Contrary to the snow on the ground, Spring Cleaning really is just around the corner!
No, Seriously: Our clocks spring ahead one-hour this Sunday ⏰ (March 12, 2023).
Time To Plan: Here are 3 ideas to get you “Ready, Set, Go!” for spring cleaning.
#1. Rent a Carpet Shampooer for Spring Cleaning
This is a Bissell carpet shampooer.
But look closerand you’ll see…
A machine that can: – make carpet appear years newer. – eliminate carpet odors. – save you money, when compared to replacing your carpet. 💰 – also be used to clean your furniture and stairs with extra attachments.
No Excuses: Stop living with (or skillfully arranging furniture over) those stains!
Rent: 24 Hours for $29.95 with a complimentary quart of shampoo!
Get your spring cleaning efforts underway today. Visit Swanson’s Discount Vacuum at 7507 N Second Street, Machesney Park, Illinois 61115. Or call 815-282-2882.
When Miele introduced the Triflex cordless vacuum cleaner a couple of years ago, they clearly did their research. And in typical Miele fashion, they take every aspect of the vacuum cleaner one step further than the competition.
With the Triflex, Miele’s German engineering is on full display. Sporting a versatile 3-in-1 design, the Triflex proves to be a powerful cordless vacuum that fits seamlessly inside the Miele ecosystem – for example, the attachments for your Miele C1 canister can be used on your Triflex!
Three Different Models of Miele Triflex
The Miele Triflex comes in several different versions. The white and gray version is their base model. The red one is the Home Care version. And the black one is the Cat and Dog version. The vacuum itself is all the same. There’s no physical difference as they all have the same power, same brush and same filter, with a few added features across the models.
Base version, Home Care, Cat and Dog (Left to Right)
How the Miele Triflex “Stands Up” Against The Competition
One of Miele Triflex’s unique qualities when compared to Dyson or any of the other rechargeable stick type vacuum is that it can stand up by itself. Miele has clearly done their research and surveyed the rechargeable landscape, and looking for ways to improve. For instance, Dyson is an extremely popular rechargeable vacuum – primarily because it’s a decent performing machine with a lot of marketing behind it. Miele is a great performing machine with a great reputation of the Miele name, and it also interacts with the other Miele equipment – which we’ll explain in more detail later. The basics of the machine is by being freestanding you can keep it anywhere. It could be in your kitchen, your closet, or your living room and if you have a quick mess to pick up, this is quick alternative to your regular plugin vacuum.
Double The Run Time
On the handle of the machine are three speeds. There is an off position, a one speed, a two speed, and a third highest speed. A lot of users want to go to the highest speed so they have the most power. But on battery operated equipment, you have to remember that the highest speed is also consuming the most battery. This means you will have a shorter battery run time. So if you can do what the job requires on the low speed, you’ll almost double your battery run time. Miele’s battery is one of the only ones that we know of that is actually not made in China as it’s made in Germany.
Three Power SettingsSimple Battery Removal
Washable Dust Cup and Filters
The dirt will go into the dust cup, where the filter is also located. A little turn of the lid allows the dust cup to come off. Then when you turn the lid a little further (do this over the trash can) it’s going to open so that you can dump the dirt. And when it’s time for cleaning, just keep turning and the filter cartridge can be removed.
Dust CupEmptying Dust Cup
The filter cartridge basically is entirely washable. We recommend you don’t wash the HEPA filter. You will want to dry clean it, tap it against the trash can or vacuum it with your Miele vacuum. But the rest of the filter assembly is completely washable. This includes the pre-screen, which is the outside piece and your micro filter which is the inside piece. These are both washable. Just make sure to let them dry completely before you put it back together and resume cleaning.
The Miele Triflex is very simple and very easy to maintain because everything is individual pieces that come away from the machine. We find through the service side of our business that people are dumping the containers and some are even cleaning their filter but they’re not cleaning the pre-screens and the rest of it because they don’t know how to get it apart. That’s something that Miele has fixed well.
Brush Roll Maintenance
On the bottom of the Miele Triflex is a rotary brush for your carpet. These brushes are completely hard floor safe so they can be used on any type of hard floor. The Miele Triflex has rubber wheels on the front and rubber wheels on the back, so the machine is really rolling on those rubber wheels when you’re on a hard surface. And when you’re on carpet, the brush is going to have the agitation ability.
