My new vacuum-(please don't laugh)

[partscounterman]

I have already been warned not to really say anything about this as I will become a laughingstock around here, but here goes.

As far as vacs are concerned I've always been into Heavy Metal. When we moved over hea, I shipped my big huge Kirby G3 and my Compact c6 canister. I soon felt like they were just too much machine to clean a small one bedroom cottage with 3 room size rugs. I even tried a cheap Hoover flair broom which turned out to be harder to push than the Kirby (returned it)

I recently gave the Kirby to my friend Martha, as she just moved into a 3 bedroom house. She loves it as the tech-drive appeals to her husband Mark, so now he does the vacuuming! Martha thinks thats a good deal.

So now on to my "new" vac- I picked up an Oreck for $10 bucks at Savers (I love my employee discount!). For me, the Oreck is fantastic! It does well on the rugs, is super easy to push, and does a great job on my bare floors too. I never thought too much of these machines before as I thought it was a glorified power nozzle. I can now clean my entire house in ten minutes and not even break a sweat.

I'm not saying that an Oreck is the best machine, but it is the best machine for the situation I am in. For me it is "just right"

 

[mrcleanjeans]

the heavyweight lightweight

the Oreck DOES clean better than many vacuum gurus would think.Here's why,though the fan IS small,what somewhat makes up for it is the 19,000 RPMS that it whirls at.Also,the brushes,though not stiff,are bushy and packed together with 11,000 bristles flying at 6,500 RPM,up to 3 times faster than other vacuums,and carefully arranged in a chevron pattern,plus the fan is near the opening.Though there are more powerful uprights out there,they are so heavy,they may not be dug out as much.I have personally,extensively done my own comparative tests and have absolutely come to the following conclusions:The Orecks score right in the middle,or good,on deep cleaning and very good to excellent on bare floor and surface litter pickup.Due to the Microsweep squeegee,and the overall design,they can THOUROUGHLY pick up sand off a bare floor without scattering it,and I've done it many,many times so this is not hearsay.They do have a more powerful one,the XL21,with very stiff bristles and a much larger fan by the way.They do fill a niche in the market,and I like them alot.I work at a vacuum shop that deals much with them,but that is not the reason I've said all of this.I honesly believe what I'm saying.Happy Orecking!

 

[petek]

I'd be taking and using it for $10 as well. When you add up what I've spent on all my used vacs in total I'll bet it's not $250 as most were from $5 - $20 each. Some like the Sears/Singer twin fans are not the nicest vacs to use, very noisy etc but they do the job and who knows maybe better than many of the new vacs out there. Vacs aren't rocket science although from the sounds of the advertisements and some on the WTTV forum you would think they're the most complicated piece of machinery out there and worthy of ultra scientific dissection and measuring. Now where's the pic, you can't post a vac acquisition without a picture.

 

[retromom]

Oh my, an Oreck!!

Heck David...for $10.00, I'd try just about anything for vacuuming over here at "dusty arms". I came home with a Rainbow system from an estate sale, and love it! I know I've dissed Orecks and Rainbows, but it's mostly over their outrageous prices. When you can get a deal.....it's the best vacuum you'll ever own!!!

Venus

 

[hoover1060]

Just right...

An oreck would be the last vacuum I would recommend to anyone, however you said the magic words "just right"

When people ask me what's good in a new vacuum I always ask them "what do you want it to do for you?"
That way they get something that meets their needs, and aren't just buying a vacuum because I said so.

Happy Oreck-ing!

 

[brettsomers]

my issue with the oreck is the selling price. ur paying for 75 percent advertising, 25 percent product. it DOES do an excellent job of sweeping. most full size uprights with a full size brushroll do at least a good job of SURFACE cleaning. of course, we cant SEE the deep down dirt. what happens when you combine a fast agitator with inferior suction is that the brushroll will GRIND the fine dirt into the pile. of course, if you need something lightweight, an oreck is better than just a bissell sweeper, or nothing at all. the handles on orecks have always felt too bend-y for my tastes, but you cant argue with 10 dollars. and if you enjoy using it thats all that matters.

 

[timborow]

I love mine!

I have several choices of vacuums. I do prefer the oreck for weekly cleaning. Occasionally I will drag out my Electrolux Golden J with powernozzle to really deep clean, but I do feel the Oreck does a good job. I don't really know why people don't like them. For my hardwoods and area rugs, it just can't be beat. Tim

 

[veg-o-matic]

<FONT SIZE =6>An Oreck??</FONT>

Thud!

veg, who's fallen and can't get up!

 

[hoover1060]

ok veg

Whats wrong with an Oreck??

