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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 Halo, as of this writing, is the world’s only germ-killing upright vacuum with UV-C light; a type of ultraviolet (UV) light effective at killing germs. The UV-C light - mounted behind a quartz glass plate on the underside of the vacuum - illuminates the carpet or other flooring as you vacuum, and kills bacteria, viruses, dust mites and mold wherever the light can reach (anything hiding in shadows will not be affected). This feature could be especially important to parents of young children since toddlers spend a lot of time crawling on carpets and floors. There are lab test results (before and after using the Halo) to support these claims that you can find at www.oreck.com along with videos at oreckhalonewsroom.com.
By way of full disclosure, Oreck sent the Halo to my home, and after testing, the Halo is being donated to charity. I am a family ecologist by training and not a chemist or engineer with a full lab at my disposal. I performed a home test on my carpet and sent before-using-the-Halo and after-using-the-Halo test results to the lab of Dr. Charles Gerba in Arizona. So I am writing this review as a homeowner, albeit with the advantage of a family resource management education, a green/healthy homes expertise, and the Gerba lab results.
The Oreck company is known for innovation in home care, and the Halo is the newest addition to the line. It can be used on carpet, tile, or hardwood floors. The high-intensity UV-C light bulb is housed in a patented light chamber with a durable, sealed quartz glass exterior. The bulb comes with a five-year warranty (a three-year warranty for the vacuum, itself). The UV-C light technology was acquired from Ken and Carrie Garcia and transformed after much testing into the Oreck Halo.
The Halo has two motors: one drives the brushroll that agitates the carpet’s nap while the other delivers suction and pickup. The unit is equipped with a HEPA [type] filter bag that keeps fine dust and dead microbes inside, and Oreck’s "Sani-Seal" tab that seals the filter bag when it's removed from the vacuum preventing dust and germs from escaping and becoming airborne. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI) independent testing, the vacuum performs quite well at soil removal and retaining dust while minimizing wear on carpet; receiving CRI's Bronze Seal of Approval (yes, this is meaningful).
But now to the fun, how did it work at my typical suburban house? What kind of germs do I have lurking? I chose what I considered to be the most used floor space in the house: the area in front of my couch, complete with coffee table and a flat-screen TV. This is the principal hang-out area; it gets foot traffic, food spills, pet use, etc. Following the instructions sent to me by Dr. Gerba's lab, I swabbed my oriental carpet before beginning vacuuming with the Halo and put the swab in a labeled plastic bag, vacuumed as instructed using the Halo with UV-C light on, then swabbed again and put that swab in a labeled plastic bag. The swabs were then shipped off in a cooler to the lab.
When the lab results came back, I didn’t know whether to be pleased that something was found or disgusted by the findings. My practical sense tells me that any carpet where humans or animals have been will have some sort of microbial presence. After all, we shed, we tread, we drop food crumbs.
The counts of Coliform (a commonly-used bacterial indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water) before vacuuming with the Halo were positive, meaning they were present on my carpet. After vacuuming they were negative indicating they were gone, and by extension, that the Oreck Halo's cleaning ability and UV-C light had in fact removed or eradicated the bacteria from the rug.
The lab results didn't include specific statistics or measurements, so all I know is that the carpet had Coliform and that the vacuum removed it. Thus, the Halo works and is to be admired for that. It makes the most sense in homes with children and/or pets, with people with allergies and other health problems and environmental reactions, and those who simply want a really clean home beyond what can be visually seen. Day care centers or kindergartens would also benefit from the Halo.
With regard to the Halo's pro's and con's, I found the Halo heavy compared to my upright vacuum by another manufacturer, and maneuverability more difficult. However, the Halo went under sofas and chairs very easily, and that is a big plus. The unit also comes with a 29-ft power cord, 13-ft detachable hose and a nice set of onboard tools. The UV-C activation switch on the back of the handle must be squeezed and held during vacuuming, potentially difficult if you vacuum for a long time, but this also makes the vacuum safer since the light cannot be left on inadvertently. Bottom line: If I was performing a quick vacuum I would not reach for the Halo, but if I wanted to do deep vacuuming or had moved into an apartment or house with existing carpet I would want the Halo.
