"New Generation " Rainbow Just Arrived

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow just arived

I have to agree with Dan and Trebor. I showed pictures of my 18 year old Rainbow and it does not any trace of dirt in the fans or exhaust. My parents Air-Way had to have a new step-on on/off switch and when I took it apart after over 44 years continuous use the motor was still clean.
I have used my Rainbow SE for very dirty jobs in the garage and screened porch BUT I ALWAYS changed the water when it got real dirty or about every 30 minutes.
I believe what the vac repair shops are telling us about the dirt in the fan but that is why they are in the repair shop-abusive use.
There must be some reason almost 50 years ago the allergy doctors told my parents to buy a Filter Queen,Air-Way or Rainbow.

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow arrived

I have been doing my windows today. The Rainbowjet works great on BIG windows and the screens too. The squeegee blade has suction inlets on both sides so both back and forward strokes dry the surface. You have the length of both wands to make it an easy reach on big windows.
It works easy as it turns at the neck and if you miss a spot all you have to do is flip it over and use the sponge side again.
If your windows are not real dirty you can just use the squeegee that is wet.When done use the Rainbow hose end to dry the sponge out.
Easiest way I have ever found to clean the screens.

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow has arrived

Now what is handy to me is when I am finished with the window, I can go right into washing the laminate floors. Because you are using ONLY the sponge and squeegee head and wands and it flips over you can get into tight places and around table and chair legs that could not be reach without moving furniture with a regular electric floor washer. The sponge can be turned and used to clean the baseborad at the same time.

 

[williamr1248]

New Generation Rainbow has arrived

Now the niciest part for me is that I go can straight from doing the windows and wet cleaning the laminate floors to dry vacuuming. Not longer pails of water or more than one appliance and even with my SE Rainbow you had multiple sets of wands and hose. All I have to do is pick up enough water to the FULL LINE on the water basin and let the Rainbow run a few seconds on HIGH to dry out the hose and wands. This new water basin is all clear with a fill line marked on the side so you can easily see when you have enough water in the basin. On my old SE machine the only way to tell was if the machine was off the basin and you filled it to the top of the post in the center.

 

[luxg]

Rob, I can see where the Rainbow Jet would be fantastic on large windows and mirrors.  I'm sure because of the suction that they are completely streak free.  Thanks for sharing.  

 

[kirbyloverdan]

I bought mine this past Monday

I absolutley love my new Rainbow E2 Onyx 2 speed 2011 model . Pictured is my 2003 E2 Gold 2 speed. The Onyx is an improvment with the new power nozzle with the LED headlights and it really deep cleans . I also got the Rainjet (not used yet) AquaMate also not used yet, The Mate and a Rainmate room air cleaner and a pack of scents from my local distributer.I love the longer hose the extra foot makes a difference. Moves easy with new dolly too . I really wish I didn`t Vacuum so much my rugs were spotless the Rainbow only picked up a tiny bit . If they were trying to sell me the Rainbow based on dirt in my carpet they would not convince me lol . I also like the new switch with the switch lock for the power nozzel . My E2 Gold that was my biggest complaint having to hold and squeeze the switch . If you can buy this Onyx I highly recommend it .
Dan

 

[mark40511]

Hey thanks Dan. Same here. The most I'm able to pick up with my rainbow for the most part is lots of cat hair and fine dust from dusting......I never have the basin full of mud that I remember my grandma's Rainbow having in the 80s.....It was no time before it was thick crud.

Since you OWN both now, can I ask, is the HEPA filter on the Oynx the same as on the 2 speed? Is the separator the same?

Thanks

 

[eluxca]

Rob and other Rainbow owners

Is the new machine so different in performance from the blue E2 12 that buying the new one is "no brainer?" I am thinking the distributor may offer a better deal on the previous model to eliminate stock.

John

 

[trebor]

Maybe...

You could get a deal on the older machine with the new hose/PN set up?

 

[eluxca]

That's a thought! If time allows tomorrow, I'll visit the distributor and ask. As far as I can tell the two power units are virtually the same.

 

[williamr1248]

New Rainbow has arrived

John,
I can't answer your question but the color will not match because the new machine is black. That new Dolly works much better too and I love the new cord stroage system and then there is the LIGHTED basin. OH MY!. I never owned an E series. Mine was an 18 year old SE. The new machine is very quiet compared to the earlier E series but Mark says his is very quiet and I think he has had his about 5 years.
NO comparison in the power nozzle. It is so nice to not have to fool with two sets of wands and hoses.

 

[mark40511]

I'll bet it is nice not to deal with two hoses......But over the years, I've worked around that. When I get the Rainbow out, I use the PN on everything first, then put it away while the unit is still running (change water if needed) then get the 14 foot hose out and get everything else.


