"New Generation " Rainbow Just Arrived

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow has arrived

Terry,
I had the same question! I can go from using the Rainbowjet to regular cleaning using the same hose and wands. When I remove the Rainbowjet, I let the machine run a few seconds before I start dry cleaning. When I used the Aquamate, I picked up a cup of hot water with the machine to "clean" the hose but in just a few seconds the wands were clean and dry. Because the wands are stainless and have a very smooth interior they seem to self clean.
They MUST have changed something in this new design of wet/dry hose and wands because on my OLD Rainbow SE you had to let hose dry. Of course the stainless wands would not rust like the old chrome tubes.
Using the ONE set of wands and ONE hose makes using the Rainbow so much easier. The ONE set of electric wands are used to power the (1) power nozzle (2) Aqamate (3) Rainbowjet (4) Rainbowmate. It was particularly handy when I was cleaning the car as I could use just ONE wand with the Rainbowmate.
The window squeegee just snapes on the upholstery nozzle and you can use it to clean your windows. Because thr Rainbow is DESIGNED to use water you can be dry cleaning and just snap the squeeggee on and do a window and go back to regular cleaning without stopping.
The Rainbowjet would be a fantastic tool if a person lived where they had a lot of hard surface floors to do and also has some rugs and carpets. You don't have to have 2 different machines and you don't have to stop and get another machine out of the closet and you don't have ANY set up time. Just change the bottom wand to the Rainbowjet wand (which has the solution tank attached). The floor cleaning solution is very concentrated so you do not use very much water to scrub and clean. It is not foaming and is NOT used with hot water.
I think the price of the Rainbow is quite reasonable considering (1) you are getting the vacuum (2)hard surface floor cleaner(3)motorized steam carpet cleaner and you NEVER have to locate,ship or buy bags again plus they stand behind the motor and controller for 8 years and the entire unit for 4 years.
The new hose seems to be JUST the right length. Any longer and you would be tripping on it and just that added length seems to keep the machine from banging into you as you work.
What I am enjoying is never having any odor or stale dusty smell. There is somthing nice about when you finish the machine is clean and the dirt is gone and not stored in the closet. The water basin on this machine is much imporved over the one on my old SE.

 

[tolivac]

Reluctance motor-it took the digital age to make them work.Their concept has been around for a long time-and they are more efficient than Universal and induction motors.they are finding their way into power tools-Shopsmiths new headstock assembly on their Mk7 machines-and the new headstock is available for older Mk5 and older units-it replaces a 1hp induction motor with variable pulley belt drive with a 1.75 Hp RM-on 120V and 2hp on 240V.The variable pulley system is gone-now a fixed speed pulley system.In hearing this system work on their website-its very quiet-no more noise than the old induction motor drive.And can give up to twice the power on the same or even less current draw.Would like to see a live demo of this unit-Lowes sometimes is a Shopsmith dealer.And the range of speeds is greater.The RM in my new Rainbow E2 is quieter than the older model-think they insulated the motor compartment in the powerdome.I can agree-the older machine did have an annoying sound.I think Reluctance motors are around to stay.Dyson uses one in their rechargeable hand vacuum.

 

[mark40511]

tolivac

When you say "OLDER" Rainbow.........Are you speaking of the E series Two speed or One speed? My E series 2 speed (gold, not blue) is NOT loud whatsoever. I'm sure the latest one is even quieter.

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow has arrived

Rex,
Thanks for the information about the type of motor. I can say that I heard one of the "blue" E2's at the dealers within the last year and I thought it was a little on the loud side. When this one arrived and I turned it on I THOUGHT I had it on the low speed setting but it was on HIGH. I would say this is on the level of the new Hoover Constellation. To me, it has a very pleasing sound for a sweeper. The information I have is 11% quieter than the previous machine.
I bought one of the older style Oreck xl's several years ago and I liked the machine but it was so loud and had such an unpleasant pitch that I sold it. I later bought an Oreck Platinum and it is very quiet and I like the machine.
Vac collectors will relate to the fact that some vacuums just have a pleasing tone like the older Electrolux's and Air-Way's. Most of what you hear is the rushing air. Another example would be the older Hoovers. They had a gentle sound compared with today's plastic uprights.