Anybody with long hair knows that hair is going to wrap around this brush roller. But what Miele has done is incorporated a simple cleaning system. The brush comes out very easily. So if you are a pet owner or have long hair, you will want to remove the bearing – no tools required – because hair will get wrapped around the bearing. It needs to be removed periodically but is very simple to do. When you’re done cleaning the roller, it’ll slide in basically just as easy as it comes apart. It’s very form-fitting, so everything will slide, snap, and latch back together. The brush is also replaceable, so if you ever wear the brush down, it’s very simple to replace. We stock replacement brush rolls in our inventory.
LatchBrush Roll AccessRemoving Brush RollBearing
Pro System Charging
Miele makes what they call the pro system. The Pro System comes with two batteries so you can charge and have two batteries ready to go. Just simply swap batteries out from one to the other and continue going. It’s pretty easy to get about 30 minutes of constant run time if you run this on low speed. But again, if you’re going to flip it up on high, you’re going to experience about 15 minutes of run time. That makes having a second battery even more beneficial.
Miele Triflex Transforms for Multipurpose Cleaning
A big win for Miele is that Triflex stands up on its own but that’s not all it does. This machine actually transforms. The Miele Triflex can become a hand vacuum for stairs or furniture with the rotary brush. If we want to take the rotary brush off, we can put the wand in place and that allows us the reach to go underneath the beds. With the tool kit that comes with the Mieles, you’re going to have an upholstery tool, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush. So if I wanted to use the dusting brush, with my reach, I can clean 10 foot ceilings and chase cobwebs. So basically you have a hand vacuum, a stick vacuum, and a stand-up vacuum that can very easily be converted.
Miele Triflex Home Care
The Home Care series is available in-store only. It has have a three year warranty, while the standard warranty on a Triflex from Miele is two years. Also, Miele’s warranty does cover the batteries.
Miele Triflex Cat and Dog
The cat and dog version is exactly like the white one we’ve been demonstrating with all the same features. However, it does have with two added features. The Cat and Dog includes a headlight in the front that illuminates and you also have a smaller version of the rotary head okay so for stairs, furniture and upholstery.
The Pro Pack is Miele’s top dog. It is the same as all of the other Triflex vacuums but it does come with two charging systems and two batteries which again allows you to double your run time, so to speak, just by changing out a battery which is quite simple.
Seamless Integration Within the Miele Family of Vacuums
As with all Miele equipment, we do stock Triflex accessories. We stock batteries, we stock the turbine driven hand tool. So let’s say you wanted the additional hand tool but you wanted to buy the basic version. We can combine those and make that work any way you want to do it. If you are a current Miele owner of let’s say one of their canister vacuums, any of the tools on the Miele canister will also work on any of the Triflex. So if we wanted to use say our combination tool from our canister or you would like this tool and you don’t have a Miele canister, you can buy this tool and now this gives you a non-rotating head, a little bit more swivel or pivotability, and it’s channeling the suction into a tighter area. So the versatility is just non-stop with Miele.
Conclusion
Triflex has been out for a couple years now and we’ve experienced very very little warranty claim. Overall it’s a huge winner. They’ve done a fantastic job of including it in the Miele family and like Miele always does, they look at survey the landscape, they see what everybody’s done pretty well, and then they just do it one step better.
Perhaps the most frequently asked question we are asked is, “what’s the best vacuum cleaner?” Because every vacuum is as unique as the customer who uses it, the better question is, “what’s the right vacuum cleaner for me?”
From home design and flooring, to the customer’s lifestyle, the above video offers a sneak peek into how the highly trained team at Swanson’s Discount Vacuum helps you to find the RIGHT vacuum cleaner for you.
Get your vacuum or shampooer cleaned and serviced for only $19.95!
That’s 50% off our normal $39.95!
Service includes complete inspection of belts, brushes, gaskets, electrical components and more. Also includes any necessary cleaning or adjustments to restore lost cleaning performance.
Offer valid through 07/07/2022. Mention offer code TUSP2022.
The next time you’re in store, be sure to check out our full selection of E-Cloth products. Floors, stainless steel, glass, granite or more – this is an E-Cloth specially designed for your surface. And the best part: no harsh chemicals needed! Just add water and E-Cloth works!
Kitty Scram an absolutely fantastic product for destroying any type of odor We have kitty scram in quart and gallon sizes can be added to your shampoo water laundry and great for cleaning pet kennels and litter boxes
5 different scents to choose from Simply add a small amount to your vacuum bag or dirt container and the scent will deodorize the vacuum as well as the room
The HomeCare version of the C3 is Miele’s full-size machine. It’s serves as Miele’s flagship and this particular model is a Swanson’s favorite, primarily because it allows you to customize it and buy it the way you want it.
