In this review, we’re going to check out one of Miele’s more affordable canister vacuum models—the Miele Complete C3 Calima. Prepare to be utterly shocked by what this cute, compact, yet heavy-duty canister vac has to offer.
To sum it all up, if you need a canister vacuum that is beyond powerful and efficient, then the Miele Complete C3 Calima is a truly fantastic purchase. By purchasing this canister vacuum, you have access to Miele’s excellent Vortex Motor, a plethora of different floor heads, many different cleaning tools, and a vacuuming experience that is truly exceptional. By using the Calima, it doesn’t matter what it is that you need to vacuum, because with this canister vacuum, you can do it.
Pros: Exceptionally powerful, multiple floorheads and attachments, easy-to-use, very mobile
Cons: Extremely expensive
1200W Vortex Motor
If you’re curious as to why Miele is one of the top brands of canister vacuum cleaners, it all boils down to motor. The C3 Calima sports a heavy-duty 1200W Vortex Motor that produces a peak suction speed of more than 60 mph. Let that sink in—that’s even faster than the minimal speed limit of the average US freeway!
What’s more is that this tremendous amount of inward airflow is focused on a tiny area the size of the vacuum cleaner’s floorhead. The biggest problem users may have with the C3 Calima is that it tends to swallow loose area rugs. That is, unless you make use of the variable speed dial.
6-Gear Suction Control
This system is what gives the C3 Calima extra-versatility at tackling all sorts of dirty surfaces. From bare floors to deep-pile carpets all the way to delicate drapes, this canister vacuum cleaner can handle it all.
Each suction speed is designed to clean a wide number of surfaces without overkill. However, there’s no indicator on the C3 Calima’s control panel to indicate which gear is active, so we highly recommend bringing it down to the lowest speed before putting the tool away.
Bare-Floor and Carpet Floorheads
The C3 Calima comes with not one but two floorheads. Each floorhead is made specifically for different types of floors. The first vacuum head is the SBB300-3 Parquet Brush—a brushroll-less unit with soft, durable bristles around the edge to lift and remove dirt from tiny cracks and crevices between floorboards and tiles. The lack of a beater brush ensures a scratch-free vacuum experience.
The second vacuum head is the STB205-3 Turbo Brush which utilizes an air-driven beater brushroll designed to deep-clean rugs and carpets. The Turbo Brush glides on carpeted surfaces by using tiny non-marring wheels that do not get trapped in shaggy carpet fibers. The docking clip on the side of the canister is used to keep the Turbo Brush attached to the unit when not in use.
Surround Rubber Bumper
One of the most thoughtful features Miele included in the C3 Calima is a rubber bumper that stretches across the widest part of the canister unit. This unit lays flat on its stomach and glides around on large casters, so while tugging the unit along, it’s only a matter of time before it makes contact with delicate furniture.
The bumper serves to absorb the blow of the force while also protecting your furniture from becoming damaged.
Handheld Cleaning Tools with Onboard Storage
A minor inconvenience when using a canister vacuum is digging deep in accessory bags and scrambling to locate one of its many spot-cleaning tools. The C3 Calima solves this problem by having a dedicated storage compartment where each of the 3 tools fit snugly so they’re always within reach.
The tools that come with the C3 Calima include an upholstery brush, a crevice tool, and a natural-bristle dusting tool. These tools connect to the end of the 10-foot non-static suction hose.
AirClean Filter Bag + HEPA Filter
Unlike most modern canister vacs, the C3 Calima relies on a disposable dust bag to retain all suctioned dust, hair, and debris. Each AirClean Filter Bag uses a 12-level sealed system that ensures no leakage occurs due to rips or tears on the bag’s surface.
In addition, the C3 Calima comes with a pre-installed HEPA filter that traps particles as small as 0.3 microns more than 99% of the time from shooting out of the canister’s exhaust to stop them from going airborne.
Retractable 36-foot Power Cord
There’s no loss of maneuverability with the C3 Calima. It connects to a standard wall outlet via a tremendously long 36-foot power cord that allows you to clean wide areas and even multiple rooms before needing to switch to another outlet.
When putting the tool away, a simple tap on the foot-operated rewind button will send the long cord reeling back into the canister unit for quick and easy storage.
Related Miele Articles
Buying Guides
• Best Miele Canister Vacuums
Comparison Articles
• Miele C1 vs C2 vs C3
Verdict: Should I Get the Miele Complete C3 Calima?
If you have both hard and carpeted floors, deal with tremendous amounts of dust and hair regularly, and want the maximum convenience that a canister vacuum cleaner can offer, then yes, the Miele Complete C3 Calima is definitely a worthy option.
The one complaint we have is needing to purchase replacement bags every so often, but in every other regard, the affordable (by Miele’s standards) C3 Calima surpasses any and all expectations.
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
