The Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog is the mid-range model in Miele's 2025 Guard series of premium bagged canister vacuums. It comes with a straight-suction floorhead for bare floors and a turbo brush floorhead for carpets. You can store the included upholstery tool, crevice tool, and soft-bristle brush in the canister body. This model has four suction levels, which you can choose using a button on the canister body. It's equipped with an activated carbon filter that reduces odors.
Our Verdict
We will be updating this review to our latest test bench shortly. We wanted to make our test results public as soon as possible. Check back for updated verdicts soon.
We will be updating this review to our latest test bench shortly. We wanted to make our test results public as soon as possible. Check back for updated verdicts soon.
We will be updating this review to our latest test bench shortly. We wanted to make our test results public as soon as possible. Check back for updated verdicts soon.
We will be updating this review to our latest test bench shortly. We wanted to make our test results public as soon as possible. Check back for updated verdicts soon.
We will be updating this review to our latest test bench shortly. We wanted to make our test results public as soon as possible. Check back for updated verdicts soon.
We will be updating this review to our latest test bench shortly. We wanted to make our test results public as soon as possible. Check back for updated verdicts soon.
We will be updating this review to our latest test bench shortly. We wanted to make our test results public as soon as possible. Check back for updated verdicts soon.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Miele Guard M1 is available in several variants depending on the region, with different accessories, filters, and colors.
| Model Name | Accessories | Filter | Colors | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guard M1 | SBD 355-3 universal straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | AirClean | Sunset Yellow, Terra Red | U.S., Canada, Europe |
| Guard M1 Parquet XL | SBB 400-3 Parquet brush Twister XL, SBD 365-3 universal straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | AirClean Plus | Brilliant White | U.S., Canada, Europe, U.K. |
| Guard M1 Performance | SBD 680 universal straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | HEPA AirClean | Brilliant White | Europe |
| Guard M1 Cat & Dog | SBD 365-3 universal straight suction floorhead, STB 305-3 turbo brush floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | Active AirClean | Obsidian Black/Space Grey | U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia |
| Guard M1 Cat & Dog Flex | SBD 365-3 universal straight suction floorhead, STB 305-3 turbo brush floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, SFD 20 extra long flexible crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | Active AirClean | Obsidian Black | U.K. |
| Guard M1 Select | SBB 365-3 universal straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | AirClean Plus | Casa Grey | U.K. |
| Guard M1 Silence | SBD 680 universal straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | Silence AirClean | Casa Grey | Europe |
| Guard M1 Flex | SBB 365-3 universal straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, SFD 20 extra long flexible crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | AirClean | Nordic Blue | Europe, U.K. |
| Guard M1 S 8380 | SBB 365-3 universal straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | AirClean | Brilliant White | Europe |
| Guard M1 Parquet Flex | SBB 365-3 universal straight-suction floorhead, SBB 300-3 Parquet Twister straight-suction floorhead, upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, SFD 20 extra long flexible crevice nozzle, soft-bristle dusting brush | AirClean Plus | Brilliant White | Europe |
We bought and tested the Guard M1 Cat & Dog. Here's a photo of the label.
If you find another variant, please let us know in the comments.
Popular Vacuum Comparisons
The Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog is a mid-range model in Miele's Guard series of bagged canister vacuums. The 2025 Guard series replaces Miele's previous C-series line-up. The M1 is an upgrade over the entry-level Guard vacuum, the Miele Guard S1 Electro, offering greater comfort and convenience with a longer cord, an easier-to-access suction control, and a much lighter hose handle. If you have carpets, the Guard M1 Cat & Dog's turbo floorhead offers better performance than the straight-suction universal floorhead on the older Miele Complete C3 Alize. If you have shedding pets, it also does a much better job of removing pet hair than the C3. However, the M1 reuses the older C3's floorhead for bare floors, which has issues picking up large debris since it sits so low to the ground. So if you have more hard floors than carpet, take a look at the SEBO Airbelt D4, since it handles large-sized material on bare floors much better. But for a typical mix of household floor surfaces, the M1 offers versatility to handle messes throughout your home.