Do tell please

 

[westytoploader]

Very nice David!! How old is your Oreck, and is it the commercial version? Also, does it have the handle switch?

While a 3.5-amp Eureka weighs the same and does a much better job (as well as gives you the ability to use attachments), the Oreck isn't a bad machine at all, and yes, I would definitely have another one, but only if it is a commercial model. I know Jeff has mentioned before that "you can get more dirt off the floor with a shovel" (;-)), but when we had our Oreck XL9100 upright from 1995-1998, I didn't hear any complaints, and it was very fun to use. Being 7 years old, I would always be sure to pick up a little "extra" sand from the school playground in my shoes and dump it on my floor so I could vacuum it up. And on another occasion when I was 9, a few weeks after we had brand-new carpeting installed and were getting ready to sell the house, I was reaching for *something* and knocked a plant off of my shelf, spilling dirt everywhere. Of course I was thinking, "OH, S**T!", and RAN to the hall closet to grab the Oreck. I went so far as to get down on my hands & knees and push down on the nozzle so it would get every last bit of that dirt out! 10 minutes later, no traces of dirt, and I got off lucky. When I eventually told Mom about the incident, she was surprised as she didn't even notice any dirt on the white carpet.

Now had I been using the minicanister it would have been a different story...

--Austin

 

[maytagbear]

Well, for those of us

who like such men....David Oreck is some kind of yummy!

'nuff said.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[Brneyedgrl80]

Don't feel too bad partscounterman, I've escaped a lot for a Dirt Devil swivel caster so you shouldn't get too much for an Oreck! lol

I'm glad you found somthing that works for what you need. Many moons ago, my ex-stepdad bought an Oreck and it seemed okay, it just couldn't keep up with our pets.

 

[tolivac]

Ten bucks for your Oreck-Excellent deal-The Orecks do pretty well better than most bigger,heavier and less efficient "Clean air" uprights out there.that little Oreck will outclean most of the 12A monsters with no problem.I don't care what the folks on WTBV say-that little Oreck will even outclean the--DYSON!I have a few of them-Love when you do use it on a bare floor-the soft brushroll will even "polish" the floor to some degree-and even get up some of the fine "chalky" dirt other vacs miss.However on my deep carpeting-the Oreck does bog down a bit.but its still fun to use-also Oreck and other vac dealers sell the "air Freshner" tablets you can put in the slot inside the bag-as you vacuum with the Oreck--it leaves a nice smell.also-the tablets can be used in other vacuums.the bad part of Orecks-just don't let it pick up a coin,nail or large peice of gravel-you will break the fan and the fan housing.Have fun with your "new" Oreck!!!

 

[mrcleanjeans]

lift plus thrust

The Orecks do not have inferior airflow.All of them move 50 CFMs,the XL21s move over 80.Most clean-air machines average 35 CFMs.So they're not the highest,nor by any means the lowest.

 

[toggleswitch]

ORECK, isn't that a re-badged Regina (which means Queen,

Listen:

as long as it

-Is willing to go into the closet (at least on occasion, as needed).

-sucks well

-gets plugged in, (but yet no place to stick a hose)

-is baggable

-can be pushed around

- gets the job done.

WHO CARES!

..........Enjoy it in good health. Are there better options? Maybe. Does it suit you? yes? .........GREAT

We miss you David and Dennis!

 

[veg-o-matic]

Nothing's wrong with an Oreck. Some of my best friends have them.

I just like ragging on David!

veg

 

[hoover1060]

The bottom line is...

If it meets your needs, thats what matters. I don't have alot of experience with Orecks, so I do not consider myself qualified to judge.
I had one a few years ago that I sold on ebay for a friend. I used it once and it choked on all Jack's hair. I don't think one would last too long in my house given that.
The best Oreck quote I've ever heard comes from my mom, who back about 1999 decided her 35 year old Hoover Convertible was too heavy and ordered an Oreck on the home trial. She used it twice and then put it back in the box and returned it. Her opinion: "I could ge more dirt off my floor with a shovel"
She wound up with a Hoover Soft-n-Light Elite which she just loves! After all its a Hoover!(her words)

 

[brettsomers]

a 5 or 7 amp Hoover Elite sure would clean better than an Oreck.

 

[portendere]

The only time I ever used an Oreck was to clean a room that I had been vacuuming with a $40 Hoover stick vac. (S-2203, now discontinued.) I wasn't impressed with the Oreck's cleaning ability...no better than that (surprisingly effective) stick. But at least the cord was long enough, and the bag big enough, to finish the room in one session.

Yeah, any Hoover Elite would be a better carpet cleaner. At $300-700, new Orecks are overpriced. But for $10, though, you can't really go wrong.