The Oreck commercial XL Pro 5 super compact canister vacuum, model number BB900DGR, is a redesign of Oreck’s corded compact canister vacuum. The older version was best known for the commercials where it was used to pick up a bowling ball. What are the pros and cons of this new version of Oreck’s super compact canister vacuum?
Pros of the Oreck Commercial Pro 5 Handheld Vacuum
The Oreck model BB900DGR vacuum comes with a variety of attachments. You can use one of its flat heads on stairs or upholstery, use the wand to clean between items and the wall and the narrow nozzles for those crevices in furniture or car seats.
Some of the best handheld vacuums on the market are made by Oreck. The Oreck XL Pro 5 has very good suction considering its size, which isn’t a surprise given the manufacturer. And this handheld vacuum weighs about 11 pounds. It has a good combination of power versus size. That said, this vacuum cleaner doesn’t have the power to pick up a bowling ball, just the crushed nachos between the seat cushions and occasional olive.
It comes with a 30′ power cord. You won’t have to search for an outlet as you try to vacuum every room or even the car outside. However, it is a cord, which many find a nuisance while climbing around a vehicle. Conversely, using a cord means the vacuum won’t suffer a decrease in power as the battery runs out. In fact, it won’t lose power until your filter starts to clog, since the cord is so long it almost never gets pulled out of the wall as you try to clean in a distant corner of the vehicle.
The vacuum’s hose tends to stay coiled and out of the way.
The motor is relatively quiet, though the unit starts to whistle as the bag fills up and the motor strains to keep continue working to pick up even more dirt.
Cons of the Oreck Commercial Pro 5 Handheld Vacuum
The flexible hose on the end of the vacuum is only about a foot long. You can carry the vacuum almost anywhere, but you do end up re-positioning the vacuum periodically as you clean in between those tight spaces instead of simply moving the head around. Using the shoulder strap to carry it as you work partially mitigates this problem.
The attachments meant for tile and hardwood floors don’t work as well.
Observations
Oreck vacuums often have a scent holder where you can place scent dials to release a specific scent into the air as you clean. The older version of this vacuum had that scent holder, but model number BB900DGR does not.
This vacuum does use vacuum bags to hold the dust and debris. When the bag clogs, suction drops off. You’ll need to change the bags periodically if you’re cleaning up a lot of dust, less often if it picks up heavier debris.
The commercial descriptor doesn’t mean this vacuum has better suction than Oreck’s other handheld vacuums. It has decent suction, but it may take several passes to get deeply ground in dirt out of the couch and it won’t pick up anything heavier than kitty litter.
The only downside is the lack of storage for the accessories on the vacuum itself, but that would increase the weight of the unit.
Summary
If you want one of the best versatile handheld vacuums that can run until the bag is full, you’ll like this vacuum. If you are looking for the best top handheld car vacuum, the Oreck model BB900DGR vacuum should be on your list.