On-Board Tools
The machine itself is going to come as the C3 body. You get all the upholstery, dusting, and crevice tools and attachments that are securely stored in the trunk. They’re not going to fall off if you’re carrying up the steps or when in use. You also get Miele’s flexible crevice tool, normally an optional attachment that comes packed in the box, as well as their universal brush which is ideal for woodwork, blinds and ceiling fans. It turns in different angles so it makes it especially easy easy to clean crown moldings. These are conveniently packed in the box, which are normally optional tools.
You have an electric hose electric wand and Miele’s best hard floor tool which is a combination tool.
Power Head Options
With the HomeCare version of the Miele C3, the vacuum does not come packed with a power head. Instead, we let you select the power head that’s best for you.
The 217 power head is recommended for people that have very little carpet – primarily low cut, if any. The brushroll height is non-adjustable, so it’s a very gentle, non-aggressive brush.
The 228 power head is one of the most popular heads. This comes standard with a lot of Miele’s machines, for instance, the Cat and Dog version of the C3, and the Kona version of the C3 to name a few. With the 228 power head, we now have five height adjustments and handle release levers. This is an all around very good head.
Miele’s best head is the 236 power head. This head still gives us the five height adjustments, providing a very aggressive brushing system. With the 236, we now have an LED headlight system, so if you’re going underneath furniture or under the bed, it will illuminate any dark spaces. The 236 head also has a power switch, so when you lower the handle to vacuum it’s going to turn the head on. Likewise, when you raise the handle, it will shut the head off.
Again, with the Miele C3 HomeCare, it’s all about customizing the vacuum to suit your needs. There is about a $40-50 difference between each power head. So if you have really light cleaning with very little carpet, you may select the 217 power head. And if you have heavier carpet, frieze, a shaggier carpet, or ultra plush carpets which are super super dense, the adjustable power heads – either the 228 or the 236 – are what’s really going to be needed for that style of carpet. The lower profile of the 236 power head is desired if you’re going underneath furniture. The levers on the 228 stick up a little bit higher than the contoured levers on the 236, giving you a little lower profile.
In the showroom at Swanson’s, we’re selling more of the 236 power head with the 228 coming in second. We sell a few of the 217’s but not a lot. Just remember there’s only a $40-50 cost differential as you take the next step up.
HEPA Filtration
Miele’s products offer some of the best filtration on the market. It is a sealed HEPA unit, which means when the dirt comes into this vacuum cleaner, it’s going into a HEPA bag system. There is a safety filter behind the bag system and then the air is circulated and put through a HEPA system that’s sealed to the machine. So when you put all of these components together and shut the lid, the air that’s coming out of this vacuum is HEPA clean. There are very few vacuum cleaners on the market that achieve that level of HEPA filtration. Most vacuums today have a HEPA filter but not all the air is being directed through, often times leaking in other spots. So for a person that does have allergies and is concerned about mold, spores, viruses and these types of things, at least whatever you’re picking up and filtering through this machine will come out 99.9% clean.
Adjustable Motor Speed
When you turn the main on or off switch for the vacuum cleaner, you’re going to notice the illumination of the motor speed indicator lights. Here, you’re able to change the speed of the motor so we can have a very gentle suction if we’re cleaning something delicate, such as drapes. Or we can turn the motor speed up for maximum power of the machine. Most people are going to want the most suction power they can have, but in some cases, depending on what you’re cleaning, it might not handle all of the power, so you have the ability to control it.
Clean the Hard to Reach Spots
A canister vacuum is about the only machine you can buy on the market that is going to allow you to clean everything in the house. When you connect your hose to the machine, your power plan is active so you can do attachment cleaning of stairs, furniture and edges. Any of your tools are going to fit directly on the handle, so if we wanted to clean between the fridge and the counter cabinets, dryer vents or heating ducts. Going one step further, you can put your telescopic extension pipe on any of your attachments. This is ideal if we wanted to clean a 10-foot ceiling. You may choose to use the universal brush, which now you can easily reach the 10-foot ceilings with the vacuum safely still on the floor. I have reach to go and have a soft natural bristle brush that is going to dust ceiling fans, cabinetry, and crown molding.
The Best Hard Floor Tool
If we’re cleaning hard floors or just say a small area rug, the floor tool is what we would use. The suction is channeled into a very tight area, so even something as heavy as a coin will be picked up off the floor. The bristles around the nozzle are going to give you a dusting action, and agitate the surface if something is a little more stuck to the floor, you can stir that dust up and allow it to channel into the suction. These suction vents go all the way out to the edge so even if you have dog hair up against the baseboards, it’s going to pull it right in with no problem.
