Head-to-head · Best Canister Vacuums

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum vs Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum and Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum score essentially the same (4.4 vs 4.4). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #4 in Best Canister Vacuums

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum

4.4

1 source$379.99as of Nov 8

TechGearLab scored the Kenmore Elite 81714 highest of the nine canisters it bought and tested, and named it the best for carpet: it was the only one that handled high-pile carpet well (69% pickup) and it cleaned 99.3% of a hardwood mess with the bare-floor tool. Despite the name, it was mediocre on pet hair, which wrapped around the brush roll, and at 25.3 pounds measured it was the heaviest model and a pain on stairs. It suits single-level homes with a lot of thick carpet.

Strengths

— Only canister in TechGearLab's lineup to handle high-pile carpet well: 68.7% pickup, plus 91.3% on low pile
— 99.3% pickup on hardwood with the bare-floor tool in TechGearLab's test
— The powered brush roll pulls the head forward so the heavy canister follows easily, per TechGearLab's lead tester

Watch-outs

— Heaviest in TechGearLab's test at 25.3 lb; a tester called it a pain to carry up and down stairs
— Pet hair results were weak for a 'Pet Friendly' model: 68% on low pile, with long hair wrapped around the brush roll
— The bag-full light does not warn of a missing bag and the vacuum runs without one, which caused a mess in TechGearLab's test

$379.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #2 in Best Canister Vacuums

Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum

4.4

1 source$731.99as of Nov 8

Homes and Gardens tested the Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog in its test center, a Bristol pet shelter and the reviewer's home, and found some of the highest suction it had seen, with flawless pet-hair pickup from carpets and upholstery using the TurboTeQ floorhead. The weak spot was the hard-floor head, which pushed flour, cereal and lentils forward instead of taking them in, and the handle is heavy to lift. It suits pet owners with carpet who want a bagless canister and can live with its weight and price.

Strengths

— Homes and Gardens measured some of the highest suction it had seen; on max the floorhead nearly sticks to the floor
— TurboTeQ floorhead cleared a thick rug of dirt and hair in a single pass in Homes and Gardens' pet-shelter test
— Bagless 2-liter bin; Homes and Gardens found nothing stuck inside it when emptying

Watch-outs

— The hard-floor head struggled with large volumes of debris: cereal was flung forward and flour needed extra passes in Homes and Gardens' tests
— Homes and Gardens called the heavy handle a major design flaw, needing two hands on stairs and curtains
— Expensive: Homes and Gardens noted an almost-$1,000 US list price

$731.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum

TechGearLab scored it 79 against 78 for the Miele Classic C1: the Kenmore led on high-pile carpet (69% vs 53%) while the Classic C1 cleaned more pet hair (90% vs 68% on low pile) and weighs about half as much (13.1 lb vs 25.3 lb). It has a HEPA filter, which the Classic C1 and Eureka Mighty Mite lack.

Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum

The Blizzard CX1 is the only bagless canister on this page; the Guard L1 Cat & Dog, Classic C1, SEBO Airbelt K3 Premium, Kenmore Elite 81714 and Eureka Mighty Mite all use bags. At 19 lb (Homes and Gardens' figure) it is heavier than the 15 lb Guard L1 Cat & Dog, which Homes and Gardens also tested and rated higher.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum	Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum
Weight	22 lb (Kenmore); 25.3 lb measured by TechGearLab	19 lb
Cord Length	26 ft (retractable)	21 ft (32 ft cleaning radius)
Bag/Dustbin Capacity	2.8 L bag	2 L dustbin (bagless)
Filtration Type	HEPA (three filters, HEPA media)	HEPA lifetime filter
Motor Power	12 amp, 2-motor system	1200 W

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