Miele C3 Cat & Dog: How easy is it to use on stairs?

We put the Compact C2 Powerline on the scales and it registered just 4.7kg with an empty bag and no hose attached. Add the hose, tubes and the Turbohead and that figure will go up by 1.8kg, but it’s still no heavyweight and plenty easy enough to carry upstairs. The 6.5m length cable is not exactly generous and despite the long hose our awkwardly placed power points meant we needed to swap plug sockets half way through the stairs.

The Turbohead was particularly effective on our carpeted stairs, its size increasing the area we could cover in a single strike but stopping it getting into tight corners on stair bends. For this we used the range of smaller tools on the handle, which are even easier to access than on-board tools when you are half way up stairs!

The AirTeQ head was also good on stairs, thanks to its flexible neck and more compact dimensions letting it get into corners, although a firm hand is required to move it on full power when balanced on stairs. We would have also liked a small Turbobrush head for stairs and the short cable was a little problematic in our case, but otherwise an excellent stair cleaning result.

Read More: Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Miele C3 Cat & Dog: How does it cope with pet hair?

With two medium sized dogs in a house comprehensively surrounded by muddy fields, the Compact C2’s pet credentials were certainly put to the test. For the hard floors in the kitchen, where the dogs come into the house, the AirTeQ head is brilliant. It scoops up pet hairs with ease, glides over the laminate floor with the minimum of effort and the stiff nylon bristles help to shift dried on mud. The 1200W motor and design of the AirTeQ head are more than ample for most pet duties over hard floors and the handy tools make quick cleans in the dog’s beds and surrounding area easy.

The Turbobrush head takes over for carpeted floors where the rotating brush bar really pulls pet hairs from even tightly woven nylon carpets. It cleaned our patch of mixed Collie and Labrador hair in 12 seconds and we noted that the brush bar itself is easily removed from the floorhead for cleaning if it gets properly tangled up with hairs.

Like the previous Miele C3 Cat & Dog model we tested, the machine emits a faintly perfumed odour untainted by the smell of a Labrador that dives into water more times than Tom Daley. The filter is very effective at combating that familiar wet dog smell and a small strip indicates when it needs changing – so keep an eye on it when you change the bags.

Also Consider: Vax Air Cordless Lift U85-ACLG-B

Should I buy the Miele C3 Cat & Dog?

There are clearly pet owners in Miele’s R&D department because the Compact C2 excels at its job of keeping homes with pets clean and fresh. If you want a cylinder vac that doesn’t take up too much space, and you have pets, then it’s an excellent choice – our only serious complaint is the somewhat short power cable.

If you prefer a larger cleaner with a longer cable, meanwhile, the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Powerline is worth looking at – it’s mostly the same, just bigger and heavier. For even more alternatives, including some impressive cordless vacuum cleaners, head to our round-up of the best vacuum cleaners.

Verdict

An excellent, compact cylinder cleaner that tackles pet hair with ease – just be sure you don’t mind the shorter cable.

Trusted Score