I Tried a Canister Vacuum for the First Time Ever, and It Honestly Surprised Me

From cordless and corded to handheld and even mini ones — I’ve tried many different types of vacuum cleaners. But one kind of vacuum cleaner has always eluded me: a canister vacuum. These vacuum cleaners are known for being super easy to maneuver (compared to corded vacuum cleaners) and more powerful (compared to cordless ones) — but they are designed to separate the motor/canister from the hose/wand, which was where my hesitation lied. It all sounded bulky. But then I tested out the Miele Guard LI, and it completely changed my mind.

The Miele Guard L1 is a canister vacuum cleaner with a 1200-watt German-engineered motor that delivers a powerful suction that works across carpets and hard floors. It also has a very long cord that instantly retracts at a touch of a button (you can press it with your foot so you never have to bend down), which allows you to move around freely to clean with an unlimited runtime.

The bagged canister has an automatic sealing system (so no dust escapes it), and the separate hose/wand features two floorheads: a universal one that works across hard floors and thinner rugs, and one with five adjustable height settings. Other attachments include a 2-in-1 upholstery and crevice nozzle, and a dusting brush.

Any hesitancy I had about using a canister vacuum disappeared once I unboxed the Miele Guard L1. It has a sleek look to it (and I love its blue colorway), and all the components aren’t as bulky as I had imagined in my head. 

Once plugged in it’s super easy to maneuver around, as the bagged canister is on wheels and has a long retractable cord. I’m obsessed with the fact that I don’t have to bend down to start, stop, or even control the suction power of the device. Using the foot controls, I can conveniently select one of the four graphic symbols to lower the power level (minus symbol), increase the power level (plus symbol), rewind the cord (rewind symbol), or turn on/off the vacuum (vertical line symbol). Plus, if I ever need to stop and pick something up or walk away for any reason, I can simply “park” the vacuum cleaner and hook the floorhead onto the rear of it, so the suction wand stays secured. 

Because it has a high-powered suction and an adjustable floorhead with five settings, I can seamlessly move from rug to floor without missing a beat. I don’t have carpet in my house, but I do have several rugs with different pile heights — and it hasn’t gotten stuck once on the extremely low-pile ones or had any issues with the more plush rugs.

• It has a strong suction: The 1200-watt German-engineered motor gives it a powerful suction; plus because it’s corded, it has an unlimited runtime.
• It excels in maneuverability and convenience: It’s easy to maneuver due to the bagged canister being on wheels and separated from the hose/wand, and it has a long, retractable cord. You can even control it with foot controls, so you never have to bend down. Plus, a “parking” system allows you to easily hang up the hose when you need to without worrying it’ll fall down.
• The canister bag has an automatic sealing system and filter: It filters 99.99% of particles and securely closes it off so no dust escapes the bag. 

• Use the right floorhead: The electrobrush floorhead should not be used on deep-pile rugs or carpets; instead, rely on the adjustable floorhead with five settings.
• Avoid the long cord: Because the retractable cord is so long, you want to make sure you don’t accidentally run it over.
• Be careful when vacuuming stairs: You don’t want the canister to fall while you vacuum. It’s best to start at the bottom of the stairs and work your way up, carrying the canister by its handle with you as you go.

Whether you’re a big fan of canister vacuums or are still on the fence about purchasing one, the Miele Guard L1 should be a top contender for consideration (and might just sway you to ditch your regular vacuum for it instead). It has great suction levels and maneuverability, and makes vacuuming your house so convenient. 

Buy: Miele Guard L1, $884.40