 

[tolivac]

I am talking of the E2 2 speed-beleive it was the first model to have the RM motor.Brown body color.For the Hoovers-I prefer the metal body Convertibles-they were quiet and effective.Seems like plastic body machines always have a loud obnoxous sound.I like the sounds of the AirWays and older Metal 'Luxes.don't like the new 'Luxes at all-tried one and it was like a B52 bomber in your living room revving up for takeoff.for the new Rqainbow-besides the blowing air-you can hear the water bubbling in the bin.the newer 'Lux I tried and breifly owned was the Guardian with the external exhaust filter on the top.

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainvbow has arrived

Rex,
I too was somewhat disapointed when I saw the new ELectrolux Guardian Ultra.
It was lighter weight but they gave up the controls on the hose handle,gave it a shorter cord. It is better looking in person than in the pictures. It does have more suction but it was so loud at the dealership compared to my Epic 8000.
It was like they were going backwards. I like quiet. My Electrolux Oxygen3 is very quiet and user friendly.
That is why I was so excited about the new Rainbow. Almost every aspect of the machine and tools were changes that were actual improvements for the customer. It seems like we have had so many vac companies just cranking out new colors and cheaper quality every year making the machines more disposable.

 

[luxg]

Rob, Thank you so much for the explanation about the hose and wands and going from wet cleaning to dry.  That does seem to make sense.  That squeegee attachment sounds fantastic and I think would be a big selling point.  I have three sets of sliding glass doors and that would sure be a help.   So when are you going to start working for Rainbow??  I don't think you would have any problem selling them.  

 


Terry

 

[mark40511]

This is a video demo of the Rainbow. It looks like it's from another country........If you go to the 8:11 mark....She does a demo of the squeegee..........But this is the squeegee for the older Rainbow........But my question is look at how soapy that table looks...........Once I put some generic Aqua Fresh in my Rainbow basin that is specially made for water filtration vacuums and it foamed up in the basin like crazy so I had to dump it..........I guess that's why I'm wondering.....I didn't think the Rainbow liked any kind of "foam" whatsoever.......I'm imagining sucking that soapy water into the Rainbow would cause it to violently vibrate..........I guess maybe it's not so bad if you start with an empty basin




and PS..........I have looked HIGH and LOW on my unit and I have never seen any sort of a brush to clean the separator.

http://this is a video demo of the Rainbow. It looks like it's from another country........If you go to the 8:11 mark....She does a demo of the squeegee..........But this is the squeegee for the older Rainbow........But my question is look at how soap

 

[mark40511]

Not sure why the link didn't show up

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow has arrived

Terry,
No thanks-lol. I just like to really look over a new model when it arrives. I did the same thing when I got my Dyson dc23.
Like I said before,I had owned a Rainbow for years but it wasn't until I used it EXCLUSIVELY for several months that I realized the benefits. There is just no dust on my furniture and blinds anymore. I have several high end vacuums with the hepa bags and hep filters but they still would smell and you were always messing with dry flying dirt and dust in some form. It just made no sense to me to pick up the dust and throw it back all over my room. There is a sort of satisfaction in starting with a clean machine every time and when you clean the dirt leaves the house. This machine has so many user friendly features that it really tipped the scale in favor of the Rainbow.
I think I had to LEARN where to keep the water basin and quit washing and drying the water basin every time. Also quit the constant washing of the separator.
I think the much improved dolly,power nozzle,direct connect,electrified wands and water pan are what made the difference for me.
I do LOVE the Rainbowjet and I can clean the hard floors in no time.
Haven't you owned vacuums that were very powerful BUT for some reason you just don't use them because they are not user friendly?
Just a shame we don't live on the same street and you could come and get it for a few weeks and give it a run!

 

[williamr1248]

Next Generation Rainbow arrived

Mark,
There was a seller of Rainbows on EBAY that made an explanation about the brush stroage space. I guess Rainbow has the space on some runs,then they removed it for a while and now they have added it back to the machine. You may not have one on your machine but it really does not matter.

The Rainbow floor concentrate and Aquamate shampoo are not soapy or foamy. They are like the new Tide I use in my Maytag Neptune washer. They do not seem to faom up.
When I used both the Rainbowjet and the Aquamate with Rainbow products there was no foaming in the basin.

