The Alternative to What, Exactly Miele? (Miele S 143)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Miele S 143
Date:	12/04/07 (823 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Novel stick vac which can convert to hand held status, long mains cord (8 metre) good suction,

Disadvantages: Not well thought out, bags hard to find, cost price new is too expensive.

** Quick Skip Product Review Spec **

• 2 Power Settings:
• 1200 Watt maximum power motor.
• 8.5 metre cord.
• Dust bag indicator, mechanical.
• Super Air Clean filter
• 4.6kg weight.
• Quick release cord hooks.
• One piece height adjustable telescopic tube and handle.
• 2 Way main floor head attachment.
• 1 bag supplied, 2.5 litre high filtration bag.
• Price: £79-99 House of Frasers
• 360° swivel joint on floor head.
• Thermal overheating cut out.


** This is a long review **

An old lady that I call in to see from time to time asked me if I would buy this cleaner for her back at the end of 2004 since she could no longer use her partner’s larger than life Kirby. She had seen a demonstration of this Miele Alternative at a department store and was impressed with the model in question although Miele have renamed this model in later years as the “Compact”.

As a part time carer and long life friend I knew who would end up using it even though she likes to maintain her independence and dignity when it comes to cleaning her own house. I looked forward to using this new product since it seems that Miele had thought ahead of its time in releasing what is more or less a cylinder without a hose, but a handle, thus the tag "hand stick/stick vacuum" has often been applied to this model.

The customer didn't want a bagless model but something which she could put a bag into and utterly forget about it and something which is ultimately smaller than the Kirby that didn't need much effort to take out and use.


** A bit About Miele **

I won't bore you with the details of Miele's history. Only just to say that the company basically started up when two brothers were making cream separator machines and thus out of this started to make twin tub washing machines and then vacuum cleaners as well as other types of appliances later on including vacuum cleaners. The company are known best for their washing machines but it has only been in the last couple of years that Miele also make great long lasting cylinder vacuums which have great features and user friendly details.


** The Alternative Stick Cleaner **


At first I thought that this model looked quite nice and not just the look but also the features. It's only available in one colour - a positive mind refreshing mint green - on the main body whilst the main handle and metal tube that connects is of a silver brushed chrome preference with a very large angled PVC black handle. Here on Dooyoo the model shown is blue but in terms of spec, the mint green model features the same spec. In Europe this is a very popular stick vacuum.


**Constructing this Vacuum Cleaner**


By the time we got this model home, it was out of the box and start to put together time! This model is extremely easy to put together. It already shows you in the manual how to put the main tube together with the detachable handle and how to put both to the top of the machine. A flip up PVC tongue for example clicks the main handle and tube to the motor unit and once this has been locked, it cannot be unlocked unless the lock has been activated. The same principle applies to the main floor head which is the same flooring tool used on many of the Miele cylinders and infact many other rival cylinder vacuum cleaners on the market. The difference is however that unlike their larger cylinder cleaners, the smaller cleaning tools such as the crevice tool and a flat upholstery tool do not fit or hide on the machine itself but a cheap plastic clip which clips permanently onto the main tube on the Miele.

To vacuum hard flooring, the brushes must be activated on the main floor tool and on normal carpeting, the brushes must be retracted. Simple really but it is essentially a cylinder cleaner with no hose but a handle.

There are two settings of power available on this cleaner. Although it has 1200 watts of maximum power, I found that at times, the cleaner couldn't always pick up dirt the first time around on the lower band of power. These settings are included in the on function button, and for example when you slide the switch down to its farthest setting (thankfully the on switch is located at the top of the cleaner just below the lock catch to the main tubing) the motor increases pitch and suction is a lot stronger.


** Early Detection of Arising Problems in Use **


Quite why Miele haven't stuck to their principles of constantly moving forward and replacing this machine is beyond me. To begin with, the cleaner cannot stand on its own and this can be annoying when you have taken off the 8.5 metre cord via the quick release clip and started to clean. You have to be able to know what you are doing when you are using this machine, otherwise it is prone to fall if you don't stand it up properly against something tall and level whilst the machine is on. This could be for example, when you need to get under the kitchen table and move chairs out of the way. With a normal cylinder you can drop the hose or park it if the cleaner has the feature on the machine - with this model, you can't because you don't have a hose to take advantage of or be able to leave the machine on, unattended and sitting upwards.


