Help me buy a vacuum- rainbow

[vacyume]

Hi everybody! Wow, a vacuum forum, the internet has a place for everybody!

I'm happy to have found this place, and I hope you folks don't mind listening to my story and helping me answer some questions.

Guess I'll start by telling y'all my mind is pretty much set on the e2b rainbow. I like the canister type vacs better than upright. And the idea of never having to change another bag is heavenly! Of course now there is a hepa filter which kinda ruins the appeal a bit. Another negative, I live in a rural part of USA and the nearest distributor is a 4 hour drive away! Since an office is so far away I'm thinking about purchasing one off e-bay, they are a bit cheaper, and no taxes to boot!

First question. I have two cats. IS it okay to suck up the litter they track around the house? I'd use a shop vac to pick up the larger quantities of litter around their box, but it isn't going to pick it up as well as the rainbow and I'm sure significant amounts will end up in the vac.

Second question, do official dealers give discounts if you walk in their office?

Third question, what is the warranty like from the official dealer?

Fourth question, a silly fun question. I have a "nose", I collect perfume, and to tell you the truth rainbow frags never blew my skirt up (although I saw they had some new designer scents, but I don't trust it yet). Is it okay to tincture your water with personal fragrances?

Thanks for reading, I look forward to engaging in conversation.

 

[ncovert]

1) Yes, but you must clean the separator because Kitty Litter will get stuck in it.


2) I don't believe so.


3) Don't know.


4) Don't know.

 

[countryguy]

Vacyume,

Welcome! I also have 2 cats and the same Rainbow that you are looking to purchase. I also bought mine on Ebay as the cost was a lot less. I've had mine for just over a year now. My cats do not track a lot of cat litter around the house as I clean all around the litter boxes on a daily basis using a bag type vacuum so I don't have a problem using the Rainbow for everywhere else in the house. If you use a clumping cat litter then you know that sucking up a small handful of cat litter with a Rainbow is going to make a congealed like ball in the water pan. I've done it and it is a little messy to clean the pan.

Gary

 

[vacyume]

Thank you ncovert. I have no idea what a seperator is, which begs more questions. Does the users manual explain in detail how to use a machine, or is that the job of a door-to-door salesman?

I think rexair could benefit from updating their sales techniques... Even if there was a dealer close by, it's kinda creepy and cheesey to think about hosting a salesman. Don't get me wrong, I respect tradition and enjoy retro niche, but the salesman thing is kinda awkward.

 

[vacyume]

Thanks countryguy Gary!

I do use clumping, the bin litter at petco.

So besides being a mess to clean out of the basin, will it build a thin venire of concrete inside the unit housing and motor?

 

[dysonman1]

You must use Rainbow fragrances in the pan. Other fragrances CAN cause the pan to shatter (seen it many times). The original warranty isn't to the consumer, Rexair only provides a warranty to the Registered Distributor who buys the Rainbow from Rexair for resale. Unless you spend the $2400 to buy it from an authorized distributor, you will have no warranty.

The separator is a part on the bottom of the motor unit that needs to be removed and cleaned after each use. The pan must be stored separately from the unit. You must change the water about every two room of cleaning in order to prevent dirt from going through the motor.

The real problem with used Rainbows is this: the customer is pressured in their home to buy the $2400 machine, even if it is unwise for them to go into debt over a vacuum cleaner (virtually all Rainbows are sold on monthly payments). The salesman takes the old vacuum as a trade in and the Rainbow is used hard by the owners for about six months until they get tired of the water hassle. Then they buy a bagless upright from Wal-Mart. But, they also loan out their Rainbow. So when you buy a used Rainbow from eBay, you can really be making a mistake, or not, depending upon something YOU cannot ascertain. How it's been cared for. Even if it looks good on the outside, doesn't mean it's clean on the inside.

Instead, buy one 'reconditioned' from a reputable Vac Shop that includes a warranty. If anything goes wrong right away, you still have their warranty. Fromm eBay, YOU are stuck with all costs. I used to own an authorized Rainbow Service Center and have rebuilt and sold (with 5 year warranties) thousands of reconditioned Rainbows over the years. I sold my shop to my best friend when Tacony built the Museum for my vac collection. Evan still sells Rainbows at fair prices with warranties to this day.

 

[williamr1248]

Help Me Buy a Rainbow

I can answer your questions as a long time Rainbow user:

(1) I do not know about kitty litter. I don't have cats. I would not be picking up cat litter with any machine-water based or bagged myself.
(2) I will be happy to give you the name of one of the best dealers in the USA. He has given demo's at our convention and not only have I bought both a new machine but parts and service from him. I have also recommended him to 3-4 other members who have bought machines and parts. He gives fair prices and very fast service. If you have any questions about the Rainbow-he is the guy to ask.

