Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsFantastic!!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2011
I bought this vacuum a few months ago. First time I used it I was in love! I held off posting a review due to the post traumatic stress I suffered from the Dyson Stow Away I had been using not to mention years of other crappy vacuums. Anyhoo... I finally decided it was time and I'm hoping this review doesn't jinx my great experience so far.
My whole family oooohed and ahhhhhed at how quiet it runs even on the highest suction. I can talk on the phone and vacuum at the same time. Never thought that was possible!!! This thing sucks debris in the rugs and carpet I didn't know existed. The majority of my house is hard flooring due to all of our allergies, but the one room upstairs is Berber carpet. The vacuum works great on both. I live in rural Alaska on a dirt and gravel road. My kids and dogs track in gravel, dirt (usually in the form of mud), grass in the summer, god knows what types of pollen, pet hair, and more gravel. The vacuum has no problem sucking gravel, dirt and debris out of my WaterHog Doormats. Nothing has ever been able to get these cleaned short of hosing them off outside. Not possible to do in the winter.
As for my allergies to dust, pet hair, and pollen, I no longer sneeze, cough, and have a runny nose or sinus pain when the vacuum is running. In fact, I feel better when the vacuuming has been done, since there is then less debris and allergens around the house. They aren't just kicked up and moved around the house, they are gone and in the vacuum. What a novel idea!!!
I have never ever recommended any vacuum. I thought they were all a pain, didn't work well, or would break quickly. I've been vacuuming for 35 years of my life and I've averaged a new vacuum every other year at the least. I can see this vacuum was built to last. The quality is amazing. It is user friendly and moves well. The wheels/casters actually move sideways, forward, backward and can move diagonally and with ease. The handle is comfortable and the parts that are made from plastic seem to be made from a higher quality than I have found on Walmart and Sears vacuums. I think it would take an act of god to break it. The stick is easily adjustable so I can use it comfortably or my husband. (I'm 5'3" and he is 6'3". It can also be removed so you can attach the handle directly to the power head brush for doing stairs. Very convenient!
I also purchased the extra long crevice tool, the car kit, and the 10 foot hose. I would recommend those as well. The 10' hose is not an electric hose like the one that comes with this vacuum, however it works with the bare floor brush and other attachments just fine. It will not work with the power brush that comes with this vacuum.
I hope to have this vacuum a good long time. It was spendy, however, if I totaled up how much I have spent on vacuums over the years, this will be less expensive if it just lasts me 5-6 years. Think of it as an investment if you are considering this model or another Miele.
November 5, 2011 (update)
It's been a few months now and everything I wrote above still applies. It's working great! I have no regrets so far with choosing to purchase this vacuum. I have noticed that even when the bag is mostly full, it DOES NOT seem to lose any suction. I have used many other bagged canister vacuums and when they start to get full, the suction seems to not be as strong. I still recommend the purchase of this vacuum and I still give it 5 stars.