If you'd like to explore other alternatives, take a look at our recommendations for the best vacuums, the best vacuums for carpets, and the best vacuums for pet hair.
The SEBO Airbelt D4 is a better vacuum than the Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog. The SEBO is much more effective on bare floors and in picking up pet hair than the Miele, while both offer similar performance on carpet. The SEBO is also easier to maintain since it has larger dirtbags that you won't need to replace as often. However, the SEBO is much heavier than the Miele, making it harder to move up and down stairs.
The Miele Boost CX1 and the Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog perform identically on floors since they both have similarly powerful suction motors and use the same floorheads. However, the M1 is a bagged vacuum, which offers advantages over the bagless CX1. It doesn't need to be emptied as often, and emptying the sealed dirtbag is clean and hygienic. Allergy sufferers should note that emptying the bagless CX1 creates a dust cloud that will negatively affect air quality. As well, the CX1 uses an expensive replaceable filter, so the CX1 has recurring costs despite not needing dirtbags.
The Miele Guard S1 Electro is a better vacuum than the Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog on carpets, since the S1 uses an electrically powered brushroll versus the air-driven turbo brush on the M1. The turbo brush can't provide the same level of performance on carpets and in picking up pet hair as a powered brushroll can. On bare floors, both vacuums perform the same, with the same clearance issues with large debris. Performance on carpets aside, the M1 is an upgrade to the S1, with extra niceties like a longer power cord and a foot-activated power level selection button rather than a dial you have to bend down to access.
The Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog is a better vacuum than the older Miele Complete C3 Alize it replaces. The M1 is better at picking up debris from carpets and much better at picking up pet hair due to its turbo brush floorhead. Miele didn't compromise the design either: the M1's cord is a bit longer than its predecessor, and the hose handle is even lighter, making it easier to carry the hose and floorhead around. However, the M1 has four suction power levels versus the C3's six.
Test Results
This vacuum has excellent build quality. The body feels sturdy and is made of thick, high-grade plastic with a glossy finish, matte underside, and shiny accent pieces throughout. The wheels are made of rubber, and the extension rod is metal. All attachments fit snugly onto the handle and click into place with a firm press. However, the canister buttons feel loose and weak.
This vacuum is decently easy to maintain. You have to clean the floorhead's brushroll, replace the dirtbag, and replace the filters. Although the brushroll doesn't clog with hair, some hair still wraps around it, and removing it takes some time. You can't remove the brushroll, but you can cut off the hair by running scissors along a groove in the brushroll. Replacing the bag is very easy: just open the canister lid and lift the bag out. You'll also find that removing and replacing the pre- and post-motor filters is simple.
Consult the manual for complete details.
This vacuum has high recurring costs. You need to replace the following parts regularly:
- Active AirClean filter (or use the HEPA AirClean filter)
- Dirtbag (4-pack)
This vacuum has good storage capability. If you store the vacuum canister horizontally, you can clip the floorhead, extension wand, and hose assembly into a holster at the rear. If you store the vacuum vertically, you can use the vacuum's side holsters to store both floorheads. There's also a compartment inside the vacuum lid for storing the attachments.
This vacuum has a great capacity. While it can't hold the full 3.7 L Miele advertises, it can still contain a significant volume of debris.
- Vacuum canister
- Telescopic wand
- Suction hose with handle
- Turbo brush floorhead
- Universal straight-suction floorhead
- Crevice tool
- Upholstery tool
- Soft-bristle brush
- Sound-deadening foam (secondary exhaust filter)
- Dirtbag
- Active AirClean activated carbon post-motor filter
- Pre-motor filter
- Operating instructions
- Turbo brush floorhead guide
This vacuum has a good range. The cord is long enough to reach an outlet in most rooms. It's the same length as Miele's older Complete C3 vacuums.
