In this article, we will talk about two popular canister vacuums – Miele Classic C1 vs Compact C1.

The vacuum cleaners are getting more and more advanced each year, as manufacturers continuously improve their products. In order to make them more appealing to the customers, they compete in terms of price, performance, and overall design. The new models are designed produced all the time, so there’s always something to choose from.

Every type of vacuum still finds its place in people’s households, and today, we will talk about standard canister vacuums – Miele Classic C1 vs Miele Compact C1. Those two common products are a common choice among many household owners, due to their reasonable price and great performance.

Based on the opinion online, as well as our own experience, we will compare those products and give you the most thorough review, that you can find. At the end of the article, you can find a winner of this comparison, however, we highly recommend reading the whole article, in order to learn all the crucial details.

Without further ado, let’s get into the proper part of the comparison.

Miele Classic C1 vs Miele Compact C1

NAME:	Miele Classic C1	Miele Compact C1
SIZE:	18.2 x 11 x 8.7 in.	16.9 x 9.8 x 9.1 in.
WEIGHT:	9.11 lb.	6.03 lb.
CAPACITY:	4.76 qt.	3.7 qt.
UNIQUE FEATURES:	AirClean filtration system	AirClean Sealed filtration system
CORD LENGTH:	18 ft.	18 ft.
CHECK THE PRICE ON AMAZON:	Amazon.com	Amazon.com

Main differences

In the beginning, we would like to address, that both vacuums are actually very efficient products. What’s more, we are convinced, that either one of those should suffice in most of the households. However, there are some things to keep in mind before you make the final decision.

The first major difference between those two products is the weight and size. As the name suggests, the Miele Compact C1 was made to improve the portability of the device. The manufacturer achieved this goal by reducing the size to 16.9 x 9.8 x 9.1 in. and weight to 6.03 lb.

While this may not look like the most ultralight vacuum, it is noticeably lighter and smaller than the Miele Classic C1 which measures 18.2 x 11 x 8.7 in. and weighs 9.11 lbs. What’s even more impressive, the manufacturer managed to keep most of the functions and suction unchanged. 

The second important dissimilarity is the dust bag capacity. In order to reduce the overall weight, the manufacturer had to also reduce the dust bag capacity. Therefore, the Miele Compact C1 can hold only up to 3.7 qt., while the Classic version can hold up to 4.76 qt.

In most cases, the reduced capacity should also suffice, however, it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you usually have a large area to cover.

The last important difference is the air filtration system. The Miele Classic C1 has a standard “AirClean System” designed by this company, while the Miele Compact C1 has “AirClean Sealed System”. When we tested upright vacuums in the past, we’ve discovered, that the sealed filtration system is essential for achieving maximum comfort.

We are actually quite surprised, that many vacuums still don’t have this function included. It’s not only great for people with allergies but for everyone, that wants to keep the air clean.

Those are pretty much all the important differences, that you should know about. Based on the factors above you can already choose the vacuum for your household. However, if you would like to learn more details, or you would like to know the editor’s pick – please continue reading the article.

Cleaning performance

The cleaning performance is probably the most important aspect when it comes to picking your new vacuum cleaner. By this, we mean how well a particular unit does, compared to other vacuums from a similar price range.

We have to say, that both units are actually quite effective at removing the dirt and debris from floors and carpets. What’s more, there are multiple functions, that allow for a more ergonomic and convenient cleaning process.

NOTE: Both vacuums were designed for cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. The manufacturer didn’t specify how well vacuums will work on medium and high-pile carpets, although there is a special setting for cleaning them.

There is little to no difference when it comes to the suction, as both Miele Classic C1 and Miele Compact C1 operate on the same 1200 W motor. The special design allows for one, very interesting function which is changing the suction using a simple dial.

There is a wide range of settings, that will help you adjust the suction to the current type of surface. Here is a list of all possible settings, if you are interested in learning what each one does:

• Curtains and fabric (Curtains icon)
• Upholstery and cushions (Cushion icon)
• Deep pile carpets, rugs, and runners (Diamond in a rectangle icon)
• Energy-saving setting – This setting is also very quiet (Ear icon)
• Low pile carpets and rugs (Rectangle with parallel lines)
• Hard flooring and heavily soiled carpets and rugs (Four rectangles with parallel lines)

In order to make your cleaning the most efficient, you will have to switch between them during the whole process. We find, that they are quite useful and prevent the floors and furniture from damage.

What’s more, both vacuums also have a special foot on the nose, located on the main nose, that allows switching from hard floors to carpeting with ease. There is also a special metal soleplate for easy gliding across surfaces and rubberized wheels to prevent scratching on floors.

As we mentioned before, there is a difference when it comes to the air filtration system. Based on our previous experience, we would choose the “AirClean Sealed System” from the Miele Compact C1. This is due to the complete seal, which keeps all the dust and debris inside the bag, and prevents it from floating around your room.

