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Miele S5281 Libra S5 Canister Vacuum Cleaners
The Miele S5281 Libra S5 Canister Vacuum Cleaner is ultra quiet featuring a HEPA Sealed system with large AirClean filtering dust bags. Miele S5 Libra includes a power brush and bare floor brush for medium pile carpets and smooth flooring. See Miele S5 vacuum cleaner ratings and reviews.
Description of Miele S5281 Libra S5 Canister Vacuum Cleaners
The mango red Libra is an impressive and well rounded new member to the Miele S5 series and will quickly become a customer favorite. This mid-size canister vacuum cleaner comes standard with Miele's unsurpassed 3-stage AirClean™ Sealed system™ featuring active HEPA filtration and 9-layer AirClean™ filtering dust bags for the ultimate in fresh and clean indoor air. Packaged with a mid-size power brush, deluxe parquet floor brush and 3 onboard tools the Libra provides complete cleaning for homes with low to medium pile carpet, area rugs and smooth flooring. The Libra is user friendly and easy to use with a deluxe ergonomic handle, 6-stage rotary dial suction controls, bag change indicator, auto cord rewind, and an impressive 33 ft operating radius.
Features of Miele S5281 Libra S5 Canister Vacuum Cleaners
6-stage suction control via rotary dial on the canister
Iconic indicator for suction settings
1200 watt, high output Miele-made Vortex Motor System™
Silence insulation for ultra-quite operation
3-stage AirClean™ filtration technology directs air through the electrostatically-charged, AirClean™ 9-layer filtering dust bag, pre-motor filter and active HEPA exhaust filter for ultimate in fresh and clean indoor air
Active HEPA exhaust filter with Activated Charcoal filter captures and retains tiny, lung-damaging particles as well as absorbs odor – 99.9% efficiency down to 0.3 micron
Exclusive Sealed System™ construction combines the very best in raw materials with revolutionary filtering dust bags and high-quality active HEPA filters to provide the essential formula necessary to safeguard your indoor air quality
The Libra is an air-tight sealed system that retains 99.99% of particles at 0.3 micron (results from independent testing at IBR laboratories)
Deluxe Parquet floor brush (SBB 300-3) with 90° rotation perfect for cleaning around obstacles such as table legs and in tight places
Mid-size, Electro Comfort power brush (SEB 217-3) with a 10.5" wide brush roll, floating head and swivel neck design - recommended for low to medium pile carpets
Direct connect, electric hose with dual swivel ends (SES 119)
Direct connect, electric stainless steel telescopic wand (SET 220)
Deluxe handle with ergonomic hand grip to reduce wrist strain
Reports by Experts and Customers - Miele S5281 Libra S5 Canister Vacuum Cleaners
Expert Review:
Courtesy of AllergyBuyersClub.com
EXPERT REVIEW PARAMETERS
STAR
RATING
1. Filtration Efficiency
2. Cleaning Power and Effectiveness
3. Easy to Use Controls
4. Noise Level
5. Maneuverability
6. Ease of Assembly & Attaching and Removing Parts and Accessories
7. Quality of Floor Tools
8. Quality of Accessory Tools
9. Quality of Dust Bags
10. Durability
11. Cleaning Radius
12. Warranty
13. Value for Price
Pluses:
The Libra's active HEPA filter and sealed system construction truly provides excellent air quality by trapping dust and other particles inside the vacuum cleaner. Our testing showed it exhausts 0 particles back into the room!
Its 6 suction speed settings paired with a power brush, floor brush and accessory tools provide everything you need for cleaning low- medium pile carpets, bare floors and upholstery.
Miele's built-in silence insulation makes the Libra one of our quietest vacuum cleaners on all speeds.
The Libra is a mid-size canister vacuum with a lightweight design weighing 13.5 lbs, so it is still easily maneuvered and carried up or down stairs.
Miele vacuums are the easiest to assemble, changing the floor tool, putting on an accessory tool, removing the wand, etc. thanks to quick release buttons and snap-into-place construction.
The mid-size power brush (SEB 217-3) has a compact design that is lighter and less bulky than the full-size power brush (SEB 228 or SEB 236) and is better suited for smaller homes that have low-medium pile or cut pile carpets. However, it does not have height adjustments so is not ideal for thick, high pile carpets. It also does not have a headlight and will not park on its own.
The Parquet Twister floor brush has an improved swivel design which is most helpful when cleaning in hard to reach areas like under the bed. The Parquet Floor Brush has been redesigned with shorter natural bristles and spaces between the bristle sections to provide for maximum suction and longer life.
We love the large 4.76 qt. (approx. 1 gallon) AirClean dust bags because they hold so much and do not need to be replaced until they are truly stuffed full. They are some of the best quality bags we have tested. They are 9 layers thick for filtration quality and durability, have excellent air flow for efficient use, and spring-loaded self-sealing covers for no-mess disposal.
The handy dust bag change indicator tells you when the bag is full and needs to be replaced, eliminating guessing games and loss of suction due to an overly full bag.
The Libra's integrated rubber PVC bumper guards protect your walls and furniture from marks and dings.
