Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Since I was on the lookout for a lightweight, yet fully-powered vacuum, the Oreck XL Ultra was a top choice. At 8 pounds, but with enough air moving to create a small gale force wind (so they say), this seemed to be the right compromise between weight, power and features. My cannister does a great job, but it's VERY heavy and I really don't like dragging around "the dead pig" after myself. For fast vacuuming, I wanted something LIGHT.
And what about anti-allergy? The Oreck XL Ultra sports a patented 7-layer hypoallergenic outer bag that filters down to 3 microns, much better than industry standards for vacuum filtration. No filter is better than its seal, and the Oreck's bag is connected to the machine with an airtight rubber seal. (Have you ever looked inside your vacuum and seen a layer of dust around the bag connector? This is dust that is escaping back into your room. That's why a good seal INTO the vacuum bag is important.)
The inner bags are also layered to trap dust and particles. They are widely available, either by mail, even from QVC, or at our local Oreck stores and of course from suppliers online elsewhere. I found bags at $34.95 for pack of 25. Changing bags frequently gives better results.
The 2 speed motor lets you do carpet at high speed and wood or other hard surface floors at low speed. This was a selling point for me. Our canister lets us turn off the beater bar for the carpet and do floors without damage, so I was concerned that I might not be able to run the Oreck on our hardwood floors. No problem, however. With a flick of the switch, the motor can be set to low or high speed.
Not only did I want a vacuum that goes upstairs easily, I want one that doesn't hurt my back or wrist. I am tall, and I am so pleased with the ergonomic 'Helping Hand' handle. The height is taller than some of the original models that I remember, and the angled plastic grip loop is easy for me to grab and manipulate. The power switch is on the handle, not on the body as on some other brands of uprights. No bending needed.
The head of the Oreck XL fits under most of our furniture, and it is a narrower head than on a lot of canisters. This means more swipes across the carpet but contributes to the ease of moving it around the room. There is a headlight to shine light into dark dusty corners. The handle can be dropped almost to parallel with the head, for scooting under beds. This makes it ideal for bedrooms with either carpet or hardwood floors.
The cord is 30 foot and long enough so I can go from the living room clear into our family room and even the dining area of the kitchen without moving the plug. This is good, because the cord is NOT retractable. It simply is wound onto the machine on some hooks when you are finished. Having a fully-extended cord is great--I find I am not tugging the cord and the machine as I do with a canister.
The sound level is acceptable; I have another brand upright in my office and it is far noisier for far less suction than the Oreck. The manufacturer claims the motor uses 1/3 less electricity. This efficiency is appreciated; our electric bills are skyrocketing.
Special Design Featurers for Crafters and Pet Owners
The Oreck XL Ultra has been redesigned with a Premium Roller Brush with Thread Guard(r) System. If you are a pet owner or crafter, a constant annoyance with vacuuming is hair and thread getting tangled in the bearings. The new roller brush is made of hardwood maple for increased durability, and the brush has a chevron design that is supposed to lift the nap of the carpet, giving you those "I just cleaned" vacuum lines on the floor. It does pick up pet hair very well. The design is supposed to prevent thread from getting tangled in the bearings. So far, I have to say it works well, indeed.
Space Considerations
The Oreck XL Ultra vacuum is easy to store in a closet; good for space-limited apartments and houses. The cord winds up by hand compactly on the handle.
The optional canister would take some extra space, of course, but this is still a lot more compact to store than a typical canister floor model and some bulkier uprights, and certainly far smaller than the large bagless units. So for people with space limitations, this would be something to consider when choosing a vacuum.
Downsides and Disadvantages
The Oreck is sometimes sold with a companion handheld shoulder vacuum. This is because there are no onboard tools and hose extension. While this contributes to the light weight and maneuverability, this makes the Oreck XL Ultra less useful for carpeted stairs. Without a doubt, the worst vacuum task at home is our carpeted stairs. The stairs are narrow so that the head of the Oreck is difficult to push across each tread for best cleaning and the corners are not getting vacuumed. I still have to pull out the canister to clean them. The shoulder Oreck, which was not offered with my machine, would be a good alternative. I may look for a second-hand machine to supplement my Oreck as my regular full sized canister, though highly effective, is annoying to tug up the staircase. The Oreck canister is light and can be carried on a strap on your shoulder. This accessory is the only way you get tools and a hose for the Oreck XL; the weight of the unit is kept light by eliminating hose and onboard tools.
If I had wooden tread stairs, I would use a dust mop on them instead. If you have wooden stairs, you are probably good to go with just an Oreck XL Ultra for your entire house. The salesman remarked that once you get the Oreck, the lighter weight tempts you to use it all the time, though many owners, like me, have another vacuum in the house. Warranty
Oreck offers a 30 day full money back and an 8 year manufacturer warranty! No need to buy a service warranty.
Extra things
David Oreck has a Pink Ribbon model of the vacuum that donates $50 of the profits from each unit sold to fight breast cancer. This model will not be discounted in Oreck stores (for obvious reasons---the profit is needed for charity.) If you don't mind paying full price, you can get a very lovely pink model Oreck and fight cancer, too. It comes with the handheld canister included. A good deal and a good deed.
Colors
The model colors change year to year, and you can sometimes find an older model color on sale, if you are a thrifty shopper. The colors are black, red and yellow (or "Pink Ribbon") and this year I believe there might be a chartreuse color coming out. Check with your dealer.
Summary
The Oreck XL Ultra was just what I wanted for a quick, easy vacuum. The salesman was right, I do tend to use it over the other vacuum in the house, and if I had a lighter way to do the stairs and a set of edge and upholstery tools, I'd get rid of my full-sized canister, though it is also anti-allergenic. This is the ONLY downside of the Oreck--it has no tool and hose set. And I don't know if the handheld canister accessory vacuum from Oreck is also anti-allergic. I think it is not, so this is a definite downside if you do edges and upholstery a lot.
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Product Description:
Oreck Vacuum Cleaner: The XL Ultra Two-Speed Model utilizes new IntellaShield technology to fight bacteria and eliminate odors 24/7, even when the vacuum is turned off. A two-speed power switch allows you to adjust perfectly to the different types of flooring in your home. And, in addition to the 10 year warranty, you also get 10 annual tune-ups to keep your XL Ultra in tip-top shape. Also, receive a Deluxe Compact Canister Vac and the Oreck Cordless Speed Iron.
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