed with the way Miele has designed the storage compartment. Each accessory has its own designated place so there always handy when you need them.

The Automatic Cord Rewind saves time and eliminates having to bend over to wind up the long cord that provides 36 feet of cleaning range without having to change receptacles.

Cleaning Performance

The measure by which all vacuum cleaners are rated is “Cleaning Performance.”  No matter how pretty or easy to operate, the number one function of a vacuum cleaner is removing dirt from our floors!

Carpet 

With the popularity of Soft and Ultra Plush style carpet on the increase in the US and European markets Miele is equipping their Complete C3 Cat & Dog, as well as their C3 Kona, C3 Marin, C3 Brilliant canister model vacuums, with (3) very significant features to be able to clean this unique type of carpet, as well as all other carpet types. (SEE Comparison Chart Below)

1. Motorized Vacuum Nozzle with Multiple (Height settings.
2. Variable Speed Motor with Multiple Speed (Suction) settings.
3. Large Wheels on the vacuum nozzle body to prevent it from sinking down into high pile and Ultra Plush Carpet.

The Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum comes equipped with their SEB 228 Electro Plus Electrobrush. It has 5 Height Level Settings that enables you to adjust it for optimum cleaning performance on Medium to High Pile as well as Ultra Plush carpeting. The Brush Roll extends almost the full width of the floor nozzle housing allowing it to clean up close to walls.

A Variable Speed motor with 6 Speed Settings that you control with a Foot Switch enables you to custom-adjust it for the optimum suction power level for the surface you are cleaning. This is also an important feature for vacuuming area rugs and drapes.

With very little experimenting you will easily find the best combination of settings for the various floor surfaces in your home. (Be sure and read the Operator’s Manual before using.) Once you do, you can expect outstanding cleaning performance on any type of carpet.

Also See Choosing the Best Vacuum for Soft Plush Carpet

 

 

Smooth and Hardwood Floors 

When properly equipped, canister vacuums are usually the best choice for hard and smooth floor surfaces. I find the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog to be a very good performer on both hardwood and smooth floors!

As I mentioned in the section above, the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog comes with the SEB 228 Electro Plus Electrobrush. It has 5 Height Level Settings that lets you set the brush roll high enough so you don’t scatter large debris such as pet food all over the house and still be able to suck it up into the vacuum head. Using the Electrobrush on hard smooth floors does a decent job of cleaning.

You will experience the best results by using the SBB300-3 Parquet Twister Hard Floor Brush attachment. This special floor brush swivels easily with a slight twist of the wrist to make it easy to navigate around furniture, corners, and difficult to reach places. It has natural horse hair Bristles that work very well to loosen clingy dust and dirt from the smooth floor.

Notice the alternating long and short bristles! The openings created by the shorter bristles serve two functions:  1) They permit airflow.  2) They allow large debris to pass by the barrier created by the bristles so it can be sucked up while the long bristles serve to mop the hard floor surface.

With powerful suction and the Parquet Twister Hard Floor Brush the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog is one of the best performing canister vacuums currently available for smooth and hardwood floors.

Also SEE: Best Vacuums for Hardwood Floors

Filtration

Having spent years in the floor care business and as a pet owner I believe that choosing a vacuum cleaner with a high performance filtration system should be a top priority.

Miele Canister Vacuums utilize a 12 Stage Air-Tight Filtration System that traps 99.99% of allergy-causing particulates as tiny as 0.3 Microns.

The majority of pet dander, dust mites, dust mite feces, mold, and pollen are captured in the proprietary 4.76 quart SelfSeal Dust Bag. Any remaining particles are trapped in the Activated Charcoal Filter so the exhaust air is actually cleaner than the air in the room you are cleaning.

The Charcoal does a good job of helping to minimize pet odor from being blown back into the air. As with any pet hair vacuum you should occasionally wipe the Dust Bag Compartment with a sponge and sanitizer such as PineSol.

I have found that vacuums that utilize bags with a “quick-seal” Flap such as the Miele 10123210 AirClean 3D Efficiency Dust Bag is the most efficient and hygienic method of disposing of dirt.

That blue plastic Flap that is attached to the bag where it fits over the vacuum exhaust port allows you to immediately click it shut when you remove it.  This eliminates all but the tiniest wisp of dust from escaping back into the air.

Summary and Final Thoughts

After reviewing the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner I am impressed but not surprised!

If I had to sum up this review with just one word it would be:  Amazing!

As our lives and homes have become more complex cleaning our floors isn’t as simple as it used to be. Miele has incorporated all the necessary features into their Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum to be able to handle multiple floor types (including Soft Plush Carpet) to make cleaning easier.  And not just easier, this vacuum is actually a delight to operate.

The Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Delivers!

As far as I am concerned it fulfills its designated function as a pet care vacuum flawlessly!
Also READ: Best Vacuum for Pet Hair

Its very powerful suction and state-of-the art engineering enable deep cleaning performance on the full range of carpet types as well as hardwood and smooth floor surfaces.

Exceptional Performance on Ultra Plush Carpet

Because of the ability adjust the amount of suction this canister vacuum offers exceptional performance on the newer Ultra Plush Soft Carpet products.

The build quality is exceptional and ease-of-use is far above average.

Miele vacuums offer one of the best Filtration systems available making this vacuum a smart option for allergy sufferers or anyone with respiratory issues!

Recommended for:

The Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum Cleaner is best suited for a medium to large home with pets. Its light weight and carry handle make it very portable and well suited to multi-level homes.

The only two negative issues I have with this vacuum is the price and there are relatively few authorized service centers available in the U.S. in case something goes wrong. On the up side, your Miele vacuum probably won’t require servicing often or at all if you follow the recommended maintenance schedule.

With the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog you will find yourself looking forward to cleaning with this vacuum instead of dreading it and procrastinating. And, after you’re done with cleaning you may find yourself patting yourself on the back for making such a wise decision!

Value

Is it really worth the price?

So, do I believe the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog is worth it?? In the short run, probably not! In the long run, if it saves having to go through the frustrating process of shopping for another vacuum every 3 to 5 years, I would say it’s absolutely worth it, especially if you value your time! Then of course there is the intangible aspect of knowing you own something special or elite that you can’t put a price on! I highly recommend this vacuum!

 

Miele Complete C3 COMPARISONS

Which Miele C3 Canister Vacuum is Right for Me?

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Also SEE: “Best Vacuum for Pet Hair, a Complete Guide”