On the top of this nozzle, we have a lever that retracts the bristle. So if we wanted to clean a small area rug or an entry mat, we can simply go from our hard floor setting right to our low cut carpet setting. There’s no agitation but you have a tremendous amount of suction that’s being channeled directly to the floor. For uh certain types of mats or rugs, this may actually work better than the electric power head.
All-Wheel Swivel
One of the biggest obstacles for people with a canister vacuum and the number one concern we hear, is they don’t want something to pull behind them. The unique feature of a Miele is that all of its wheels swivel. So no matter where you’re at, the vacuum can react without tipping over. Most canister vacuums have big back wheels and then a swivel in the front, which means if you go to move them, you may cause the machine to tip over. That is simply not the case with the all-wheel swivel of the Miele C3.
LED Headlight & Indicator
When we turn the vacuum on, the 236 power head is going to come on when we lower the nozzle so you see the led headlights. It also has an indicator here on the top which is a reset switch so if you picked up a sock or edge of a throw rug, that light instead of being yellow is going to illuminate red and it’s going to stop the power head. You then have to remove whatever object you’ve got caught, and just push the the button that’s illuminated and that will reset the head
German Engineering & Attention to Detail
With Miele and the other German companies, everything is highly engineered. So your hose system swivels 360-degrees and you also have a pivot swivel which allows you maximum control with less hand movement.
The wands are stainless steel and they adjust to the height that’s comfortable for you. You may not think that you’ll use it on it’s tallest setting, but if you needed to go farther underneath the bed, you’ll be able to extend it out and reach easily under a queen-size bed from one side. The telescopic wand slides very, very easy with the push a small button back on the back of the wand.
The Germans touch everything from your dusting brush, which looks like a normal dusting brush, but has natural bristles so it’s furniture safe and this tool also turns and creates angles so that you can get the full surface of the brush onto whatever surface you’re cleaning.
Quality & HomeCare Exclusive Warranty
Quality is second to none on the Miele C3 HomeCare machine. They warranty the body, in the housing, and the motor of this machine for 10 years. The entire vacuum cleaner, from the wand, the cord retractor, the hose, all carries a five-year warranty. This is only available on the HomeCare series of vacuums for Miele. The HomeCare series of vacuums are only sold through warranty stations like Swanson’s Discount Vacuum. It’s simply the best that Miele makes. By having the choice of power heads and being able to build the vacuum cleaner the way you want, it’s been our best seller the last couple years. Depending on how you set it up, the estimated in-store only price ranges anywhere from only $849-937.* That is the Swanson’s price and that’s strictly depending on whether you buy the small nozzle the medium nozzle or Miele’s best nozzle.
Go for a Test Drive
We have these units in stock at Swanson’s Discount Vacuum. We are located at 7507 North Second Street in Machesney Park, Illinois. Our hours currently are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. Stop in and take the Miele C3 HomeCare for a test drive.
*Price is current as of December 2020 but may vary overtime.
SPOILER ALERT: OUR PRICE WAS $70 BELOW AMAZON IN THIS STORY!
We commonly talk about our “price match guarantee” but we seldom talk about “The Swanson’s Price.”
When you step into our showroom, it’s not uncommon to find vacuum cleaners with better prices than the online stores. These are prices that are too low for print or online publication. These are what we call “The Swanson’s Price.”
Somewhere over the last 10-15 years, Amazon and other online retailers have come to be viewed as the gold standard. Customers always request the “Amazon price” or to have it delivered as quickly as “Prime shipping.”
But as Brent points on in this story, Amazon is not always the standard. In fact, local customers will come to discover that Swanson’s has a distinct advantage over the online retailers.
Take the story about this SEBO Automatic X4 as an example. Over the telephone, a customer confirmed that we had the vacuum he was looking for in-stock and confirmed that we would “match Amazon’s price.” Upon arrival to the showroom, his jaw dropped to discover “The Swanson’s Price” was $70 below that of Amazon! After a little fun and joking about matching Amazon’s price, the customer proudly took home his SEBO vacuum at “The Swanson’s Price.”
What’s more, Amazon could not ship the SEBO X4 for 5-7 business days. This customer, from phone call, to showroom, to transaction, had his SEBO vacuum from Swanson’s in about 90 minutes time.
Let this be a lesson to not settle for what you find online. But dig a little deeper locally, and you might be surprised how much time and money you can save.