Its large 33 ft cleaning radius allows plenty of room to clean before needing to move to a new power outlet.
The Libra is a great value for the price. It lacks some of the luxury features found on the more expensive S5 models, but has the same quality Miele design and construction.
Minuses:
The Libra is not one of the luxury S5 models, so it lacks special features like +/- suction controls and a filter change indicator. The Libra has a manual rotary dial suction control which is located on the canister.
The mid-size power brush 217 is not as powerful or as easy to maneuver as Miele's full-size power brushes. Unfortunately, a full-size power brush option is not available with this vacuum. Those who want a vacuum with all the luxury features and a larger, more powerful power brush with 5 height settings that can deep clean thick, high pile carpets, may want to consider the S5981 Capricorn for $1199.
Miele's crevice tool is not as long as we would have liked. It only offers a 4" reach where some competitors offer a full size 8" crevice tool.
Miele's dusting brush has the industry standard round design which we have found clogs easily when used on high suction because the bristles are sucked inwards. A triangular dusting brush proves to be a more efficient design because it does not become clogged by its bristles.
Summary:
The S5281 Libra proves to be a great value for the price, ranking as the most affordable S5 model packaged with a power brush. Standard with the mid-size power brush, the Libra is a better choice from smaller sized homes or those who do not like large power brushes which can feel bulky and heavy. The onboard accessory tools are conveniently stored under the vacuum hood. They are well-made, good quality tools, however we would have liked the crevice tool to be longer and the dust brush to be less prone to clogging. The nice thing about Miele is they offer a fantastic variety of other accessory tools that can be purchased separately, which include a 22" flexible crevice tool and a universal dusting brush with a swivel neck and triangular design to avoid clogging. The Libra does not feature finger tip or +/- electronic controls. Its suction must be adjusted using a rotary dial knob on the canister, however it still offers 6 suction settings which are clearly marked and the suction dial turns smoothly. Easy to change floor tools, onboard accessory tools, large dust bags, and silence insulation are all features that add to the user-friendliness and enjoyment of vacuuming with the Libra. Overall, we feel the Libra is a very attractive vacuum cleaner choice that sacrifices some luxury features for a lower price. As with all Miele vacuums, we praise the Libra for its reliable performance, long lasting quality, ease of use and superior filtration. The Libra is recommended for homes with low to medium pile carpets or area rugs and all types of smooth flooring, including delicate tile or highly polished parquet floors.
Equipped with 4 thread catchers and a flexible suction opening, which adapts to various pile depths, the Extra Wide Upholstery Tool offers fast and thorough cleaning of upholstery and mattresses.
Availability: Usually ships next business day
Miele AirClean™ Type G-N Dust Bags (12 bags)
MI VA HCGN$58.95
Includes 12 fiber dust bags, 3 pre-filters, 3 rear filters for Miele S2 and S5 series canister vacuums. Miele's unique AirClean bag is 9‐layers of electrostatically charged material that traps micro‐sized debris in the airtight vacuum chamber. With its spring‐loaded, self‐locking collar there is no exposure to lung‐damaging dust and allergens when replacing the bag. 4.8 qt capacity.
Availability: Usually ships next business day
Miele Universal Brush
MI VA SUB20$34.95
Made from a blend of natural bristles and polyamide, the Universal Brush is ideal for dusting bookshelves, large vertical surfaces, textile wall coverings, ceiling fans and more. Two swivel joints provide a 360 degree rotation.
Availability: Usually ships next business day
Miele Cat & Dog Accessory Case SCD 10
MI VA SCD10$150.00
For overall cleaning in homes with pets. Includes: Mini Turbobrush (STB101), Flexible Crevice Tool (SFD20), Hygiene Cap (SHV10) and Active Air Clean Charcoal Filter (AAC50). Fits all S4, S5 and S6 canister models and S7 upright models.
more info
Availability: Not shipping until 2012-02-06
Miele Active HEPA Filter for S4, S5, S6 Series
MI VA GFILT$54.95
Includes one HEPA filter enhanced with a generally activated charcoal filter to capture and retain tiny, lung-damaging particles (including dust mite feces and pollen) and absorb odors. Replace after 50 hours of use, or approximately 12 months.
Availability: Usually ships next business day
Miele Extended Flexible Crevice Tool
MI VA SFD20$32.95
This unique crevice tool offers 22 inches of flexible length and is ideal for cleaning hard to reach nooks and crannies.
Availability: Usually ships next business day
Miele Vacuum Cleaner Handheld Turbobrush
MI VA S300HT$79.95
Recommended for: Gentle cleaning of stairs and other limited space carpet applications and aggressive cleaning of upholstery. Great for removing pet hair from upholstery.
Availability: Usually ships next business day
Miele Vacuum Cleaner Micro Clean Accessory Set
MI VA MICRO$79.95
Great to use to vacuum your computer or collectibles
MicroSet includes:
Micro hose with a combo crevice nozzle/dusting brush
Extension crevice nozzle
Angled crevice nozzle
Extension dusting brush