Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS Upright Vacuum Cleaner Is Strong

A vacuum is a staple cleaning tool for a modern home. The Oreck Commercial XL2100RGH Upright Vacuum Cleaner cuts vacuuming down to the bare bones—mighty ones. A solid vacuum needs the suction power to pull dirt and debris out of various carpet pile lengths and hard floors. It should be easy to empty and needs a cord that’s long enough to let you navigate your home without too many outlet changes. With so many high-powered, feature-laden models available, we wanted to see how this commercial-grade, bare-bones model performed daily. 

The first thing I noticed about the Oreck was the weight. At only nine pounds, it felt lightweight before I even got it out of the box. Once it was put together, I was shocked at how much lighter it was than my last vacuum, an 11-year-old Eureka that weighed about 18 pounds. The lightweight design means my 50-pound, 8-year-old could push this vacuum. Someone should slap a kid-friendly sticker on it. 

The Oreck stands upright in a locked position for general storage. You can’t roll it around the house in this position, which I thought would be a problem at first. However, it’s so lightweight that I picked it up and carried the vacuum to each room rather than pushing it there. Of course, you can also put the head down and push it, but the brushes added enough friction that I still found carrying easier.

The second thing I noticed out of the box was the small vacuum head. The 12-inch vacuum head was almost 1.5 inches shorter than my previous model. I don’t love that about this model. Vacuuming 1.5 inches less with each pass adds up in a big house. However, I have to say that once I used it, I noticed it far less than I thought I would. 

The Oreck is easy to push. The handle design is different from other uprights I’ve used. You don’t grip it like a stick, as with most vacuums. The grip feels more like pushing and pulling on a bar without your wrist flexed, making it more comfortable than a typical vacuum handle. It helps that you’re only pushing nine pounds of vacuum. While I didn’t get down and examine the carpet to check suction power, it sucked up anything that got in its way—dirt, debris, bugs, paper, even Legos. The suction power didn’t disappoint.

I loved, loved, LOVED the cord. I didn’t know it was possible to feel about a vacuum cord how I feel about this cord. This part of the Oreck feels every bit commercial. It’s thick and 35 glorious feet, so you don’t have to keep moving the cord from outlet to outlet while you vacuum. 

I had run over the vacuum cord with the vacuum before and ruined the cord. I didn't try it on this vacuum, but if you ever happened to vacuum over this cord, I envision the cord would laugh and throw the vacuum back in your face. It’s built to withstand heavy use (and accidental vacuuming mishaps). 

The other part of this vacuum that feels as commercial as its name is the extra-large bag size. I used this vacuum almost every day for four weeks, and the bag is only half full. Granted, it depends on if you have pets and kids (I have four kids and no pets). The generous bag size cuts down on the cost of replacement bags and time spent emptying the vacuum.

Remember when I said my 8-year-old could use this vacuum? Another thing I like about the Oreck is the bumpers around the vacuum head. That overanxious eight-year-old sometimes uses the vacuum at ramming speed. The bumpers protected my furniture and walls from the cleaning antics of an eight-year-old armed with a vacuum. 

There were a few issues with the Oreck that I wasn’t crazy about. For starters, there’s no hose or attachments. While I like attachments, I could still clean without them. However, the lack of a hose is a problem. I couldn’t vacuum next to the baseboards or upholstery. There’s also no wand to get cobwebs or curtains. The Oreck’s bare-bones design works for floors, and that’s it.

However, I’m not sure how well it would do on all types of floors. I have hard floors, not hardwood, and it performed fine. The brushes helped pull in dirt and dust rather than blowing them away from the vacuum head. Unfortunately, there’s no option to turn off the beater bar or raise or lower the head height. I used it on low to mid-pile carpet without any problems. I missed not having precise head height adjustment with this model. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the cord easy to store?

The thick, heavy cord wraps around two hooks on the vacuum’s frame. There are also clips on the vacuum frame that hold the cord in place, so it doesn’t get pinched or damaged while you vacuum. Overall, the cord stows away easily on the vacuum. It doesn't have the retracting cord feature, but the storage hooks keep the cord firmly stored, and a clip on the electrical plug attaches to the cord so it doesn’t drag. 

Is the bag hard to replace? 

I didn’t need to replace the bag during the testing period, but I gave it a try to make sure it wasn’t a hassle. It’s a straightforward, simple process. The outer fabric bag unzips on three sides, so you get full access to the inner, disposable bag. It’s a matter of snapping it in and out. 

Can the vacuum head fit under furniture? 

The Oreck’s head has a stepped design that slides under most furniture. The frame and handle lay flat to vacuum under beds, too. It fit under stools and the entertainment center with no problems. The handle lies flat, which makes accessing under beds much easier. 

Is the price worth paying? 

There are many things about this vacuum that I really liked—the weight, cord, and mobility. However, the lack of a hose and attachments was a dealbreaker for me. There are similarly priced models that include a hose, wand, and an array of attachments. For daily use in a home with four kids, I wouldn’t pay this price for a bare-bones vacuum, even a well-performing Oreck. I missed some basic functionality that I really needed.

If you only need to vacuum floors, the Oreck has you covered. In my home, stairs, furniture, and curtains are easier to clean with a vacuum, and I need a hose/wand and some attachments. You can make the Oreck work, but only if you had a stick vac or wet-dry vacuum for hard to reach places.

Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner vs. the Competition

The Oreck’s extra-large bag size makes it a standout among uprights. If you want to save time and money on bags, it’s a great model. But, you will lose some functionality. If you look at the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum, it doesn’t cost much more than the Oreck, and you get a pet vacuum, a removable handheld vacuum with an extension hose, and other common accessories like a crevice tool. The Shark is a much more functional, comprehensive vacuum compared to the Oreck, but it does not hold as much. For cord length and bag size, the Oreck edges out the Shark, but I would gravitate toward the Shark for all other reasons.

We purchased the Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS Upright Vacuum Cleaner so our writer could put it to the test.