Miele Complete C2 Review

Miele has a wide range of vacuum cleaners: from bagless and bagless vacuum cleaners to lightweight cordless stick vacuum cleaners. When looking at the bagged vacuum cleaners, there are three different series: the Complete C1, Complete C2 and the Complete C3.

I have decided to buy the Miele Complete C2 so that I can test it extensively. For example, I am curious to what extent it differs from the Complete C3 and the cheaper Complete C1. In this review I describe my experiences with the Miele Complete C2.

Unboxing Miele Complete C2

The Miele Complete C2 series is available with various accessories. For example, there is a Hard Floor (Parquet) variant, where you get an extra parquet brush to protect vulnerable floors. Or a Comfort Line, where you can operate the vacuum cleaner with the handle.

For my review I chose the entry-level model: the Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor. See what I discover in the packaging in the photo below.

The contents of the packaging of the Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor (Parquet). © Vacuumtester.com

1. Miele Complete C2: the canister vacuum cleaner in a light blue color
2. Vacuum cleaner bag: an original Miele vacuum cleaner bag with seal (S-Bag)
3. Vacuum cleaner rod: a telescopically adjustable vacuum cleaner rod made of aluminum
4. Parquet brush: a floor brush for wooden floors
5. Combi brush: a floor brush for hard and soft floor types
6. Crevice vacuum cleaner: for vacuuming hard-to-reach places
7. Dusting brush: brush with soft bristles for delicate surfaces
8. Furniture brush: for removing animal hair
9. Vacuum cleaner hose: plastic vacuum cleaner hose
10. Handle: provided with air slot
11. Manual: for use and maintenance of the vacuum cleaner

Suction performance Miele Complete C2

Let's start with the most important part of my review: how well does the Miele Complete C2 vacuum? I tested the vacuum cleaner on three different floor types with the same amount of dirt. By keeping track of how long it takes the vacuum cleaner to clean a floor bin, I can compare vacuum cleaners.

The Miele Complete C2 during the floor test. © Vacuumtester.com

Although I also get a special parquet brush with the Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor, I carried out the floor test with the multi-surface brush. After all, this is the floor brush that comes with it as standard. On wooden floors I experience little to no problems with removing the dirt. The dirt is pushed forward slightly, but if the floor brush moves up a little bit, the dirt is sucked up properly. In total I need 16 seconds to clean the floor tray.

I do experience some problems on low-pile carpet: I notice that the vacuum cleaner has a constant tendency to suck itself onto the floor. When I open the air slot on the handle all the way and lower the suction power to carpet mode, I can move the cleaner back and forth a little better. This means that the dirt is absorbed a little less quickly. The floor tray is clean in 16 seconds.

When I test the vacuum cleaner on deep-pile carpet, I experience fewer problems. The dirt is sucked up in a few movements. I'm done in 15 seconds.

• Hardwoorden floor: 16 seconds
• Low pile carpet: 16 seconds
• High pile carpet: 15 seconds

Suction power (kPa) and AirFlow (m/s)

To be able to compare vacuum cleaners with each other on suction power – for example to be able to label the best powerful vacuum cleaner – I also test the suction power and the AirFlow. I measure the suction power in kilopascals.

Suction force measurement with a vacuum tester. © Vacuumtester.com

The suction power of the Miele Complete C2 is 15 kPa. For comparison: in the Miele Complete C3 review I measured a suction power of 16 kPa. The Miele Complete C2 therefore has a slightly lower suction power.

The Miele Complete C2 has an air speed of 22.4 m/s in its most powerful mode. This is an excellent result compared to other canister vacuum cleaners with a bag.

AirFlow Measurement © Vacuumtester.com

Ease of use Miele Complete C2

The ease of use of a vacuum cleaner is an extremely broad concept. How easily does this vacuum cleaner follow you? And how large is the surface that you can vacuum without having to change the plug? To assess the ease of use of a vacuum cleaner, I test the following factors:

• Noise level
• Weight
• Cord length
• Versatility/flexibility
• Ergonomics

Sound level: noisemaker

To qualify for the best quiet vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner must not produce more than 60 decibels of noise. My noise measurement shows that the Miele Complete C2 is not a silent vacuum cleaner: with a noise level of no less than 79.1 decibels, it is a noisemaker.

A noise level of 79.1 decibels is noisy © Vacuumtester.com

Weight: heavy

Although this is a vacuum cleaner on wheels, it is still interesting to examine the weight. You may want to use the vacuum cleaner for different floors. A lightweight vacuum cleaner can also be desirable for storage.

