Opinions on Oreck XL's

[wyaple]

I'm beginning to see these show up in the thrift stores in the central Ohio area for around an $18 typical price. I have read various comments, ranging from "these are great" to "worst machine ever." In attempting to ascertain this model's performance, I have found something around 80" of water lift and over 100 CFM for airflow. I know the Orecks have soft brush rolls and can lay flat. So my big question is, how bad are they and why?

Bill

 

[blackheart]

Ya know

I really don't feel that Orecks are all that bad. Especially when you compare them to most big box store vacuums. Sure they're a little shrill but they are simple, light and they clean alright. I have noticed that some models came with a white brushroll which has extremely soft bristles, but if you install a stiffer...i'm assuming CWP made red one it does much better. I've actually got a Teal 4090 on the way from ebay, I kinda missed having a "classic" style Oreck.

 

[dysonman1]

In my opinion, almost any vacuum removes more dirt from the rug than an Oreck. They have very poor suction and airflow. Most of the cleaning comes from the brush, the suction just moves the dirt to the bag. I wouldn't waste my time plugging in an Oreck, when a Bissell for $48 from Wal-Mart will clean circles around it.

 

[wyaple]

So all the YouTube videos are wrong then?

When I see regular users vacuuming with their XL, most videos appear to show generally OK performance, at least with view-able surface dirt. Does anybody who owns one and regularly uses it have any comments? Of course if I get one, I'll be sure to measure it and post the results. I'm very curious as to how a very lightweight machine works.

Bill

 

[kirbysthebest]

Orecks are ok machines

For what they are designed for.   Usually lower pile carpet.


 


I still contend that if someone, say an older adult or physically disabled individual were able to use an Oreck daily, or every other day.  They are able to maintain a carpet better than only using a full sized machine once a month.


 


 

 

[panasonicvac]

I don't know why the Carpet and Rug Institute would rate the Orecks on the Gold level because I don't think they are that good on carpets. I will agree that they are ok but there are better machines out there. I also do perfer Orecks better than dysons or Garry which in my opinion that Garry is the worst vacuum ever made.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

They were popular in the beginning due to their light weight

'Weighing only 8 pounds". People liked them for that..
I have a friend who bought a very expensive "Top of the line". She's an older woman. Once, she broke something in her kitchen and asked me to 'help her clean it up'. I had to run this "Top of the line" cleaner....hm it was ok.
At the last place where I worked, they had one. I, too, had to use it once or twice. The handle was completely blocked with debris. When I took it apart to unclog it, it read, WHEN it blocks.....do....etc. Not IF, but WHEN.
I was given one after I helped clean out a friend's home. I quickly 're-gifted' it to someone who'd appreciate it., Do I bash"? No.
They do seem to do better on low pile carpet. Best of luck with yours.

 

[vinvac]

Orecks,

I have the Oreck XL21 and love it.

Many here have a bad opinion of the Oreck. Mine is very different. The XL21 I have is a very good vacuum. Not overly loud, grooms the carpet and has good airflow.

My sister owns the same vacuum and it is still running well. Any vacuum that can stand up to my sister has to have some merit. She also has a central vac unit with the Turbo Cat power brush. I vacuumed her living room with the central vacuum and was not impressed. So I dug out the Oreck. Her carpet is not a low pile carpet and I was amazed at the amount of dirt the Oreck pulled up. You could hear the dirt going up thru the fan on the Oreck. Now, had her central vacuum been using an electric power head the results may not have been the same. Her vacuum is a Haydan bagless unit...

The biggest complaint I have with the Oreck is the cost. But really not out of line when you compare them to Hoover, Riccar, Lux, Meile and other light weight uprights similar in style. But in my opinion they are all over priced.

 

[human]

My former girlfriend had an Oreck. I was never at all impressed with its performance. One time she borrowed my Kirby Heritage I to do some 'deep cleaning' and the next thing I knew, the Oreck had disappeared from her apartment. She told me later she'd pitched the Oreck in the trash. When I jokingly asked her if I'd just lost me a Kirby, she said "yes" and it turns out she meant it. We parted company a year ago and I've haven't seen that machine since.

 

[bearwise]

I have to agree that they are ok machines and work best on low pile carpets. Anything thicker and it's like dragging a sleeping cat by the tail...no fun at all.
One positive...you get a decent arm workout

 

[vacerator]

Yes, light,

and appreciated for being made in America. Now Oreck is just another choice from TTI.

 

[singerman]

Well

Oreck's are not my personal favorites. They are alright even though I would never want one. If I had to pick a lightweight vacuum it would be a simplicity freedom.

 

[vac-o-matic]

I have plush cut pile carpeting over a premium pad that's getting on in age. When I use my XL21 it brings it back to life! My dog gets two Milk Bones a day, and some of the crums make it into the pile that she doesn't get. The Oreck gets those crums that work their way down into the pile. I had a Simplicity model RSL3 IIRC. I picked one up in a thrift store that was in excellent condition. While it cleaned well, talk about a screamer! Not bashing, just observation/opinion. I quickly flipped it, and don't think it did any better than my XL21, and it's way quieter. Like any vacuum if you keep them serviced, they serve their owners well.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

My "lightweight" cleaner is the

Hoover Platinum.

 

[panasonicvac]

I have a neighbor that has a XL21, I used to like it at first because it was so fun to use but I got bored with it very quickly. One thing I didn't like cleaning with it was it was a little hard to push because they had very high pile carpet but I thought it still cleaned good, another thing I didn't like was it definitely spew dust around where the fill tube was and close to the fan chamber, I also didn't like changing the bags because it was a mess to pop out, and I don't like the handle on the XL21 because I thought it was very uncomfortable to use (One time I got a blister from it). After that I switched over to their central vac with a Lindhaus powerhead they later upgraded because it was much better to use.

Just my overall experience.

 

[jpow30]

we have 2 oreck commercial in one office that dose pretty good job on med pile carpet it leave good vacuum marks
we have a oreck xl 21 in the other office has low pile carpet we dump it every 2 month or more you may know this but oreck and oreck xl21 have differ fans oreck has 5 blade oreck xL 21 has 7 blade

 

[wyaple]

Maybe I Shouldn't Have Passed This One Up

Saw this at a thrift store two weeks ago, looked in very good condition. Can anybody date this machine based on the label? Would it be either December of 2005 or May of 2012?

Bill

 

[vac-o-matic]

It came off the line on the 52nd day of 2012. Very basic Oreck with the switch on the base, shorter cord, and non-hypo-allergenic outer bag. Everything looks to be in good shape. I worked for an Oreck store part time for over 8 yrs. and know how to date the vacuum. Around Christmas these sold for 199.99 for the upright only, sold a ton of them.

 

[rainbowd4]

Date

It's positively not from 2012. These were available even back in the mid nineties, and probably earlier, but yours is from '05 it seems.