Head-to-head · Best Canister Vacuums

Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum vs Miele Guard L1 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

Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.7 vs 4.4). Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum is best for: Pet owners who want maximum carpet and pet-hair cleaning and can pay a premium. Read the strengths below before deciding.

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 →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Canister Vacuums

Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum

4.7

2 sources

Homes and Gardens rated the Guard L1 Cat & Dog five stars after testing it in its test center, a pet shelter and a home, measuring 33.1 mph airflow at max suction against 23 mph for the Dyson V15 Detect. Reviewed called carpet performance exceptional and praised the foot-tap controls and 15-pound canister. Both flagged real costs: hair wraps around the brushroll, the floor heads swivel only about 45 degrees, and the US price is $899. It suits pet owners who want the strongest cleaning and will pay for it.

Strengths

— Homes and Gardens measured 33.1 mph airflow at max suction, the strongest of the vacuums it has tested
— Reviewed found carpet cleaning with the TurboTeQ head exceptional, stronger than the reviewer's old Miele
— Foot-tap controls for power, suction and cord rewind on top of the canister (Reviewed)

Watch-outs

— Hair wraps around the brushroll (Homes and Gardens)
— Neither included floor head swivels far enough, about 45 degrees, per Reviewed
— Reviewed's telescoping wand separated from the handle several times during testing

Buy at mieleusa.com 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 Guard L1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum

Reviewed's David Kender, a long-time Classic C1 owner, found the Guard L1 produced noticeably stronger suction than the Classic C1, with a lighter canister and longer cord, but its floor heads swivel about 45 degrees against the Classic C1's full 90. Homes and Gardens rated it above the bagless Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog, which it found less powerful.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet Friendly Ultra Plush Canister Vacuum	Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum
Weight	22 lb (Kenmore); 25.3 lb measured by TechGearLab	15 lb
Cord Length	26 ft (retractable)	24 ft (36 ft maximum reach)
Bag/Dustbin Capacity	2.8 L bag	4.5 L bag
Filtration Type	HEPA (three filters, HEPA media)	Active AirClean post-motor filter + HyClean Pure bag (99.99% dust retention)
Motor Power	12 amp, 2-motor system	1200 W

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