Miele Libra Canister Vacuum Cleaner, S5281 Libra S5 - Mango Red

by Miele

Product Features

• Sealed HEPA Filtration includes AirClean Dustbag, HEPA Filter, & Pre-Motor Filter
• Rotary power selector includes six adjustable power levels for numerous cleaning applications
• Powerful yet quiet 1,200-watt motor system and includes 2 floor brush attachments
• Ergonomic Control Handle and telescopic extension wand, plus an Airflow Indicator
• Onboard Attachment Storage Includes Crevice Nozzle, Upholstery Nozzle, and Dusting Brush

Product Details

• Item Weight: 19 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 26 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B003PX8K56
• Item model number: Miele Libra S5281
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,071 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen)

Product Description

Introducing the new Miele S5281 Libra vacuum cleaner!

The Libra is a member of the Miele S5 series and has quickly become a favorite to many. It's impressive as a mid-size canister vacuum cleaner. Purchase one yourself and experience the difference. The Libra are great for customers who wants a long lasting quality vacuum cleaner. It's very quiet and does well with low-medium carpeting, area rugs and smooth flooring.

Ultra quiet featuring a HEPA Sealed system with large AirClean filtering dust bags. Includes power brush and bare floor flush for medium pile carpets and smooth flooring

Miele S5281 Libra Parquet Floor Brush SBB 300-3, Miela S5281 Libra brush is able to perform perfect 90° rotation for cleaning around obstacles such as table legs and in tight places

Miele S5281 Libra Deluxe handle, Miela S5281 Libra's vacuum handle is ergonomic hand grip to reduce wrist strain. The handle fits well in your hand and isn't clunky or heavy like comparable vacuum cleaners.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So this is how the other half lives!!, July 7, 2010

By 

Lillith (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Miele Libra Canister Vacuum Cleaner, S5281 Libra S5 - Mango Red (Kitchen)

Having struggled with vile super-heavy, badly-designed, dust-regurgitating Kenmore vacuum cleaners, esp. their upright model, I finally decided to spend money I haven't got and get a really good vacuum cleaner that will attack the dust problem in my old house and protect my baby's breathing.

So the Miele libra has entered my life as of today and it's ...well a revelation. I no longer have to get my husband to help me get the machine out of the closet, and cleaning the hallway carpet with it was like gliding on air...so easy and effortless. It fits nimbly under furniture, including old dressers and sideboards (that's a big reason why I wanted this power brush, not just that it's cheaper than the other two) which is so important for me; and is both light and powerful. And quiet. About choosing a power brush: I have just one thickish (old, and i'd like to get rid of it) carpet, and I find that this power brush does require some muscle work to move over it, but it is OK and sure picks up the stuff. It just doesn't glide as effortlessly as over the other carpets. But I am glad I didn't spend another 50 bucks getting a model with a power brush that might have handled just that one carpet easier because it just wdn't have made sense. I also have some wood flooring, for which the nimble parquet swivel brush works very well.

Now I don't have to go through the immense hassle of moving baby's crib every time I want to vacuum under it! I don't have to mess around with crappy little attachment brushes with no power just to tackle spaces narrower than a freeway. May Kenmore rot in a ditch!! Finally I will be able to clean my large, dust-prone home without misery and exhaustion! (Maybe i'll be able to breathe again too....)

oh, and if you are totally bewildered by the big range of Miele v. cleaners, there is a website [...] which has a great buying guide. But before buying via that website, do compare their prices with amazon, I saw that for some model they're more expensive...and as for the 'no tax' thing, amazon.com didn't charge me tax either (and I have 'prime' so I got 2-day shipping free).

I intend to update this review when I've had it longer...

UPDATE
OK, about 10 mths later...I just realized that I have to replace the exhaust filter; the machine was cutting out and over-heating and then I realized that was the problem. So I just ordered it. I'm still impressed with the machine; just want to warn you that you REALLY need to be careful when inserting a new vacuum cleaner bag - don't let the sides get caught in the door as you close it. It happened to me once and the bag was wrecked. I also just had an experience where the bag got really full and I somehow didn't notice, till I was using it and the indicator wasn't showing anything at all. Well I knew that was fishy because the bag wasn't new in there; I opened it up and it was SO full that the lid of the bag wasn't properly closed, as it should be. So I am puzzled how this happened, but must have been my carelessness not noticing a 'full' indication and continuing to use it till it was simply bursting. When correctly used, the bags are pretty great, and don't require a dust mask as the Kenmore ones do. I"ve also found that I had to replace the little filter inside the bag compartment more often than just 'every time you open a new packet of bags', as they say. But I have serious dust issues in my home and a messy toddler (which is how I justified springing for this deluxe machine in the first place...)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good vacuum - accessories expensive, October 15, 2011

By 

Brownsfan77 (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miele Libra Canister Vacuum Cleaner, S5281 Libra S5 - Mango Red (Kitchen)

I replaced a Kenmore canister with this Meile Libra Canister. I have two large dogs that shed and I was looking for something that was good at cleaning a variety of floors and furniture. I had orginally wanted the Cat and Dog Canister, but was told it was no longer available and this one was better.

PROS: the suction is unbelievable and it cleans like no other vacuum. For this reason alone - I LOVE it.
It seem to be really sturdy and well built.

CONS: I had to purchase (seperately) the adjustable height floor tool as the one that came with the Libra was impossible to use on my carpet (which is not a high pile). You would think for almost $900 that it would just come with this tool.
Also had to purchase seperately, the mini turbo power brush for cleaning my furniture.
The power button is not on the wand, but on the canister which I hate.
The power cord is reasonable length but shorter that what I am used to so I have to change plugs more often.
The bags are a great change and good quality but they are too small. I have to change them every other vacuum session.
Generic attachments and tools (like my Furminator dog brush attachment) will not fit your Miele. for some reason the hose ends are an odd size.

Although I love my Miele, I wish I would have known the above before purchasing. I might have looked for something else.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Vacuum., April 23, 2011

By 

Olive Jam (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Miele Libra Canister Vacuum Cleaner, S5281 Libra S5 - Mango Red (Kitchen)

This is such a great vacuum. Very quiet. Considerably bigger and heavier than the less expensive Miele vacuum (but still light), but it works really well and the compartment for the attachments is a nice touch. I bought this vacuum to replace the Dyson canister vacuum I had. It was SO loud! My GOD. It was so obnoxious and heavy and awkward to carry. I hated that darned thing.