Rainbow D4 SE PE Test

[pr-21]

I have decided to do the test......I am going to use my Rainbow D4 SE PE for the next month and see if it will actually cut down on my dusting even though my daily drivers have a bag and hepa filtration. I have always loved this Rainbow, even over the original E Series model. I find the water pan easier to clean than the E Series water pan, although I like the style of the E series water pan better. So here goes.....One of the reasons I am doing this is that I have wood blinds and find them difficult to keep clean. I matched my Cherry cabinets in my kitchen with the cherry wood blinds. I also used the same color on my french doors in the living room since you can see them from the kitchen. My bedrooms have white blinds. I also have black appliances hence the test. I know from having my Rainbow that my house always smells fresh and clean after using it. I have even had people comment on this after using the Rainbow....I will let you know the results......


Bud Mattingly
PR-21

 

[williamr1248]

Rainbow D4 SE PE Test

Bud,
That is just what I did about 2 years ago with my Rainbow Se. I had had it for years and years. I always noticed the house just smelled better when I used it but I would use it and then use some other vacuum, so I never really saw the benefit.
I was told by a longtime Rainbow dealer to use only my Rainbow for a full 3 months.
It took well over a month but all a sudden I noticed much less dust on the glass top tables, the blinds and dark mahogany furniture. That is the reason I invested in the new machine when it came out.
It still amazes me how much less dusing I am doing and my asthma is much better. It also cut down on the dirt my room air cleaner was trapping on it's hepa filter.
I was not only paying a high price for the hepa bags but was paying for the additional charcoal and hepa filters they added to the machines to trap the escaping dust and odors that their machines were creating.
It will take a while but you will see a difference in both the smell and dust level.

 

[floor-a-matic]

I have been using my Rainbow chrome dome as my daily driver & notice MUCH LESS dust after a few weeks use.

Today, when I was vacing the car, I pulled TONS of dirt that no other vac could pick up from the car's carpets. The water turned to mud, & that was only when I vacuumed the front floor; & using only the Jet rug tool instead of a turbo brush or RainbowMate. After changing the water to do the rear portion of the car, I got the same results. Then I changed the water again, & the water wasn't as dirty, not even halfway after giving the ENTIRE car interior a second round of vacing.

btw, I aquired another Chrome Dome (R2-D2) except the most recent find does NOT have PN receptacle like the one I got last month.

That D2 is the one I have had for nearly a month.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?16838

 

[joshdonnell]

My apt

Doesnt get very dusty so i neverr notice a change in the dust level. My sits out side in the storage room. Wouldnt use it again. I want a pro aqua

 

[henry200]

I had terrible allergies as a child, and noticed a tremendous difference when we switched from a Eureka cannister and Hoover upright to a Rainbow.  The air smelled fresh and there were no more itchy eyes and sneezing after vacuuming.  A couple relatives had had Rexairs (model B) and always raved about them.  When a neighbor across the street got a new Rainbow she let us borrow it and after cleaning the house once we were sold.  

 

[mark40511]

There is a distinct difference in the dust level. A good example is my black tv stand that shows the slightest bit of dust, especially in the morning at about 8 am when the morning sun shines right on it.

I vacuum with my Lux and dust everything thoroughly with it and it does a good job, but I can look at the black TV stand the next morning and there is significantly more dust that there is if I had used my rainbow and cleaned thoroughly.

We're never going to have our homes dust free, but I like the fact that I don't have to dust nearly as often if I use it because I hate dusting with a white hot PURPLE PINK PASSION! I don't think I could EVER live in the Desert.

 

[floor-a-matic]

eBay find Rainbow vacs

Here are my Chrome Domes!

The one at the left is the one I got a month ago; & the one at the right is the one I just got a few days ago.

Should I retrofit a PN receptacle on the D2 (the one on the right) or leave it as is? I plan to use a RainbowMate to clean out the car often; but I'll get the one on the left repaired so I can use it again.

 

[pr-21]

Short Update

I am a little over a month cleaning with just my Rainbow. The notable difference so far is the top of my black appliances. I can usually see dust settle on them shortly after cleaning, I am happy to report that there is less and less each week. The same with my cherry color wood blinds.

Also a note to Rob, Williamr1248. I emailed Ken Bashford and after talking to him over the phone, I ordered the new Rainbow System. I got everything you did. It should be here tommorrow, with the exception of the rainbowmate, which will follow shortly. He was very nice to deal with and has kept me informed on the shipping progress etc. I am anxiously awaiting the Rainbow. Even though I should get the Rainbow tommorrow, I will not have much if any time to try it out until the weekend.

One more note for everyone. I am a member of Consumer Reports and while I like to read the reviews on vacuums, I most certainly do not agree with a lot of them. With that said, they always used to give Rainbow a terrible review, not so since the E2 came out. You may want to check it out....



Sincerely,

Bud Mattingly
PR-21










Sincerely,

Bud Mattingly
PR-21

 

[mark40511]

wowac

After using that chrome dome you won't know how to act with the new bow

 

[rugsucker]

floor-a-matic

Nice chrome tops!I would vote to leave the non pn outlet as is.This was a common 'bojack'addition but could end up looking terrible.There was actually a chrome top att holder but almost never seen.The D4 holder will work as you proved.--As I mentioned separately I found a good Elux L blue cordwinder if still needed.