** The Purpose of this machine & Early worries of Quality **


Most of the time, this stick vacuum is being used to clean the kitchen flooring as well as smaller rooms of the house that the larger Kirby has problems getting around. The floor head neck can be moved left or right, like many standard floor heads so it's just as well that it has this feature, as I found myself knocking the machine body on the sides of chairs to get into areas of carpeting such as skirting boards behind the television and sofa areas. Already some scuff marks have appeared on the body but it hasn't affected its performance.

Given the price and the claim that Miele make this cleaner with the same ABS plastic that is used in crash helmets is somewhat optimistic. Surely for the price of £80 this cleaner should be built to a better standard or at the very least a bumper around the midriff of the motor should be put around it so that the cleaner can withstand markings. This machine isn't for me but it is something that I have noticed early on in its first initial use. I am also unhappy that the additional tools can only be clipped onto the handle and tube of the machine - Miele could well do with putting the tools into an integral storage cubby as they have done with all of their cylinder cleaners as often we have lost the crevice tool in use simply to find it somewhere else in one of the rooms in the house.

Cleaning hard flooring is very easy but it's all thanks to the main floor head and its retractable brushes. I have noticed that on the underside of the floor head that it is made of metal when it hits carpeting - so you do need to be careful when using it on hard flooring as the metal can cause markings if the brushes haven't been put down.


** Using the Product in Other Ways **


This cleaner can be used as a hand held, but please be warned that because of the substantial motor and bin area it does feel cumbersome to use. Simply take off the metal one piece tube and detachable handle and you can fit it to the end where the floor head used to be. This now allows the cleaner to become a hand held unit with a long tube where the additional tools can be used if desired. You don't need to use the long one piece tubing either though. You can use the additional tools on the end of the dirt channel at the bottom of the machine, thus shortening the profile and height of the machine in use.

At times I feel as if I am using an overgrown and enlarged dust buster. Although the handle on the machine is permanently fixed, I get the impression that in hand held mode, the machine could be used in larger areas of need rather than where a standard dust buster, a quarter of its size could be used in small areas. This machine feels unwieldy because of the nature of its hand held design and function. Using it to clean in the car has proved to be problematic unless you attack car seats from the door entrances onwards. Although the weight is under 5kg it does feel bulky and heavy on the hand despite the large hand grip set at the top of the machine.

Noise wise the motor isn’t too noisy until the full 1200 watts have been fully activated. Select a lower speed and the Miele is much more at home in terms of superb sound insulation.


** The User Manual **


The manual is a clear booklet indicating all the features of the machine plus how to change the bags and fit the tools and tubing to the machine. It also points out how to deal with the machine if the thermal power cut out is activated. What a pity though that in Miele’s defence the user manual has been printed for more than just the S142 Alternative and as a result some models have more features than others and aren’t well marked out.

For example higher priced models have an electric socket for an electric turbo brush which from Miele costs around £45 to buy. It seems like it gets a little more expensive if you want to upgrade your Alternative model with a motor fitted turbo brush although an air driven tool and a myriad of other tools are offered.

One kit which my friend is interested in however is a Miele hose which will cost around £25 which then changes the whole design into a cylinder cleaner – but the only problem is there are no wheels on the body of the Alternative which in projected use inevitably will cause scratches to the underside should the machine be pulled along the floor.


** Bags, Changing the Bag and Filtration Levels **


This cleaner is not cyclonic but it uses high filtration paper bags. There is only one type of dirt bag that this cleaner can use and it is very similar in texture to Miele's own "Intensive Clean" bags. Simply open the bin hatch by pushing the button on the main body of the machine and the bin area pops up. Like many rival cylinder cleaners, the bag slips into a hinge and the bin lid can be pushed back down whereby a click can be heard if the bag has been put in properly. When the bag is full, and you know this by looking at the mechanical bag indicator showing red located on the outer bin, you simply open the bin, take out the bag and as the bag passes through its hinge, automatically seals. This ensures that there is no dirt leakage.