Miele promises a weight level of 6,973 kilograms. When I weigh the vacuum cleaner on my scale with vacuum cleaner rod and combi floor brush, I end up at 7.3 kilograms (7,259 kg).

The Miele Complete C2 on the scales. © Vacuumtester.com

This makes it not a lightweight vacuum. You could reduce the weight a bit by removing the three accessories that you can store at the top of the vacuum cleaner.

Cord length: vacuum cleaner for small spaces

When you buy a corded vacuum cleaner, it is extremely important to pay attention to the cord length. If the cord is very short, you will constantly have to change the plug in another socket. The larger the room you want to vacuum, the longer the cord.

The Miele Complete C2 has a cord length of only 6.5 metres. This is very short. I measure the vacuum cleaner's radius of action – that is the total length from the plug to the floor brush – at 10 metres. This makes the vacuum cleaner less suitable for larger spaces. If you plan to vacuum large spaces, take a look at my research into the best vacuum cleaner with a long cord. Spoiler alert: you will discover vacuum cleaners with a range of 15 meters.

The Miele Complete C2 has a cord length of only 6.5 metres. This is very short.

Versatility and flexibility

As I mentioned during the unboxing, you can purchase the Miele Complete C2 with various accessories. Regardless of the package you choose, you will receive the following accessories as standard:

• Combi brush
• Crevice cleaner
• Dusting brush
• Furniture brush

This makes the vacuum cleaner versatile to use. For example, you can easily switch between soft and hard floor types with the multi-surface brush. The crevice tool makes it possible to vacuum in hard-to-reach places and the dusting brush prevents scratches on wooden furniture. The furniture brush can be used well for removing pet hair.

You can store the accessories in the vacuum cleaner. © Vacuumtester.com

A nice extra is that you can store the accessories in the top of the vacuum cleaner. That way you always have them at hand.

Ergonomics: vacuum cleaner for young and old

The vacuum cleaner is equipped with a beautiful aluminum vacuum cleaner rod that is telescopically adjustable. This makes the vacuum cleaner also very suitable for tall people. And, as we already saw with the Miele Complete C3, I also discover large buttons on the top of the vacuum cleaner. You can operate this with your foot, so you don't have to bend over.

You can easily operate the extra large buttons with your foot. © Vacuumtester.com

If you want to vacuum completely comfortably, you can consider the Comfort series. It comes with a handle with buttons that allow you to control the suction power.

Miele Complete C2 maintenance

How often should I empty the vacuum cleaner? And what about the filters: are they washable or do I have to constantly buy new ones? Vacuum cleaner maintenance is very important. Let's see how easy it is to maintain the Miele Complete C2.

Empty Miele Complete C2

Under the hood of the C2 I discover a vacuum cleaner bag with a capacity of 4.5 liters. This is an excellent dust capacity for a vacuum cleaner with a vacuum cleaner bag. So-called S-Bags go into the vacuum cleaner: these are ‘sealed' vacuum cleaner bags that close automatically when you open the lid of the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner bag is closed when you open the vacuum cleaner. © Vacuumtester.com

This means that the chance that you will come into contact with dust is very small. Handy for people who suffer from a dust allergy.

Filters: clean and replace

The Miele Complete C2 is equipped with two different filters: an exhaust filter and a motor filter. The exhaust filter is a so-called AirCleanPlus 50 filter from Miele.

The filters are unfortunately not washable, but thanks to a handy indicator on the AirClean filter you can keep an eye on when you need to replace them. The user manual states the following about the average lifespan: “Replace these exhaust filters when the timestrip replacement indicator is completely red. After approximately 50 operating hours (corresponding to an average life of one year), the light is on“.

Thanks to the replacement indicator, you can keep an eye on when you need to replace the filter. © Vacuumtester.com

Conclusion Miele Complete C2 review

The Miele Complete C2 is a powerful vacuum cleaner that performs well on all floor types. Thanks to the multi-surface brush, it is suitable for soft and hard floors. The parquet brush supplied with the Hard Floor (Parquet) variant is interesting for vulnerable floor types.

The vacuum cleaner is a noise maker: with over 79 decibels, it makes a lot of noise. It is also not light, which can be annoying if you often have to lift the vacuum. The latter may be the case in larger living rooms, because with a cord length of only 6.5 meters, it is a less interesting choice for larger spaces.