 

[floor-a-matic]

I'd love to have the new 2012 Rainbow e3? vacuum; but the price is too high for me at the moment; looks like I'll have to save some $ so I can buy the new Rainbow.

So far (according to pics online) it looks like the new Rainbow e3 is worth the money spent, even pre-owned Rainbow (new generation model e3) is still too overpriced.

When I sold Rainbows, I thought the SE would outclean the E Series (I was selling the single speed at the time) but I haven't compared the suction between the E & SE.

Back in 1992, my parents bought the SE & all the optional equipment for just $1500.00 & that's even including the R-4375 PN, AquaMate, 4-quart water pan, RainbowMate, Squeegee & squeegee adaptor & sales tax. It's a good thing I still have the vac & all accessories & I'd NEVER go back to using any other vac, whether it be bagged or bagless.

btw, does the new RainbowMate still use a cogged belt?

 

[williamr1248]

Rainbow D4 SE PE Test

Bud,
I think you will like the new machine. Let me know what you think after you get your new machine.
A Rainbow is a Rainbow,is a Rainbow. It's all about air flow and no dusty bag to empty. I think you will enjoy the new features. I love the longer hose,new power nozzle and the Rainbowjet.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Ocean Blue

I have yet to try the Ocean Blue; it reminds me of a Rainbow D4.

btw, I ordered the new Rainbow & can't wait to try it out.

 

[mark40511]

Do you notice

That in that Ocean Blue video, he SPECIFICALLY says to fill the basin to within one half inch of the top of the center post; NOT to the top of the center post.

I wonder why?

 

[shelly]

Your Chrome Domes bring back lovely memories!

Shelly

 

[pr-21]

Update of when I started this post........

Well, I actually have went two months with only using the Rainbow. The only difference is I did buy the newest Black Rainbow with the lighted basin. I have to say either Rainbow reduced the amount of dust in my home. Where I noticed it the most was also on my black stove top and cherry window blinds. I would notice the dust shortly after I had cleaned. While I do have vintage machines as well as Miele's, Electroluxes, Sebo's, and Filter Queen, I was only using the Miele's at the time I was noticing the dust. My Miele's have hepa filters in them and are near new. On hard surface floors, I vacuum into them so as not to stir up any dust.

What did this prove to me. It proved that I should just use the new Rainbow period and I would have much less dust. I am really considering this. I know there are times when you want just a quick touch up and pulling another bagged vacuum out is the easiest and even though people that own Rainbows and love them, usually have another around for these jobs, but I decided to just see how inconvenient it was to pull the Rainbow out.

Well it takes me less than 10 minutes to clean the water basin and separator and wipe the flange on the bottom of the Rainbow. The only reason it takes me that long is I kind of like the water basin to look brand new when I put it on the storage shelf.....if I would just dump and rinse, it would be no more than 5 tops. I know it says you don't have to clean the separator each time on the new machine, but I have always cleaned the separator each time on my SE PE and there is never any dust in the exhaust port.....so I will continue to clean the separator each time, even on the new machine.

So this ends my story. I did buy my Rainbow from Ken Bashford from Texas. Great guy to do business with and as Rob said, everything came double boxed and fast. I know there is a lot of interest on the forum for the new Rainbow and if you can afford it, you won't go wrong. It is just a wonderul machine. I still like my SE PE, but the new Rainbow with the longer hose and newly redone power nozzle is awesome. Between the hurricane motor and new power nozzle, the airflow is much better than on my SE PE.

PS, I do want to make one more note here. Before I started this I was only using TOL vacuums, such as Miele's and Sebos, both of which have hepa filters and are both fairly new....I had not used the Rainbow for about 6 months and when I emptied the water basin the first time, it was much dirtier than I expected it to be. Not saying the Miele's and Sebo's are not good cleaners, but.......


Ok that is how my test worked out for me and again thanks for taking time to read it.

PS, Thanks Rob for answering some of my questions about the new Rainbow and for all of your wonderful pictures and comments about the new Rainbow. I knew I wanted one, but after you awesome post, I just had to have one and boy am I glad I did. I did just order the 14ft hose from Ken on Friday, as I have vaulted ceilings and ledges in my home. This will allow me to keep the Rainbow on the floor and still be able to clean up high.


Sincerely,

Bud Mattingly
PR-21

 

[floor-a-matic]

Unfortunately, I couldn't keep the new e3, but when my finances improve, I'm DEFINITELY buying it.

Despite vacing the ENTIRE house with only the Rainbow, & South Texas' dryness, my house is still dusty. I just wish it rains here more often, so I don't have to dust so often.

btw, I just got another D4SE & I think it has more power & quieter than the D2s.

 

[mark40511]

I know when I first got my Rainbow in 2004, I vacuumed EVERYTHING for top to bottom, everything you can possibly think of ......I'm exhausted thinking about it.....But if you don't get everything, you're still going to have dust flying around, especially in dryer climates.........but even in wet climates, dust is a problem. It's a problem everywhere. I hate dusting worse than any other chore. H A T E it!

 

[mark40511]

Whoops 2006, not 2004. I'm confusing the year when I moved into my new home. I had bought my Rainbow 2 years after that.