Ken Bashford
Galaxy 2000
9008 Anderson Mill Rd
Austin, Tx 78729
512-451-8993

Ken is VERY customer focused and will be happy to answer any questions.
You will be very happy with his level of service. Tell Ken Rob gave you his name from the vac club. (3) My new machine came with 7 year warranty on the motor and electrical and 4 years on the tools.
(4) I have allergies and have never used the scents. I know others that do

In closing:
The Rainbow is NOT for everyone. It is heavy and you really have to like a canister.
They do last forever and it is made in USA with parts available.
My 2 hints are to make sure and get the door storage rack for the hose and tools and keep the water basin where you fill and empty it.
You will notice a difference in the dust level in your home after about 3-4 months
continuous use.
It is nice to not have to be buying expensive bags and filters.
I do not work for or am I connected to Rexair, just a satisfied user. In my opinion the new Black Rainbow is much more user friendly than my older machines.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
Be very careful buying on ebay unless you know what you are getting. If a Rainbow was abused or left with water in the pan it can cause a lot of damage.
Rob

 

[turbo500]

I've never used a Rainbow, though my Dad did own a Neptune for a while which is a sort of UK equivilant. But from what I can gather from this thread, the Rainbow:

- is very heavy, possibly excessively heavy
- has to be emptied after cleaning just 2 rooms
- has parts which get dirty that need to be dismantled and washed after each use
- is awkward to store and cannot be stored in 1 piece
- is very expensive

So, what is the point in this cleaner? Seems to me like a whole lot of time, effort and money when one could purchase a similar performing machine that is lighter, easier to store, easier to maintain and cheaper?

 

[turbo500]

Sorry folks, that might have sounded a bit rude. It wasn't intended to at all, I'm genuinely curious as we don't have Rainbows here so I can't see for myself . Where do Rainbow fit in the market? What's their angle? What strengths does the rainbow have that the company market on?

Thanks

 

[vacyume]

Lots of points to consider. I should really probably call my nearest rainbow dealer, but I dread the thought of getting the hard sell. Thanks everybody for all your thoughts, I really appreciate it!

I had a bag canister, was happy with it, but like I said I live in a rural area. To buy bags I had to drive an hour to town, later the store stopped stocking them and I had to order them. For me, bagless is a huge convenience. Then about two years ago I bought a bagless upright, for a considerable amount of cash. That thing never worked well, and emptying the dust bucket was not fun- statically charged dust going everywhere, clinging to the walls of the canister. Had to clean them both after every use.

Anyways, water filter sounds real awesome.

 

[dustin]

I will start by saying that I have never actually used a Rainbow, but I do have 2 cats, and use clumping litter. I would guess they tend to knock about a teaspoon out of the litter box a day, and I wouldn't think it would be an issue if you vacuum daily, or maybe put a rug under the litterbox that can be shaken outside. I would also imagine you could put some of your fragrance on a cotton ball and either tie with string or tape somewhere near the exhaust. If you wanted to stick with the same scent, you could probably just put a couple drops on the hepa filter.

 

[jade_angel]

The Rainbow's water filter does eliminate the flying dust when you empty it, but it's at least as much of a production number as, say, a Dyson would be.

I'd *definitely* find a way to try one before you sink the hundreds to thousands on a new or certified refurbished Rainbow, to see if you mind it first. I don't own a Rainbow, but my grandparents used to. Owing to the hassle factor, they used it only occasionally, and used a Eureka canister most of the time. That said, Rainbows do a bang-up job, especially with the new power nozzle, which seems to be as good as, if not better than, any others out there.

If hassle is the main concern, I'd get something with bags, then order bags on the internet. As long as one of the Big Three shipping services can deliver to your door, you don't have to drive anywhere.

Another option to look at are bagless but filtered systems like Filter Queen, Silver King and Water-Matic, but needing to replace filters is exactly the same hassle as replacing bags.

Long story short, there's no such thing as a completely hassle-free vacuum - pick your poison

 

[ralph123]

I don't own a Rainbow, but I've used several and have had 2 painful demonstrations. I have also used my mother-in-laws 20+ year old Rainbow.

Based on my limited experience, I surmise that the one thing that Rainbow and other water filtration vacs can offer that nothing else can is aromatherapy. The Rainbow may not clean any better than many other cleaners, but it generally filters well and doesn't have stinky exhaust smell - provided you follow directions. You can purchase fragrances to make your house smell nice. I love my Simplicity bagged upright, but after a month and a half, the bag does start to smell like my dog.

If were going to buy new, I would likely call williamr1248's recommended vendor to avoid the painful 2+ hour demo and sales pitch. My understanding from other posts is that you can buy the extras from him (i.e. mop attachment & carpet washer), whereas in traditional demos you have to provide the names and contact information for something like 100 people of which 99 must purchase a Rainbow in order for you to get them otherwise (last comment was a sarcastic exaggeration...).

