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Soil removal — A machine's performance in 
Dust containment — A residential vacuum must not release more than 
Carpet fiber protection — The vacuum must not affect the appearance of the carpet more than a one-step change (shop speak for "not very much") based on one year of normal vacuum use.
The Oreck XL Platinum Upright - as of this writing, Oreck's top of the line standard upright - is a "lightweight", but not in the cleaning department. According to The Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI's) tests, this nimble vacuum cleaner (9 lbs) excels at soil and pet hair removal, while our tests showed it to be exceedingly easy to push and maneuver.
The vacuum sets up quickly right out of the box, five minutes or less, and does not require tools for assembly.
Oreck has engineered this unit to be easy on the operator's back and body with an ergonomically-designed handle (commended by the Arthritis Foundation) and a tendency for the unit to feel "self-propelled" when operated on the high-speed setting (the brush seems to pull the unit along somewhat on carpet). This makes the Oreck XL Platinum model ideal for seniors who clean their own homes, since it is one of the most comfortable and easy-to-use vacuums we have tested. It is also noticeably quieter than many other upright vacuums, even on the high-speed setting.
The Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI's) tests also indicate this unit does an excellent job keeping dust inside the bag and not suspending it into the air. In additional, changing bags is a virtually dust -free experience, since the Oreck vacuum filter bags are self-sealing as they are removed, a strong indoor-air-quality advantage over both bagless models and open-inlet bag designs. There is also a handy bag pocket built into the main filter bag holder where you can keep a spare bag.
The Oreck's power head is self-adjusting, since it floats over the surface of the floor and automatically transitions from carpet to hard floors and back again without the need for manual adjustments. This also minimizes wear on flooring materials.
The motor is powerful, and suction equally so, but with its direct internal airflow and suction path, the Oreck XL Platinum uses less electricity than other vacuums in its class, a moderate plus if you are among the growing ranks of green-oriented consumers.
One nitpick, the Oreck's belt is rubber and non-sprocketed, so over time is subject to stretching and eventual slippage leading to reduced performance. In practice, this just means you will need to replace the belt more frequently than you would with a more durable sprocketed belt (these belts have "teeth" that fit over a sprocket, are very durable, and do not slip). Oreck has anticipated this, however, and they have tucked a spare belt into a compartment underneath the vacuum; so as long as you replace the installed spare belt with a new spare, you will never be caught without a properly functioning belt. (However, according to Oreck: "Cogged belts require a clutch to relieve tension if the roller brush encounters a jam; this clutch also adds weight to the vacuum. Oreck has always worked hard to reduce all unnecessary weight in its vacuums. In addition, cogged belts are generally noisier than flat belts.")
Oreck doesn't believe in onboard tools (why carry all that extra weight around when you don't need to?), so also includes a separate Oreck handheld canister vacuum in the deal. The 5 lb. unit comes with a 20 ft. power cord, crevice tool, upholstery tool, floor tool, dusting brush, HEPA filter, 60-inch hose, and shoulder strap; and can also be used as a blower. It works surprisingly well - and quietly - and is, frankly, faster than trying to set up, and wrestle with, a conventional upright's onboard tools.
The Oreck isn't cheap at a retail price of $799, but with a 10-year warranty, and annual tune ups including cleaning, minor maintenance, and belt replacement for 10-years, coupled with the unit's cleaning ability, dust capturing prowess, and ease of use - and the separate canister vacuum included - this could be a bargain.
Retail $799
