Miele Guard M1 Cylinder Vacuum review: is it a worthy replacement for the much-loved C3?

Price on writing: £349 | Buy now from Argos

Our verdict

• Performance: 15/15

• Quality and durability: 14/15

• Ease of use: 14/15

• Value for money: 13/15

• Suction power: 10/10

• Cleaning reach: 9/10

• Versatility: 9/10

• Ease of emptying: 8/10

• Total score: 92/100

This is the third Miele vacuum cleaner I’ve tested (I’ve previously tried out an older and more recent version of the C3 Cat & Dog), so I had really high expectations of the M1 Guard - and I’m happy to say Miele didn’t disappoint. An updated version of the C3 (now sadly discontinued), the M1 is very similar thanks to its intuitive features, versatility and suction power. It’s the same size and capacity (4.5L) and a very similar weight (around 7.3kg) too, so I found it very easy to switch from using the C3 to the M1 - in many ways, it felt like using the exact same vacuum. Having said that, there are some subtle differences.

The M1 has fewer power modes than the C3 (four vs the C3’s six), and the dustbag and attachment system has been upgraded to ensure a better fit and less chance of dust escaping - something I’ve experienced with the C3. However, it’s worth pointing out that I use cheap, compatible replacement bags rather than the pricey Miele ones.

What really stood out with the M1, though, is the immense suction power - a feature that always impressed me about the C3. Both cylinder vacuums have an impressive 890W motor and, thanks to the streamlined airflow design of the floor head and Turbobrush head, the M1 can easily handle most debris my family of five (plus two cats) throws its way. It even leaves those satisfying clean carpet lines, which is always a nice touch.

Bottom line: It totally sucks, but in a good way.

How I tested the Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog Vacuum Cleaner

I tested the Miele Guard M1 over a period of around three months, using it on average once a week in my four-bedroom family home. During testing, I used it on a variety of flooring, including carpet, hardwood, laminate and tiles. I tended to use it as the weekly big-clean vacuum powerhouse to cover all bases - and for this, it worked admirably.

We are lucky enough to be a multi-vacuum household (we have a robot vacuum which does the rounds once a day downstairs and a cordless vacuum, which I use a few times a week to tackle smaller areas and spills), but if this were our only vacuum, it would be more than capable of the job. My only minor gripe is that it’s quite heavy and cumbersome to lug up and down the stairs (though not nearly so much as the whopping Henry PET200 I tested last year). So when I’m feeling lazy, I’ll tend to stick to just the one floor with it - usually the top, as it’s carpeted and I’ve yet to find a vacuum that rivals the Miele’s Turbobrush when it comes to cleaning carpets.

Read next: Best carpet cleaners

What’s in the box?

In the Miele Guard M1 box, you'll find:

• Vacuum cleaner

• The hose and tube

• Universal floor head

• Turbobrush head

• Crevice nozzle

• Upholstery nozzle

• Dusting brush

• Flexible crevice nozzle

• Filter

• Dustbag

How easy is the Miele Guard M1 Vacuum to use day-to-day?

First use and set-up

I found it extremely easy to put together and use straightaway, but I am familiar with this brand and type of vacuum, so I didn’t need the instructions. However, the manual is very easy to follow and there’s also support online via the Miele website if you need it.

Day-to-day use

The controls are really simple - you plug in the cord and press the on button, and you can cycle through the power modes easily via the arrow button. Even better, you can do all this with your foot to save bending over. There’s also a retractable cord button which whips the cord back into the machine at the touch of your foot to save you having to wind it back in like a muggle.

Attachments

Most of the attachments are stored within the vacuum itself, which is a sleek and convenient feature. As a result, I find I use them far more often than the long flexible nozzle, which isn’t attached. You do need to keep track of the different floor heads if you’re switching between them though, as these are too large to clip onto or slot into the vacuum.

How noisy is the Miele Guard M1 Cylinder Vacuum?

There’s no getting away from the fact that with great (suction) power comes great noise. 77dB to be precise, which isn’t going to make your ears bleed, but it's noticeable to everyone in the same part of the house. The volume is somewhere between an electric breast pump and a lawnmower if you want a comparison.

I wouldn’t use it in the same room as anyone trying to work or watch TV, but it’s no more intrusive than the robot vac, and the less powerful settings are actually a lot quieter. You can hold a conversation easily on the curtain mode, for example.

Read next: Best upright vacuum cleaners

How easy is the Miele Guard M1 to manoeuvre?

