Everything you need to know about Miele vacuum bags (and how to choose the right one)

Miele has a long history of producing high quality home appliances and their vacuum cleaners are no exception. The brand is known for its attention to detail and commitment to innovation, which has helped establish its reputation for producing exceptional vacuum cleaners. If you have a Miele vacuum cleaner and are unsure which vacuum cleaner bag is the right one to use, then this guide is for you. We share everything you need to know about Miele vacuum bags and take the guesswork out of choosing the right one.

In this guide:

• What type of vacuum cleaners to Miele offer?
• What type of dustbags should be used with a Miele vacuum cleaner?
• Should you use genuine Miele vacuum bags?
• Is it ok to use non-genuine vacuum bags in your Miele vacuum cleaner?
• 4 types of Miele dustbags
• What is the difference between Miele GN and Miele FJM dustbags?
• Choosing the right dustbag for your vacuum cleaner
• How often should you change your Miele vacuum bag?
• How to replace your Miele vacuum bag
• Don’t forget your motor filters!
• The right time to change your exhaust filters
• Expert tips on the Statewide blog and YouTube channel

What type of vacuum cleaners do Miele offer?

Miele offer an extensive range of vacuum cleaners including:

• Cylinder vacuum cleaners – Classic shape, ideal for large areas
• Bagless cylinder vacuum cleaners – All-rounder, quick and easy to empty
• Cordless stick vacuum cleaners – Compact and ready to use in a flash
• Robot vacuum cleaners – Designed for automatic cleaning performance

Most Miele vacuum cleaners such as the Classic C1, Compact C2, and Complete C3, as well as upright vacuums like the Jazz and the Blizzard also use dustbags. Some Miele vacuums, like the Dynamic U1, use a combination of a dustbag and a filter.

What type of bags should be used with a Miele vacuum cleaner?

We recommend genuine Miele dustbags for Miele vacuum cleaners, which provide optimal performance and help to maintain the warranty. Genuine Miele dustbags are specifically designed to be used with Miele vacuums. These a are made of high-quality materials that are effective at capturing and retaining dust, dirt and other particles.

Should you always use genuine Miele vacuum bags?

Miele bags:

• Are made of high quality materials. As a result, they are more durable and they last longer than non-genuine, after market bags.
• Work seamlessly with the machine’s filtration system.
• Keep your home healthier, thanks to bags that are designed to trap allergens and dust.
• Hygienic, offering dust free replacement.

Is it ok to use non-genuine vacuum bags in your Miele vacuum cleaner?

It is possible to use aftermarket vacuum bags for Miele vacuums, but there are several factors to consider before doing so.

• Non-genuine vacuum bags may not have the same level of filtration as genuine Miele bags, which could result in lower air quality and the release of trapped dust, dirt, and allergens back into your home.

• They may not fit as well as genuine Miele bags. This can impact the performance and suction power of your vacuum cleaner and allow dust to be drawn into the motor.

• Generic or non genuine bags may not be made from the same high-quality materials as genuine Miele bags, which can lead to premature tearing, splitting, or breakage.

• Most importantly – non genuine bags may void the warranty on your Miele vacuum cleaner.

4 types of Miele dustbags

There are 4 types of bags available and they are easily distinguishable by their colour coded collars.

(1) GN Bags [Blue Collar] – Designed for Miele canister vacuums

(2) FJM Bags [Red Collar] – Designed for Miele canister vacuums

(3) U Bags [Green Collar] – Designed for Miele upright vacuums

(4) KK Bags [Yellow Collar] – Designed for Miele upright & stick vacuums

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What is the difference between Miele GN and Miele FJM dustbags?

The most common vacuum bags are the GN & FJM bags. The main difference between the two is the size capacity of the bags. Each bag has its own colour coded collar, which helps to make it easy to select the right one. Lastly, GN and FJM bags have the same fitting so they will both work. The only difference will be how much dust, dirt and debris each bag can hold.

