As far as vacuum cleaners go (and my limited 'man knowledge') this is the best one I have ever used for day to day cleaning on all surface types. We have carpet, laminate and tile flooring in our house and this copes well with all. We also have an 18 month old baby and a dog, each making sure the cleaner gets used on a daily basis.

It may be the powerful motor or the fast spinning brush thats housed in the cleaner head that seems to clear a path through any debris, including removing white dog hair from deep within a dark long pile rug.

The main unit is red with silver buttons, and has a black nozzle, wheels and vacuum head. Housed neatly inside the main unit are a number of attachments for getting in to corners, soft bristles for delicate areas, a smaller head for tight spots etc. The 10 metre cable is retractable, this means that the unit can be neatly stored and no tangled wires.

Although this vacuum has a pretty powerful motor, it doesn't seem to kick out as much noise as you would expect, and this is beneficial when it seems the only time to get the hoovering done is when the little one is having her nap! The only time there can be excessive noise is when something gets caught in between the brush and the plastic housing on the cleaner head. It is necessary to clear the brush head of any hair, string, cotton etc that with inevitably build up on it. This can be quite tricky, so best to do it often to avoid too much build up.

The vacuum cleaner is compact, and light meaning it is easy to carry up and down stairs but I do find it difficult to balance on the stairs as it can't sit on its wheels and its rounded edges make it hard to stand on its end without using a hand to balance it.

This vacuum isn't bagless, so you will need to get hold of some spare bags, although it seems to compact the debris very well meaning less frequent changes. A little tip here, the branded Miele bags can cost up to £10 each! We found 5 for £4 on Amazon and they hold just as much and work with the vacuum just as well.

Another point I would make is the lack of smell. Often with vacuums there can be a stale smell when they're used. This doesn't seem to have that, even when it is used to clear up food and dog hair etc.

As a man of 6'1" I can't use this vacuum for prolonged periods, and before all the women start the tutting and the 'typical man' I have a valid reason. The stainless steel hoover nozzle/pole is quite short, approx 2'6" and after a while of stooping it can cause discomfort to the lower back. My partner is 5'4" and she has no issues at all. I haven't been able to find any extensions for this particular model from Miele.

I think this vacuum is accurately priced in comparison to others on the market. We do have a VAX upright but never use it unless we are shampooing the carpet. This is a great, well made, everyday use vaccum cleaner and I would recommend it.