Verdict

Pros

• Energy efficient
• Very quiet
• Lightweight
• Good for stairs

Cons

• Low power = low suction
• Not good for pet hairs
• Pricey for the features/power
• Cordless competition

What is the Miele S8390 Silence Plus?

The S8390 sets out to be a low impact cleaner, using very little energy and being the quietest cylinder vacuum cleaner currently available from Miele. The maximum power is only 700W, less than half of most cylinder cleaners, so is particularly energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Features include a Time Strip filter change indicator that, over a period of approximately a year, will indicate when the filters need changing. It also comes with a HEPA AirClean filter, so is ideal for allergy sufferers. As befits a low-power and ultra-quiet machine, the 8390 is very lightweight and easy to carry despite still offering a capacious 4.5l bag capacity.

Miele S8390 Silence Plus: Accessories

Along with the standard hard floor/carpet head, accessories comprise a crevice nozzle, an upholstery nozzle and a dusting brush. These are all neatly fitted into the top body of the machine so are instantly available. Miele offers a comprehensive range of optional tools should you wish to expand the abilities of the Silence Plus.

This image is of a slightly differnet model to the Silence Plus but shows the same accessories.

Miele S8390 Silence Plus: How well does it clean carpets and hard floors?

Like Miele’s flagship cylinder vacuum cleaner you get six levels of power, although it is rather more than required for such a low power cleaner. At the maximum power of 700Watts, there is no danger of any of the brush heads sticking to the carpet, making it very easy to control and manoeuvre the brush head itself. This makes the handle-mounted suction release feature rather redundant too, on all but light hanging curtains or perhaps carpet tassels.

We did not have high hopes for the S8390 in the three pass test across a carpet scattered with freshening powder, but we were pleasantly surprised with the results. The standard brush head cleaned to around 99% in three passes and cleaned effectively right up to the skirting board. Comparing it to other more powerful machines you do not get the same sense of ‘deep cleaning’, but the S8390 does make an effective tool for quick clean-ups and smaller homes.

SEE ALSO: More Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Before

After

Miele S8390 Silence Plus: How easy is it to use on stairs?

Being less than 6kg in weight the S8390 is a delight to carry upstairs. Its well-designed shape allows it to balance on a step confidently and Miele’s standard handle mounting position makes getting it placed exceptionally easy. With its lighter weight there is a minor danger that movements of the hose may cause it to tip over, so it is worth taking extra caution on stairs. The upholstery nozzle was best suited to the task of stair cleaning, although we did miss the efficiency of Miele’s mini-turbo head for stairs as supplied with the its more powerful models.

Miele S8390 Silence Plus” How does it cope with pet hair?

Considering the low power and lack of turbo brush the little S8390 wasn’t too bad at picking up hairs from our furry friends. It cleaned our 30cm square of pet hair rubbed into the carpet in 39secs, comparing closely to some cleaners we have tested that boast over 20:0 watts.

The design of the brush head has a lot to do with this and it neatly resists getting hairs caught around the brushes when they are retracted. For a smaller home with maybe a single cat the S8390 is certainly worth considering, but it struggled with the summer hair output of two large dogs.

Should I buy the Miele S8390 Silence Plus?

The S8390 Silence Plus is a cleaner that will appeal to buyers with a specific need for a lightweight, compact and efficient cleaner that is exceptionally quiet in use. It will cope with the majority of vacuuming tasks in smaller flats where late-night vacuuming may disturb neighbours.

But it’s lack of sheer power does show up in cleaning results and it is relatively expensive for what it offers, particularly as new cordless models are arriving on the market offering similar power and cordless convenience.

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