 

[mark40511]

Since this is my favorite vacuum

I will add my thoughts.

I too have two cats and I have had the 2 speed rainbow going on 7 or 8 years now. I purchased it brand new.

Rob is right, it's NOT for everyone. It has to be used correctly and cared for and you won't have to change that hepa filter for a LONG time. I will ADMIT that there are a few times I just don't want to deal with getting it out..But there are other times I'm so glad I'm not without it. It just smells awesome when you use it and stays super clean if you use it properly over the years.

It IS heavy, but not what I would call OVERLY heavy...Plus I have a one story house and berber carpet so it's easy to navigate around. If you have a two story house or thick carpet, that may be another story.

I have successfully used essential oil in my Rainbow (Lemon) (orange) (Pine) (Eucalyptus), and none has ever damaged the basin. I like essential or better because there are no chemicals.

I do not use clumping cat litter. I'm pretty sure that would make a mess inside the basin.

Luckily, I use this cat litter called feline pine, which is pine pellets and it works great and is supposedly healthier for cats since they ingest some of the clumping litter when they clean themselves. It's best to use the sifting litter boxes with that though. I think it's cheaper to use and all you need to do is mix in the pine with the regular litter slowly over a week or so until they are used to it, until you're using nothing but the pine pellets. I think it helps better with litter box odor than the clumping.

It really is a great vacuum and for me it's one of those things I just got used to and you sort of get in this groove of using it and putting it away properly. All in all the extra time getting it out and putting it away each time I use it probably adds five minutes that I wouldn't need if I were using a regular bagged vacuum. But the payoff to me is everything just feels so much cleaner and you don't have to vacuum quite as often.......

My experience was that after I thoroughly cleaned everything, I didn't have to change the water every two rooms as you would at first. After a couple of really good go through's of my house, it seemed the water wasn't nearly as dirty. That may not be the case in other conditions....I've always been a vacuuming maniac so dirt doesn't have a chance here.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Or U can go for a D4SE with AquaMate 3 Powerbrush; the AquaMate will scrub carpets & bare floors

 

[vacyume]

I've been researching and thinking about the pros and cons of different vacuums for months. Believe I will purchase a rainbow from a reputable seller on ebay. With the nearest dealer 4-5 hours away, it's just more logical IMO. Did I read somewhere around here that a reputable ebay seller was a member of this community? I may harass the ebay seller I plan to buy from with questions about potential kitty litter hazards.

All the litter advice y'all have shared is great. Can't believe I didn't think of putting a mat under the box, duh! Not worried about cleaning the basin, got no problem getting elbow deep in muck. I'm more worried about clumping dust residue getting inside the unit and bogging up the internal mechanisms.

Thanks for sharing your experience with essential oils mark40511. I also saw your advise, elsewhere, about the jetdry. **Out in the country we ain't got no soft water. **

Thanks everyone. More thoughts and comments are welcomed too!

 

[pr-21]

I agree with Rob

You can't go wrong with Ken Bashford. Truly a gentleman and an honest Rainbow Dealer. Once you buy a Rainbow from an authorized dealer, you will not be sorry. Check out Rainbowsystems.com. They have a website where you can order supplies from whichever dealer you want. Ken ships very quickly and he has a great office staff to help him as well.

PR-21
Bud Mattingly

 

[dustin]

That's the real beauty of a Rainbow-

As long as you are picking up "wettable" dirt (which cat litter is, since it soaks up the urine), nothing should ever get past the water basin (although large amounts of litter would probably just make a muddy mess in the basin). The two main things to avoid would be talc (baby powder), and fireplace ash. Those are "non wettable" and would then be sucked through the seperator and into the motor and hepa filter. The seperator keeps the water (and dirt) from being sucked through the motor. It is attached to the motor, and spins at high speed in the water as air is pulled through it. The spinning seperator churns the water, dissolving the dirt and keeping the suction path clear.

 

[ge1969]

Hi All! Just couldn't resist adding my 2 cents worth since Rainbow is one of my favs, along with Filter Queen when it comes to modern cleaners. I do own a cat, as people who know me will tell you. He's about 12 pounds of Persian and I do use clumping litter. I've never had an issue with the litter clumping in the basin of my E-Series or getting into the motor. I agree with some of the other posters that they aren't for everyone, nor are they for quick pick ups. The Rainbow is for your once a whatever you do whole house cleaning. Mine stays in the closet until I do the entire house, upstairs and downstairs, for Mom. When it's just my 3 rooms upstairs, Mr. Filter Queen does that. They can be a little weighty on stairs, but I think the way they clean makes up for it. Also, I agree on Ken Bashford. I met him at the Convention in Austin, and though I've not done business with him personally, I've heard nothing but good things from those who have. Just my opinons, and let us know what you come up with. Later, Toby Glenn