 

[mark40511]

Well.............I got the run where they removed the brush..........Because I don't even see anywhere where there is even a space for one on mine.......Is there a way to find the manufacture date? Mine was bought June 2006

 

[joshdonnell]

new rainbow

i have a miele there is no oder not dust 100 clean. with a rainbow if you pick baby powder you will clog the filter. also if you have a cat you will smell the cat litter if you pick it up. i like the new rainbow but im much happier with my miele then i would with my old rainboww. nice new rainbow tho

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow has arrived

Josh,
I just have to ask why on earth would you EVER use ANY expensive machine to pick up baby powder or cat litter?
I cannot imagine using an expensive Miele to pick up nasty cat litter or baby powder. What if it clogged the hepa paper bag and broke and all that mess got into the other fitlers or even worse, the fans.
I spent a couple of days at a frined of mine's vac shop and I WAS amazed at what people use their expensive vacuums to pick up. I remember so well a very nice,well dressed lady brought her almost new Electrolux Upright in for repair. She has used it to pick a LOT of wet cereal and milk and then wondered why it smelled and would not pick up. That's crazy stuff from customers.

 

[joshdonnell]

new rainbow

the miele doesnt use paper bags

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow has arrived

Josh,
Not sure what you are talking about. I have never seen a bagless Miele. The only ones I have seen on the web site uses disposible bags with pores and you can be sure it would stop up any machine if you picked up big pile of baby powder or nasty cat litter. I sure would not try it if I owned an expensive Miele machine.
I tried to clean a VERY SMALL amount of fireplase ash one time with a bagged upright and it broke the multi layer hepa bag within the first 10 seconds. I turned it off as soon as I heard the motor start to wind up but the damage had already been. It pulled the ash past the bag,pre motor filter and after filter. Shame on me for doing such a stupid trick! It was a real mess.

 

[mark40511]

Baby Powder or cat litter or fireplace ash or drywall dust is not good for any vacuum cleaner...............Isn't that the only reason Rainbow tested bad in Consumer Reports, because they used the prior E series to try try to pick some of these type of things up?

 

[joshdonnell]

rainbow

well i think rainbow is just a joke i wont own one ever again . i never thought you owned a miele .

 

[ralph123]

miele bags / Consumer Reports eval of Rainbow

I think Josh is referring to the cloth like material of which Miele bags are constructed - it is not paper. As far as I know Miele has never made a bagless vacuum.

Rainbow has tested poorly in Consumer Reports for several reasons. The power nozzle has been the biggest weakness in my opinion. Consider the recent redesign of the power nozzle. If air flow has really improved by 60% - with essentially the same canister unit, then the old power nozzle design must have really choked off the air flow. I'm still not fond of the huge gap in the middle where the belt is. I think competition from the Hyla with it's Wessel Werk power nozzle has put pressure on Rainbow to improve.

CR has dogged Rainbow for being expensive, mediocre carpet cleaning, not cleaning bare floors well with the power nozzle, and being a very heavy canister when filled with water. Perhaps due to the old power nozzle, it has been a mediocre performer in cleaning rugs. Air filtration and reliability have been very good.

It's possible that CR has a difficult time quantifying the amount of dirt picked up by the Rainbow due to the unique water "bag". CR is certainly capable of making mistakes. Between the dirt being dissolved in water and the humidity increase from the evaporating water, it's possible that CR's results could be off.

 

[kirbyloverdan]

I have a Rainbow E2

2 Speed Gold Edition which I use daily. I also have a New Miele twist upright with the new cloth 3M Filtrete style bag and a hepa w/charcoal filter. I have a Jack Russell that is very clean and she never smells. When I use my Miele with a bag it always smells of dog . I never get that with my E series. I also own a Miele Aluminium and a Blue Moon all always smell and my home is spotless as I vacuum daily. When I use my Rainbow E there is never any dirt left in the carpet after I am done . I have a friend at Aerus who sells me machines and my Kirby friend. When they come over to demo new machines for me they are amazed that they can never pull any dirt . Usually they might get a few specks of dust but they are always asking me what do I use and I always tell them my Rainbow E series 95% of the time . The other times I use an Aerus Guardian upright and canister ,my Kirby Sentria,my Miele Twist and an Oreck Platnium Pilot which uses the cloth type charcoal activated bags which never have any odors comming out of them.I really think Consumer Reports should test vacuums in real homes with real dirt and not the wood pulp talc sand mixture they use. Who has wood pulp and talc in their carpets ? Because my current Rainbow cleans so well is the reason I will be purchasing this new model Rainbow .Miele has never sold a bagless model in the US .