I’ve had my Oreck XL upright vacuum for four years, and have been very happy with it. Like many other people, I got my Oreck after hearing countless ads for their ׆ pound Oreck XL.” I was never happy with other vacuums we’ve purchased. Most were in the 100-150 dollar price range, and all seemed to fall apart on me. The Oreck looked like a solid machine, so I decided to give it a shot.

I’ll break this down into the best and the worst features of the vacuum. On the plus side, this is a very sturdy vacuum cleaner. The handle is made out of aluminum, and the head is made from hard plastic, with a rubber bumper all the way around it.

The beater brush has 2 height adjustments, high and low. When you first get the vacuum, the brush is set on high. As the brush head wears down, you can set it lower, to get more life out of your brush head.

This is a very light vacuum. It’s easy to use on stairs, and it’s no problem carrying it around the house.

Finally, I think this does an excellent job of cleaning my floors. I have a cat, a dog, and a parrot, all of whom make a considerable mess in my house. My Oreck has no problems with fur, feathers, cat litter, and seed thrown on the floor by my parrot.

The Oreck stores located across the country provide excellent local support for their products, and sell brushes, belts, bags, and deodorizers at fair prices.

On the down side, there are no on-board attachments for this model, making it difficult to do edge work and upholstery.

This is one of the louder vacuums I’ve ever used. It’s impossible for somebody else to watch TV or read while you’re vacuuming.

This is a minor problem, but it’s there. . .The cord wrap on the vacuum is rigid. By this, I mean that the top part of the cord wrap doesn’t fold down so you can take the whole cord off. You have to unwind the cord the same way you would have to wind it back up. Again, it’s not a huge issue, but it’s kind of a pain.

All in all, I’ve been very happy with my Oreck XL. After four years of use, I’m still on my original beater head, and only my second belt. If I ever have to replace my vacuum, I’d buy another Oreck in a minute.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 299