Generally, Miele canister vacuums use Miele GN dustbags. They feature a unique AirClean filter system which uses two layers of electrostatically charged filter media, This helps to capture and retain more than 99.9% of all dust particles. To note, the GN dustbags are bigger than FJM dustbags, so they may last longer before needing replacement. They are ideal for larger spaces and more frequent vacuuming needs.

Miele FJM dustbags feature an extra large, seven-layer filtration system that captures and retains over 99.95% of all dust particles.

Choosing the right dustbag for your vacuum cleaner

The Miele dustbag that you need is dependent on your model. Check out our guide below to find the right bag for your vacuum cleaner.

GN Bags

GN bags have a blue collar. These are designed to be used with Complete C2, Complete C3, Classic C1, S8, S5, S2.

FJM Bags

FJM bags have a red collar and are designed for Complete C1, Compact C1, Compact C2, S6, S4 .

Handy tip: Each box of Miele Dustbags includes 4 dustbags, 1 motor protection and 1 exhaust filter.

How often should you change your Miele vacuum bag?

This depends on several factors, including the frequency of use, the type of flooring you have, and the level of dirt and debris in your home.

As a general guideline, Miele recommends changing the dustbag every 3 months. Additionally, certain models have an indicator that shows when it’s time to replace the full dustbag. If you use your vacuum cleaner frequently, it may be necessary to change the dustbag more often.

If anyone in your household has allergies, you may need to replace the dustbag more often. This will improve air quality and filtration.

How to replace your Miele vacuum bag

Changing your dustbag is easy and only takes a few minutes.

Step 1: To start, open the cover of your vacuum cleaner. Press the release button for the dust compartment lid.

Step 2: Remove the bag by gently pulling the grip collar. Discard the old bag.

Step 3: Get your new Miele vacuum dustbag and slide into the holder mount. Align the arrows and wait for a lick to indicate its firmly in place.

Step 4: Tuck the unfolded bag securely into the dust compartment. Close the lid of the dust compartment. It will click into position.

Don’t forget your motor filters!

Your Miele dustbags come with motor filters, which should be changed every 4 vacuum bags.

These filters offer motor protection and maintain cleaning performance. To change the motor filter:

Step 1: Open the dust compartment lid and pull the dustbag out by the grip next to the self-closing flap on the collar.

Step 2: Unclip the filter frame and remove the old filter. Hold by the clean, unsoiled section to remove it.

Step 3: Replace with a new dust compartment filter and close the filter frame.

Step 4:  Fit the new dustbag into the filter holder as far as it will go.

Step 5: Close the dust compartment lid securely, making sure it clicks into position.

Handy tip: Miele dustbags are disposable. Dispose of full dustbags. Importantly, do not continue to use them once they are full as this may result in blocked pores. This in turn can reduce the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner.

The right time to change your exhaust filters

Miele vacuum cleaners include their own exhaust filters, equipped with a timestrip. This will provide you with a visual reminder when the filter requires changing, which is usually once per year.

Genuine original Miele exhaust filter – Your exhaust filter may include a filter replacement reminder. Once the filter is placed in the appliance and the arrow is subsequently pressed firmly, the reminder is activated. The filter must be replaced when it is completely red and saturated.

The HEPA AirClean filter– filters even fine dust and allergens – ideal for those with house dust allergies. The timestrip indicator will provide a clear visual notification of the need to replace the filter.

Active AirClean filters – helps reduce unpleasant odours – ideal for pet owners or households with smokers. Check the timestrip indicator to see if its time for a filter change.

You can find your replacement filter at Statewide.

All the latest on the Statewide blog

Visit our blog for clever vacuum cleaner tips to make life easier and our step by step guide to replacing your dustbag.

Check out our YouTube channel

Need help with your home appliance repairs and maintenance? Check out our DIY videos on our YouTube Channel. All the expert hints and tips to make appliance repairs a breeze!

Shop the complete range of Miele bags and accessories at Statewide

We stock Miele GN Bags, GN Dust Bag Holders, Miele FJM Bags, FJM Dust Bag Holders, and a complete range of air clean filters with fast, Australia wide delivery.