Now in comparison to Hoover, who copied Miele's basic design of leak free bags in their Telios, Arrianne and Sensory ranges, these bags have a higher seal action. They really do seal up the hole in the bag and the bag can be folded up and taken to the bin and disposed of safely. Maximum capacity that the bag can hold is 2.5 litres of dirt and whilst this may well be small, the bags themselves are great quality and have a thick and strong hinge bonded on them to ensure longevity.


** The Filters **


The filter that comes as standard with this machine is a filter made by Miele and it is called "Super Air Clean filter." Briefly, this type of filter retains 99.95% of particles and will last as long as 5 bags. Miele only release 5 bags per box and per box one spare filter comes with the set. What’s the Price for these bags? Wait for it - for five bags for this model will cost between £8-00 and £12-00. Comet say that they sell them but in the two stores I visited in Glasgow for example, none were available.

Miele also make an Active Clean Filter which is in effect the same filter plus a charcoal cassette which allows odours from pets to absorb rather than filter back into the room each time the machine is used. I'm annoyed though that Miele can't offer the best filtration pack for this machine, their Active HEPA filter.

Changing the filter is very easy (thank god) and this is located on the back of the machine where a slide out grate can be found that sits flush at the rear. Push this out and it reveals the filter. Simple! The other filter sits behind the paper/fabric bag and must be changed once every 5 or 10 bags have been used.

The Super air clean filter holds back obvious odours but they struggle with pet hair smells and heavy dust odour. In most respects the filter is similar to micro filters seen on other vacuum cleaners.


** Weight Of The Cleaner **


At 4.6kg this isn't the lightest cleaner to move around (don't forget that there is no hose, but a metal tube) and because it solely rests on the wheels supplied by the floor head, pushing the cleaner around can become a chore eventually. The handle although not of the back saver idea Electrolux put on their uprights, is angled towards the cleaner and pushes itself up, thus allowing you to comfortably rest your hand on the handle and grip. When going around the house, I've noticed that the lower I put the machine, the more comfortable it is use and this is purely because of the design of the handle. This model can also be hung up thanks to a recess that has been incorporated in the main handle.


** Any other Problems? **


I have yet to find a stockist who sells the Type K bags regularly that this machine can only take. I did find one outlet of Currys which did have this box of bags on their catalogue lists - but none in stock. From time to time eBay sell the bags in boxes of 10 so they are well worth looking out for.

When used normally as an upright the nature of its short neck and squarish body means that it can get stuck when shoved under furniture. Miele suggest to change over the handle and one piece tube for extra length under furniture, but even with the standard brush on the bottom of the machine, it proves to be a very bulky experience, something which a stick vac design isn't supposed to do.


** Conclusion **


This is one Miele model that I would stay clear of. I don't find it particularly lightweight to use, despite its light weight claim from Miele. True to point, there are no other stick vacuum cleaners on the market which have a bulky main motor unit and about the only visible rival is the smaller and lighter 1.5 litre capacity Hoover Junior and in its defence at least has the option of cheaper parts and a reusable washable dirt bag.

The lady to whom this appliance was bought for has also said that she can only change the tube around or fit the additional cleaning tools if she lifts the cleaner up and puts it on a table or work surface.

To add injury to insult, Miele don't offer the two other and better specified models that are available in the United States of America. These models come with an electric brush floor head and better filtration such as HEPA options.

Considering that Miele use another advertising claim that "Anything else is a compromise," I'd say that Miele have literally shot themselves in the foot with this cylinder-with-a-handle-but-no-hose concept. Frankly I'd have been better of to make a compromise. Thank you for reading! ©Nar2 2007. Original review appeared on Ciao.


www.miele.co.uk
www.miele.com

Summary: The only Miele vacuum cleaner not worth considering.

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