Miele is arguably one of the best vacuum cleaner manufacturers in the world. Their wide assortment of canister vacuums is all the rage, both because of their performance and price tag. Investing in a Miele-made product requires deep thought and a deep wallet, but if you can spring for one, you won’t regret your purchase.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the Calima Canister Vacuum, one of the more inexpensive models belonging to the C3 family. There’s no doubt that its canary-yellow shell is attractive, but what’s under the hood matters most. How does it perform and is it worth the investment? Let’s find out together.
Cleaning Performance
If there’s one thing that Miele knows, it’s how to make high-power vacuum cleaners, and the Calima is no exception. The Calima can clean both carpeted flooring and bare floors without damaging the surface. If that’s not versatility, I don’t know what is.
This unit comes with two separate vacuum heads for different jobs. The Turbo Brush has a motor-driven brush roll that loosens debris from carpet fibers, making it easier for the vacuum inlet to do its job. However, the brush roll won’t do much for medium- to high-pile carpeting—you’ll need to look at other models in the C3 group for that.

As for bare floors, swap the brush roll vacuum head for the parquet twister. It rotates up to 180° for maximum comfort and maneuverability beneath and around furniture. Without a brush roll, the parquet vacuum head relies solely on high-pressure suction to lift dirt and debris from smooth floors without leaving scratches in the process.
6 Speed Settings
As a canister vacuum cleaner, the Calima can clean floors, ceilings, and any vertical or horizontal in between surfaces. However, when cleaning delicate objects like curtains, maximum power will most likely pull them off the rod. The solution is simple: choose one of the six available speeds based on the surface of the object you’re cleaning.
With six different speeds, you can clean any surface without causing damage. Just make sure that you’ve chosen the appropriate speed for the task. Also, switching between speeds can be done with your foot; a slight tap on the + or – button on the canister’s body will alter how much suction to deliver.

3-Piece Accessory Set
Like most canister vacuum cleaners, the Calima relies heavily on different tools for spot-cleaning above-ground surfaces. This model comes with the standard 3-piece set: a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a dusting brush. All of them are durable and will work for several years after purchase.
Best of all, you won’t need to worry about losing the attachments. The Calima has a built-in storage compartment where the three cleaning tools can remain safe and sound when not in use. You’ll never lose a cleaning attachment again (if you remember to place them back in the compartment).
AirClean Filtration
To ensure that whatever gets sucked into the vacuum never comes shooting out through the exhaust, the Calima uses the AirClean Filtration system. It consists of a HEPA-lined dust collection bag that traps all dust particles as small as 0.1 microns more than 99% of the time.
The filter requires replacement once every three months or roughly every four bags. Each bag can hold onto up to 1.8 gallons of dust so you’ll have plenty of time to clean your home and floors in between filter replacements.

Rubber Wheels and Bumper
They ensure that the Calima cleans your floors instead of marring them, Miele fitted this canister vacuum with rubber wheels. There are also locks on the wheels to prevent them from moving when you don’t want them to.
Plus, you’ll have a dense “ring” of rubber around the perimeter of the Calima—that’s to stop it from leaving marks or receiving damage when accidentally bumping into other objects. A neat, thoughtful feature that many more canister models should have.
Rewindable Power Cord
Retractable power cords are standard in Miele canister vacuum cleaners but it’s worth mentioning anyway. The Calima is about ease of use, you can see by its foot-operated vacuum speeds (no bending down), but to make matters even simple, a single push of a button will send the 22-foot cable reeling back into the unit.
Even putting the Calima away after a hard day of cleaning is effortless.

Single Reviews
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Comparison Articles
Miele Pure Suction versus Miele Classic C1
Verdict: Should I Get the Miele Complete C3 Calima Canister Vacuum?
The Calima is one of the more basic models in the C3 family, but it’s not missing out on convenience-adding features at all.
Like any of Miele’s other canister vacuum cleaners, you get what you pay for. If you’re looking to purchase a Miele model, the Complete C3 Calima would be an excellent tool to have.
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Last update on 2023-06-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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