I used an Oreck XL for the first time!

[niclonnic]

I can't stop talking about vacuums in commercial settings! Today I started another new volunteer job, this time at a recreational center. That afternoon, I got to use an Oreck XL Commercial vacuum. I've always been curious about these, and here are my impressions:

- Very lightweight
- Very LOUD
- Picks up everything on the first pass
- Easy to maneuver under furniture
- Grooms carpets very well
- Handle is comfortable
- Bags are HUGE

To my surprise, I like this vacuum! However, one design flaw I've found is that the brush roll bristles are very soft. I don't think this will deep clean carpets, but it would make a good touch-up vacuum, like if you want the carpet to look nice before guests come over.

In addition, there is a belt storage area on the bottom of the cleaner. This is convenient! However, I'm not sure how long belts last on these Orecks.

Actually, to be honest, I wouldn't want to use an Oreck as my daily driver, or spend $250 or more on a new one.

What do you think?

 

[tolivac]

The Oreck SCREAMER!!the houskeepers use these at work-in the morning you hear it firing up on the otherside of the building!But have to admire these machines-they take a licking but keep on screamin!

 

[sebo_fan]

I find they do deep clean - the bristles are compacted up enough and quite thick compared to "thin strip bristles."

Infact it is the only thing I like about Oreck uprights in general; the brush rolls are excellent and groom carpets very well.

I owned an XL once. I will never own an Oreck XL again unless they improve the design considerably and lower the motor noise!

 

[spiraclean]

For what they are, and their original intended use, they really aren't all that bad and they certainly have their place. I got a good deal on a brand new one back when I had my housecleaning business, and decided there was nothing to lose by giving it a go. After what I'd read about them I was expecting it to be awful, or perhaps so-so at best, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Wouldn't be my first choice for deep shag carpeting, but on low pile it cleans just fine. Brilliant on pet hair, and picks up well enough on hard floors that I expect most users would be perfectly satisfied with it. What I really liked was that it could be used on rugs without inhaling them or chewing them up, while still doing an acceptable job. I didn't find it particularly noisy, but it does have a rather unusual high-pitched whine which changes in pitch as you go from one surface type to another.

Downsides? No edge cleaning, despite the side brushes, and while the disposable bags are large they are a tad expensive. No onboard tools either; I can't abide onboard tools personally, so the separate canister was a more than acceptable substitute in my book, but I can see a lot of people not wanting to deal with that.

In daily use I found it quite robust, certainly more than you would think so by just looking at it. Take the cleaner apart however, and you soon realise it's massively overpriced when you consider how simple it is. For the same money or less, you could easily buy a very nice, fully-featured cleaner from numerous other brands if weight wasn't your absolute primary concern.

 

[vac-o-matic]

Two things.....

absolutely necessary in an Oreck, a good belt and brushroll. The brushroll on this model has two settings depending on the position of the end caps. One setting is for when it's new, the other when it starts aging. Belts should be changed at least every six months, especially if it's used in a daily use environment. I can't read the label, but does it have the Endurabelt system? If it does, those are almost lifetime belts and work very well for a long time. The vacuum will also shut off if something impedes the rotation of the brushroll. Not all of them have that feature. The only quieter Orecks are the XL21, Platinums, and Forever Golds which are the higher end Orecks. I always thought these were screamers too, but I had a Simplicity Freedom(?)RSL4, and while it cleaned well, it was even more of a screamer I thought. Those brushrolls used to be stiffer, but have been softer as of late. I'm pretty sure they're CWP issue and don't know if it's because TTI is cutting costs on the quality of the brushroll, or if it's just CWP putting out a lesser quality. The brushrolls on the higher end Oreck are stiffer and do a better job on deeper pile carpeting, unless of course it's frieze. Any vacuum is a crap shoot on that stuff!

 

[sebo_fan]

My old Oreck XL used to chew up rugs that weren't fixed to the floor/permanent. Well, when I say chew, rugs used to get stuck in the Oreck and bang went the belt. So handy having that belt recess on the underside but hardly worthwhile when the bigger pocket on the back was so much better for hiding spare belts.

A design element that Vax have also copied with their VCU-02/TTi/Hoover Signature and various models.

 

[super-sweeper]

the XL series were screamers! I love my old 9100 model, though. it's a lot quieter than those XL machines, but even some XL machines aren't too bad, or at least when they're used on LO! 

 

[niclonnic]

Thanks!

Nice hearing about all your experiences with Oreck vacuums! Yeah, these vacuums are screamers! I think it is the loudest vacuum I've ever used. However, I don't need ear protection.

Sebo_fan, are there differences in the UK models of the Oreck XL? I've read that Oreck was sold to TTI (Techtronic Industries, owners of Hoover and Dirt Devil) last year.

Spiraclean, yes, on the underside of Orecks, the brush roll doesn't have edge-to-edge coverage. There is a big gap on the left side, where the belt runs, and a smaller gap on the right. This isn't true edge cleaning on both sides!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have an older one

will be listed in Supermarket. It has a brand new belt. It will never be used here. It is one of the "cellar dwellers" or "basement placements".

 

[ctvacman]

The xl21 or platinum series are much better all around. They are a whole lot quieter and clean far better, while still grooming nicely.

 

[sebo_fan]

The Uk get older line ups - basic 350 watt or 400 watt uprights and no headlights though sometimes you do get lights on them. The prices are far too high brand new though. The last modern one that seems to be more popular than the basic style is the XL7.

 

[cuffs054]

GottaHave, you forgot "subterrainian sucker"

 

[dustin]

I've used several, and to be honest, don't think I would buy another one. I've owned 2, one older model, and one from about 1997 or so. I sold both fairly quickly. Yes, they are very lightweight, but I haven't been impressed with the cleaning performance (except on flat pile carpet), and the noise is awful. I used an older model commercial at a church I used to attend, and it was terrible. The bags wouldn't stay on the holder, it was near deafening to use, and it didn't pick up well. Shortly after, it was replaced with an XL2 (in about 2007), which was much better, and not quite so loud. Small, high RPM motors, small fans, and narrow air passages make it more of a carpet sweeper with a fan than an actual vacuum cleaner.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Not bad machines for what they are intended.

They along with other light weight machines are marketed with older adults in mind and they do fill that niche. They are easy to carry, easy to handle, and easy to maneuver. They are not, however, deep cleaning machines.
sw
I remember a Consumer Reports once, which I will have to paraphrase, as I don't have the actual article. ". . . They are much like a Hokey Sweeper with a motor. . ."

If used regularly and dirt is not allowed to get ground into a carpet, they can be a good maintenance machine. If someone is unable to use a heavier full sized machine, then a Oreck or other light weight vacuum is an excellent choice, as it is more effective to vacuum daily with a less powerful machine than to vacuum monthly with a monster vac.

 

[orecklover]

Oreck

I'm glad you like it! I have many orecks and they are my favorite!

 

[daknx1994]

Being an Oreck dealer,

 


The biggest thing to remember is what the Oreck was originally designed for and that is the hotel/motel market and flat commercial carpeting. On these types of carpet the Oreck excels and is quite a strong performer. Any carpet thicker than this you will need an XL21 styled machine. The current Aviator and Forever Gold are great, excellent performers. The Gold is one of my favorites because of the warranty that comes with it. Where I work we also offer ten free service tune-ups with one. The 21 styled machines have a much wider tube plus a more aggressive brushroll which helps them to deep clean better. I have found that Oreck's groom the carpet really well and can deep clean if, like mentioned above, dirt is not allowed to be ground into the carpet. The thing I like the most is how they have such a big bag capacity.