At just over 7kg, the M1 is fairly hefty, but for a cylinder vacuum it manoeuvres pretty smoothly when used across one floor. Its ergonomic design also makes it a lot less cumbersome than the Henrys I’ve used.

Like any cylinder vac, it can get stuck - usually on a door frame - and you really don’t want to accidentally tug it over the top step when vacuuming the stairs. But the wheels glide nicely (especially on hard floors) and the hose offers good reach.

I do find that I need to do the stairs in two halves if I’m vacuuming from top to bottom (mostly because I speak from experience regarding the tug-over-the-top-step issue). If I'm going from bottom to top, though, I can balance it on a stair as I go. I tend to use the Turbobrush for the wider areas of the stairs, and for the corners I’ll remove it and just use the hose itself. 

The attachments are useful for upholstery cleaning - the long nozzle is great for reaching between sofa cushions - and the dusting tool is gentle enough on counter-tops and coffee tables. 

How is the Miele Guard M1 Cylinder Vacuum's cleaning reach?

The power cord is 7.5m. I find that I can clean the entire upper floor (four bedrooms, one bathroom and one en-suite) from one central power socket easily.

Downstairs, I can clean the main part of the house from a central power socket, but we have a garage conversion/extension which it can’t reach, so I have to re-plug it for this area of the house. The hose reach is around two metres, which is enough for most hard-to-reach areas in my house.

Read next: Best floor mops

How well does the Miele Guard M1 perform on carpets and rugs?

I find the Miele Turbobrush second to none when it comes to cleaning carpets and rugs. It lifts all dirt, debris and hair it encounters without any problem. I do have to remove hair from the roller before or after each use, however.

How effective is the Miele Guard M1 on hard floors?

I use the universal floor head on my hardwood floors, laminate and tiles. There is a foot-operated switch on this head that lowers the bristles so wooden floors don’t get scratched by its plastic coating - this is brilliant, and so far I’ve never had a scratch on our floors. I can then lower the floor head back down (lifting the bristles away) to vacuum the tiles in our kitchen, conservatory and the laminate in our dining/play room.

I also performed Mumsnet's cereal spill test on our laminate floor, and the Miele easily sucked up all but two flakes in just one manoeuvre. 

How well does the Miele Guard M1 Vacuum perform on pet hair?

I use the Turbobrush to tackle areas where our two cats have shed fur. I’d say it’s effective on everything except the most stubborn, embedded patches - though it still made a decent attempt on the cats’ favourite blanket. Other than the Turbobrush, there aren’t any specific pet tools, but honestly, I haven’t felt there needs to be. I’ll often just use the hose without attachments for any concentrated areas of cleaning.

It’s also worth noting that the Miele M1 has an improved air filtration system, which helps prevent odours from escaping - a useful feature for pet owners or anyone with allergies.

Read next: Best vacuum for pet hair

How easy is it to empty the Miele Guard M1?

It’s incredibly easy to remove and replace the bag - you just press the release for the lid of the vacuum and the bag partially pops out ready. Miele have upgraded this feature for the M1 so the seal around the bag is tighter and there’s less chance of dust escaping. I’ve had one incident with my old Miele C3 where I’ve opened the lid and found dust on the outside of the bag, so I’m glad this has been improved.

The capacity is 4.5L, which is the same as the C3. I find that using it once a week - with the use of my other vacuums as a back up - I need to replace the bag once every four to six weeks.

How easy is the Miele Guard M1 Vacuum Cleaner to maintain?

It should be easy to replace the filter - I haven’t had to do yet, but I have on the C3, and this one appears to be the same. It sits in the same chamber as the dustbag, behind a plastic guard. I do find that I have to unclog hair from the Turbobrush before each use, which I do with a pair of scissors. There’s a groove along the roller designed for scissors to slot into, but it’s still a bit of a faff to do every time, and I do wish there were an easier way.

Does the Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog Vacuum Cleaner represent good value for money?

Overall, yes. It’s currently priced at £349, so it is a premium vacuum compared to the likes of the classic Henry hoover - but, having owned Miele vacuums before, I know it’s built to last. Factoring this in, I think it is very good value for money. If I would change anything, it would be to make declogging the Turbobrush easier (or come up with a design that doesn’t get clogged with hair after every use).

Miele’s motto is ‘Immer besser’ or ‘always better’ - and, regarding vacuums, I’d say that’s pretty spot on.

About the author

Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising parenting-related content. As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsnetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in reviews, features, and buyers' guides.

Jenny is also a best-selling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.