Venson
Joined: Jul 22, 2007
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Summer 2008 was fun and being I had a moment’s worth of mad money to mess around with, I bought a vacuum made by a company of legend -- the Miele Capricorn (Model S5980).
Being a stickler regarding this and that thing when it comes to so-called “good” vacuum cleaners, the first thing I’ve noticed since I began using my Miele S5980 last June is that I don’t think about it much when I’m using it. To me that means it’s got to be good. I’ve been going about cleaning with the greatest sense of confidence that whatever I take on with it will be done well.
Because it is an expensive machine that comes with a rep, I have certainly not been nice to the S5980 in trying it out. However, it apparently has turned the other cheek and shown me that it can be good to me even when I’m nasty to it.
It handles heavy debris, the occasional marble as well as dust and dirt quite well with a minimal amount of clogging problems. To my mind, this is a crucial point in that there is no blower option for this machine. In past I would have considered this an issue of note but, hey, it’s new day and people don’t seem to care about stuff like that much anymore.
Dust containment appears to be superb right up front where it counts. I’ve been using Miele’s nicely sized high-filtration bags and the bag chamber remains as clean as a whistle. There’s no evidence of failure of seals where the lid and bag mouth meet even when I’ve gone after powdery substances or the bag was pretty full. The mechanical bag-change gauge appears to function well.
Next, the weight is just right and there are “parking” slots on each side of the machine to simplify moving room to room when using the telescopic wand with straight-suction nozzles. It also sits well on stairs.
Another plus point is that the exhaust is directly on top of the cleaner and there minimal chance of disturbing steeled dust on floor areas.
There’s a light on the machine to let you know it’s plugged in plus a main power switch. The cord reel operates well and is relatively strong. Controls for the power nozzle, on/off switch and motor speed/suction level are conveniently located on the hose. Speaking of which, there are six speed/suction adjustment positions to allow you to fine tune your approach to just about any task at hand. Lower speeds not only allow reduced suction and quieter operation but, thinking green, also help suit power requirements to less demanding cleaning applications. This is also great for busy folks with neighbors living on the floor below when they have to clean at night.
The power nozzle adjusts easily and has a fluorescent light that spans its front edge.
Regular floor tools and wand lock together securely. On-board attachments, dusting brush, crevice tool and upholstery nozzle, are standard friction-fit. For the fussy, you may find yourself needing to frequently clean off the bristles of the rather small dusting brush during heavy use as suction becomes impeded as collected dust may cause the bristles to be pulled toward the air inlet on the tool . This tool redeems itself due to its ability to be re-angled with a simple twist to clean directly overhead or swish away dust on horizontal surfaces. The upholstery nozzle is vented to promote airflow over surfaces being cleaned and has Velcro strips, from back, for easy removal of lint and hair.
Now, for all that praise, what don’t I like . . .
The finish on the cleaner is easily marred and I think the durability of the S5980’s finish is iffy.
I don’t mind the elevated cost of bags and filters for the S5980 as they are very effective at what they do. However, neither a turbine powered nor electric mini-nozzle is included with this high-priced vacuum. This is a feature often provided on canister vacuums that are far less than half its price.
Pricing on most tool options, especially those for floor care, are excessively high. For those who don’t mind, there are inexpensive adapters that allow you to use your Miele with tools of your choice that have standard size fittings.
All in all, the Miele S5980 is a great vacuum cleaner. Due to its base price and the cost of bags (approximately $16.00 for a package of five) and filters it is definitely not a vacuum for those living on a compromised budget. Despite arguments in regard to quality and use-life, there are other vacuums new and used that can and will provide equally good service.
Date Purchased: June 2008
Price Paid: $900
Recommend: |
Pros:
Convenience, practical working weight and quiet performance.
Cons:
Pricing |
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