Oreck XL2000 with ergo-handle

In addition to being lightweight, the Oreck is more powerful, quieter, dust free, and does a better cleaning job.

The 1950 upright also had an external bag to hold the dirt but it tended to leak dust. The Oreck has an internal and external bag with about 8 layers total to trap the smallest dust particles.

The Oreck does not look modern but if form follows function it certainly is.

You are supposed to throw away the inner bag when it gets about half full and the new bags are expensive unless you compare the price with the HEPA filters on other sweepers. If you want all that filtration, you are going to have to pay for it.

The Oreck comes with some deodorant tablets that fit in a pocket in the bag. It is the only sweeper that I have had that does not smell bad when stored in a closet for a couple of weeks. My old Kenmore canister vac would leave an odor
when you swept. The Oreck doesn't.

The motor is very powerful and the brushes seem to spin faster than on other rug beaters. I tried to use it to clean a pad that I had under a throw rug and it ate through to top surface of the foam plastic.

My daughter bought the 2 speed model which reduces the noise when cleaning bare floors. I don't think that this feature is worth the extra cost.

I did not purchase the base model. The ergonomic handle with a convenient toggle on-off switch is worth the extra cost.

The Oreck upright does not include any attachments. Oreck sells a separate small cannister vac for cleaning upholstery, curtains, etc. I use a cheap hand vac for
those jobs.

If you are short on closet space, this sweeper can be stored under the bed.

I have had this machine for 6 months and am very pleased with it.

Amt. paid: $200 for reconditioned model. It is the same as the $400 model but does not include any of the extras such as annual tuneups, cannister vac, and iron.

Product rating 5* (5 point scale)
ease of use 5
durability 5
ease of cleaning 5
style 3 utilitarian (higher rating possible if you believe that form follows function)
*other uprights may look more stylish. The design of the Oreck appears to be based solely on functionality. The only concession to functionality appears to be the new color options. Red sweepers are no more functional than black ones.