This vacuum is fairly light and portable. The hose handle feels very light; it's one of the lightest vacuum hoses we've ever tested.
This is a corded vacuum.
This vacuum has three foot-activated buttons. There's a power button, a cord retraction button, and another button that cycles between suction power levels:
- Curtains (Min., 1/4 power)
- High-Pile Carpets (1/2 power)
- Low-Pile Carpets (3/4 power)
- Hard Floor (Max., full power)
The icons on the canister panel illuminate to indicate the current setting. If you hold down the power button, you can cycle between 63 different power levels for finer control. You can also control suction using an air bypass slider on the hose handle.
The Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog delivers inadequate performance on hard floors when using its straight-suction universal floorhead. It's only effective on fine debris and pushes medium- and large-sized material around due to the floorhead's low clearance, even when set to its highest setting (Hard Floor). Medium- and large-sized debris gets jammed around the floorhead bristles and drops back onto the floor when you pick up the floorhead.
This vacuum delivers mediocre performance on high-pile carpets. If you raise the straight-suction universal floorhead to its high (Hard Floor) setting, it'll clear most medium and large debris, but leave fine material behind.
We conducted a second pass with the turbo brush floorhead and the suction power set to Max., yet there wasn't much improvement. A third pass with the universal floorhead set low (Carpet) finally did pick up fine material, but failed to pick up medium and large debris.
This vacuum offers adequate performance picking up debris from low-pile carpets. It performs a little better than on high-pile carpets since fine material isn't as far out of reach, but it still leaves debris behind.
We conducted a second pass with the turbo brush floorhead and the suction set to 3/4 power (Low-Pile Carpets), but it didn't pick up more fine material and ended up scattering other debris. A third pass with the universal floorhead set low (Carpet) did pick up fine material, but failed to pick up large and medium debris.
This vacuum performs well at picking up pet hair. It lifts most of the strands, but the turbo brush floorhead leaves an uncleaned strip to the right of center due to a gap in the brushroll bristles for the brushroll drive belt.
The Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog delivers high suction using its universal floorhead. This floorhead seals tightly to the floor when the height adjustment is set to low (Carpet), though this configuration isn't recommended for hard floors due to the risk of scratches. It doesn't seal as well if you raise it to the Hard Floor setting, producing a maximum of 3.6 inH₂O (0.92 kPa) of suction.
The turbo brush floorhead delivers lower suction, measuring:
- Maximum: 1.0 inH₂O (0.24 kPa)
- Normal: 0.6 inH₂O (0.15 kPa)
This vacuum delivers incredible airflow. The 1,200W motor is powerful enough to handle any kind of debris.
The Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog is pretty quiet, so it shouldn't be disruptive to activities around the house. Its turbo brush floorhead is especially quiet on carpets.
This vacuum offers good maneuverability. It's fairly easy to move the canister around, and the long cord helps it reach the edges and corners of even large rooms. The soft-bristle brush, though small, does a great job on furniture and shelves. As you clean around the room, you don't need to worry about it snagging electrical cords. On rugs, the turbo brush floorhead cleans well, but it stops spinning if you don't keep it moving since it lacks torque.
Unfortunately, cleaning under furniture and tables is difficult. If you bend down and push the floorhead too far, it'll tilt and lift off the floor, breaking the suction. You have to twist the hose handle and bring the hose very low to the ground, which will be difficult for people with mobility issues.
This vacuum does a fantastic job of clearing pet hair from furniture. The upholstery brush glides over fabric very easily, even at maximum suction power. Some hair gets caught in the upholstery brush's bristles and spreads around as you move the tool, requiring you to go back and clean those spots again, but it doesn't take much effort to remove every strand.
Even though this vacuum doesn't have a true HEPA filter, it effectively seals in visible fine particles.
The Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog does an outstanding job cleaning fine debris from cracks. The universal straight-suction floorhead seals tightly to the floor and removes almost every trace of fine material, even in deep cracks.