I do have a DUMB question for Rainbow experts. I was reading a comment on a video on YOUTUBE for Rainbow of a guy doing a short demo of his new 2011 model, and a guy commented that he had way to much water in the basin; that he would need to clean the separator more often.......And I was like, HUH? Isn't that the whole purpose of the dome in the middle? He said that's what he thought too, but his hepa was getting dirty and he took it to the distributor and they said to fill the basin about a half inch BELOW the dome with water, not to the top of the dome.....

I wouldn't have given it a second thought.......BUT I remembered seeing the OceanBlue instructional video on their site, and they specifically state to fill the basin with cool water to around 1/2 inch BELOW the dome and NOT to the top of the dome.....I wonder why OceanBlue specifically states this

I wonder if the top of the dome is just the "DO NOT GO OVER THIS LINE" warning. I wonder why the dist would tell him that when it says in the Rainbow manual to fill with water to the top of the dome?

Here's the vid I'm talking about....Go to 1:28

 

[eluxca]

I made a visit to the Rainbow shop today

And I'm very impressed with the new machine. Bummer though that the owner was not there. The man who was there gave me some info but it was a new machine to him. Unfortunately, all E2 blue machines are sold! There goes my big idea for a bargain. The man hinted that a bargain could be had when I'm ready to buy the machine, and I get a discount just for being a current rainbow owner
I think I'll end up getting one later this summer

 

[williamr1248]

New Rainbow has arrived

Mark,
Don't you have a fill line on the side on your basin? My new instruction book says:

Fill the water basin until the top of the dome in the bottom of the basin is COVERED.

Now when you do this it comes exactly to the fill line marked on the side of the basin too.
Why would Rexair put instructions in their book and markings on the side of the basin that are NOT the correct amount?

I always filled my old Rainbow to the top of the post in the center and mine was as clean as the day I bought it 18 years ago. I think I would go with the instructions from Rexair.

 

[tolivac]

I always thought if the Rainbow water bin was not filled ENOUGH-like to the top of the dome or pin in the basin-than the water trap filter would not be effective.

 

[mark40511]

Tolivac

I always thought so too. But what about when you're using the Rainbow to shampoo your carpets and or squeegee where you start with an empty basin and then the dirty water enters the basin and is sloshing around inside the Rainbow. That water that goes into the basin isn't necessarily going to be even close to being at the top of the dome/fill line until you have been doing it for a while, and that water is dirty too, right? Just a thought.........Then again, I guess it's different because that water entering the basin is already wet, as opposed to dry vacuuming, so I don't know

 

[floor-a-matic]

Water basin

1. When I'm using the Rainbow for dry pick-up, I ALWAYS fill the basin up to the top of post; AND change the water after doing one surface (dusting/above floor) & before doing the next (carpet/floors, which I change after each room)
2. I NEVER fill the basin with water when I'm using the AquaMate (1st generation w/CleanMore Spraymate PN) However, I do put Rug Doctor Anti-Foam in the basin when using the AquaMate.

btw, if anyone has the older style AquaMate (the one that U connect the 50ft hose to faucet) the Cleanmore Power Brush (Yes, U need to strap the cord outside the hose; do NOT use electrified hose) does fit & work great. That REALLY made a HUGE difference in deep cleaning!

Didn't Rexair ever make an AquaMate w/Power Brush before the E Series came out?

 

[williamr1248]

New Rainbow just arrived

I wish someone had told me about this this optional tool years ago with my SE Raionbow. I love it for scrubbing the screened porch. All you have to empty is ONE basin of dirty water at the end. The Rainbow floor concentrate works wonders not only on the cement floor but the area rug on the porch at the same time.

 

[williamr1248]

New Rainbow has arrived

The design of the flip over brush/squeegee lets me go under,around and into the corners without having to move the heavey wrought iron furniture.
This used to be such a job with the hose and broom. It takes so little water to do the whole room. Then I finish up doing the sliding glass doors.

 

[williamr1248]

New Rainbow just arrived

I like not having to move all the furniture around to clean the floor. I have tried machines that were designed JUST to wet clean floors and they could not get into tight spaces and under things. I think they would be great IF you had a completely empty room.
I was surprised that the Rainbow Floor concentrate worked so well with the cool water and just a very small cap of the cleaner. It is also nice that the regular Rainbow tools fit right on the end of the Rainbowjet wand so I can use the crevice tool along the baseboard edge to such up any remaining water.
I just wish a had known about the squeegee attachment years ago with my SE. Of course the Rainbowjet has it's own pump to put down the floor cleaner or water.
I have been told the Rainbow squeegee attachment has been popular in Florida for years where customers have a lot of tile floors to clean.