Whew! I am not the only one that likes Miele vacuums!

[eurekaprince]

I love my Miele S8 canister...it has a 24-foot cord and 7-foot hose.

My only complaint can be applied to most other vacuum-makers: why can't they make a dusting brush with really soft bristles for dusting delicate surfaces like computer screens? Even Miele's larger Universal Dusting Brush is not soft enough.

Those readers who have used really soft horse-hair dusting brushes and floor brushes will know what I mean: they are almost as soft as human hair. I bought a soft Kenmore/Panasonic dusting brush years ago and have held onto it just for dusting my delicate surfaces (including scratchable plastics like clock radio display covers). I use this tool with my Miele using an $8 metal attachment convertor.

 

[marcusprit]

Can't say I've had a problem with the length of hose or cord on my Miele S8. It's perfectly adequate for my needs.

The bags are quite expensive around £2.50 each but the new 3D bags do seem to last a bit longer and if you don't need a HEPA filter or charcoal filter you can just use the standard air filter that comes in the box of bags.

 

[sebo_fan]

I've always been mystified as to what the American and Canadian market get in terms of "really soft dusting" brushes, because in my mind here in the UK, the softest I have ever tried are the horsehair natural bristles that Miele used to make with their hard floor tools. But they seldom actually direct the dirt to the dust channels and instead just clog up.

On occasion I use the Miele dusting tool that I got with my S8 (the one with the silver band) on my computer screen. I haven't noticed any scratches and the dust gets picked up easily. However I'd sooner use a dry microfibre cloth to clean my computer. I like the Miele dust brush and the similar ones SEBO equip with their machines - but it seems that the U.S & Canada are used to very different attachments.

When I sold an additional SEBO D2 Total last year to one of my American friends here in Scotland, she remarked that she didn't think the dust brush on board was up to the job; I gave her a spare larger X series dusting brush which she finds a lot better - but even in use, when Im at her home the dusting brushes on all of her other three vacuums (they live in a huge home) are all clogged up with dust!

It begs me to question that if a bushier dust brush can't pick up dust actually without clogging the bristles and directing them to the dust channel, as to what the point of them is?

 

[eurekaprince]

The softer, bushier dusting brushes are meant to attract and remove all dust from delicate surfaces. Ever since I was old enough to read English instruction manuals, I learnt that all vac-makers recommend running the end of the hose across the bristles of any attachment to clean the brushes. So since I was a young cleaner-phile, I have made it a habit of turning the brush around and giving it a quick clean with the hose end. I do this between each dusting task. I even clean the bristles on the floor tool this way before storing the vacuum away.

In truth, I agree with you that only a Swiffer duster with electrostatic pads can remove all the fine dust on a delicate surface. But when it comes to sculpted furniture and the deep recesses of computer keyboards, there is nothing like a very soft vacuum brush with long horse-hair bristles to move dust and dirt off the surfaces on which they are clinging.

 

[marcusprit]

Dyson have a Carbon Fibre dusting brush. I wonder if that's any good.

 

[sebo_fan]

I think most people do that Brian - taking the hose end and cleaning off the bristles and floor heads, but whilst i would do that periodically with floor heads, I find I have to do that all the time, not just with the German brands but also so many others. If a dusting brush can't pick up dust properly where you have to clean it off, then I think its doing the job wrongly.

It is possibly why SEBO and Bosch don't always fit dusting brushes to their ranges of vacuums; both brands don't see the need for them. They only fit dusting brushes if there is a demand for them.

There may be nothing like a dust brush that is dead soft to go over precious things, but frankly I think its a waste of time. Not to mention that in the usage of cleaning said precious pieces, not to trip over the vacuum cleaner in question at the time of use or get stuck with the hose tangling up etc.

 

[tolivac]

Not only to remove debris stuck in the bristles of the dust brush-the hose will remove those abrasive particles that cause scratching!Do the hose tip thing, too with dusting tools and bare floor tools.My Mom and Stepmom showed me this.

 

[ultralux88]

I personally love Miele's vacuums, they are well made and clean very well. I have 6 of them in my collection. My only issue with Miele is their parts pricing, it is genuinely insane.

 

[ctvacman]

I think anytime you buy something relatively expensive you have to expect the parts to expensive as well

 

[Reflector]

Get multiple dusting brushes

This probably sounds like insanity, but I'd advise against looking at a dusting brush as a dusting brush and instead as one dusting brush out of a set. I have the Sebo X/C nylon brush, horsehair brush and Dyson Soft Dusting Brush as my top three in use. The Sebo nylon brush I use on any "durable" surfaces that has particularly "stuck on" dust that needs some more agitation than most of brushes I have. The horsehair brush I use on relatively "delicate" surfaces (Painted plastics, furniture clearcoats). The Dyson brush I use with an adapter since I find it speedier to wipe down large, open surfaces with it. That's just the three and not the few others I have. I still find that it isn't enough to clean off objects and surfaces that way since I end up running into situations with different surface contaminants and different surfaces that just would go so much quicker and clean better if I had an application specific brush.

As for computer screens? I treat them the way I'd treat a fine automobile's clearcoat: Mist with detailer that provides lubrication and wipe with clean microfiber. The hardcoat they put on them doesn't like brushes as much as a automobile clearcoat doesn't like having road grit scrubbed over it and sucked off. Anything that scratches easily, has high instrinsic value for the surface coating and overall appearance gets that treatment.

 

[eurekaprince]

Indeed, my Miele S8 FreshAir can now be used with one of three dusting brushes: the small on-board Miele brush is good for durable surfaces in tight spaces like dresser drawers and baseboards and the seams of car upholstery, the larger Universal Brush is great for wide sweeps of carpeting under the bed and the shelves of linen closets and kitchen cabinets, and my soft horse-hair Kenmore brush attaches with an adapter for picture frames and delicate sculpted wood furniture and computer vents and keyboards.

 

[sebo_fan]

See, I just prefer to use one dusting tool. I can't abide using three of the same even if there is a slightly different texture of brushes. I don't do it with my teeth and I don't have two or three different kinds of brooms if I go back to sweeping a floor. I dont see why I need to use two very different dusting brushes.

Could it be a way of brainwashing owners then, having all these choices of dusting brush?