This feature is quite necessary if you are allergic, however, we would gladly see this technology in every vacuum, that we test. The Miele Classic C1, unfortunately, doesn’t have this feature implemented, although it has its own filtration system.

Those are pretty much all the important aspects in terms of the cleaning performance. Both vacuums do a sufficient job at removing dirt and debris from the hard floors and carpets.

Capacity

The capacity is the main limiting factor, when it comes to the maximum cleaning time, in terms of canister vacuums. As opposed to the robotic ones, there’s no such thing as battery life. Therefore, this aspect may be important if you have a big area to cover.

The capacity in both units differs, as in the Miele Compact C1 it was reduced to keep the overall vacuum weight low. Due to this, it’s only 3.7 qt., which can be considered small compared to the dust bag capacity of the Miele Classic C1 which is 4.76 qt.

Although, once again, we have to address, that either one of them should suffice in standard conditions.

Design

The design in canister vacuums isn’t the most important factor, although it still needs to be somehow convenient and comfortable. Fortunately, the manufacturer did a good job in both vacuums.

Both Miele Classic C1 and Miele Compact C1 maneuver smoothly under and around most of the furniture, thanks to the special metal soleplate and rubberized wheels. Even though they may not be the best choice for high pile carpets, they should maneuver on them just fine.

The dial on top of the cover, offering multiple suction settings is another example of smart design, just like the footswitch.

If you would like to learn some more technical information, the Miele Classic C1 measures exactly 18.2 x 11 x 8.7 in. and weighs 9.11 lb. while the Miele Compact C1 measures 16.9 x 9.8 x 9.1 in. and weighs only 6.03 lb.

As you can see, there is a significant difference in the weight and size of these two vacuum cleaners. Depending on your needs, you may want to consider getting a lighter version. This way, cleaning up the stairs or carrying the vacuum around will be much more manageable. 

Cord length

If you don’t have too many outlets around your house, and you don’t want to use an extension cord, this may be something to keep in mind. A good cord length allows for easy maneuvering around the furniture, as well as cleaning hard-to-reach.

The cord length in both units is the same, offering a 29.5 ft. cleaning radius. We find that this is, once again, completely sufficient in most scenarios. Additionally, there are always extra tools, which may help you get the dirt out of those hard-to-reach spots.

Price

The price is probably the first thing most people check when looking for a new cleaning device. Nonetheless, we decided to also touch on this aspect. One thing to keep in mind is that the price tends to fluctuate quite a bit, therefore, always double-check the price of the vacuum to be sure.

The Miele Classic C1 is currently listed on Amazon for the price of $330.00 (Click here to see the price!). While the Miele Compact C1 is also listed on Amazon for the price of $399.00 (Click here to see the price!).

Package content

The package content is an aspect, that’s often skipped. In our opinion, this is a mistake, since the included tools can make a big difference in terms of the overall cleaning efficiency and ease of use. You should always check the extras, that are in the package to determine what can be useful in your household.

The Miele Classic C1 comes with rather basic tools, which should be handy in almost all households. Those are dusting brush, upholstery tool and crevice tool – What’s more, all of those are conveniently clipped into the hose, so you can keep them under your hand at all times.

The Miele Compact C1 also has all of those accessories included, and we didn’t find any difference between the two models.

Necessary maintenance

Maintenance is an essential process, in order to keep your new cleaning device operating at the desired level and prevent permanent damage. Since many people may not know this, we always write about this aspect in our articles.

To learn all the crucial maintenance steps, you should thoroughly read the user’s guide, that comes in the package. In there, you will find everything you need, although, we will give you some basic maintenance steps below, that should work with most of the canister vacuums.

In order to keep your Miele Classic C1 or Miele Compact C1 working at the desired level, you should:

• Regularly empty and rinse the dust cup
• Regularly check the nozzle or any other attachments for any stuck dirt and/or debris
• At least once a week clean the cover of the brush, nozzle, and other tools
• Replace any used or damaged elements as fast as possible
• Regularly rinse the washable filter

Those are only some of the basic steps, that you should keep in mind. In order to learn everything you need to know, we once again, highly recommend reading the user guide. This will ensure, that you don’t skip any important details.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both vacuum cleaners are a reasonable choice in this price range. What’s more, we are sure, that either one of those should suffice most of the people. However, there are some important details, that you should keep in mind before you make the final decision.

Some of the most important differences are the weight and size of the vacuums (Miele Compact C1 is noticeably lighter and smaller), dust bag capacity (Miele Classic C1 has a larger capacity), and filtration system (Miele Compact C1 has a better filtration system).

Based on the factors above, we would say that the Miele Compact C1 is a winner of this comparison. The weight of the unit makes it easier to carry, the filtration system works better, and the dust bag should suffice anyway, at least in most scenarios.

We hope, that after reading this article you will be satisfied with your final choice.