Using the Rainbow

[williamr1248]

Using the Rainbow

Dear NYCWriter,
I liked your post and loved your style.
To be somewhat serious I think you are 100% correct in that a Rainbow is NOT a good choice for your situation.
The Rainbow is best suited for:
(1) a user that has serious allergies because you NEVER handle the dust when filling or emptying the basin.
(2) If you are a clean freak with housekeeping
(3) you prefer to buy only once (Rainbow only has one product and made in USA) and prefer a tank type or canister machine

I can assure you we don't have a Broadway Production every time I use the machine.
Hey it's the midwest!
My new Rainbow has all direct connections,long hose and power cord and it came with a chrome door storage rack for the hose and tools. Everything is up off the floor.
I NEVER do more than just a quick rinse the basin at the end (unless it is an extreme job like the garage floor)and I keep the basin in the bathroom for quick fills and dump at completion. It takes no more than 30 seconds.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell you I enjoyed your humor and post. I think from what I read on your other thread you would be well served with a good quality bagged upright with attached tools. Good luck.

 

[nycwriter]

Thank you William!

Appreciate it.

As I mentioned in another thread, I'm leaning towards an Electrolux canister.

 

[thermokid]

My New Rainbow

I can't even use. Because one of the dogs chewed up the cord so I cut out the bad spot of cord, spliced the cord back together, but I don't feel safe using it that way, So I ordered a new cord for the machine from the dealer where I purchased it from. The cord is here but I have no idea how to install the new cord. So the Rainbow just sits there and looks pretty... Dan

 

[mark40511]

One day

I timed how long it took me to put my Rainbow away from the minute I turned it off and was finished, until I shut the door to the closet where it is stored.
First thing, I took the unit off the basin and wrapped the cord up. Took the separator off. Took the dirty water, dumped in toilet and flushed. Went to kitchen sink and cleaned the basin & separator and used the same clean rag to quickly wipe outside of the basin to dry it, put back on caddy, hung hoses and shut the door.

Total time: 4:30 seconds.

 

[tolivac]

Rainbow cleaner-have my newest one-and yes use it after the Kirby, Meile, or the Sebo-like em all.Most of the time I just dump the dirty water bin outside.then as the Rainbow salesman says"The dirt is OUT of the house"I like to use the deoderizers in the bin.Makes a nice smell.The saleswoman gave me several when I bought my machine.She asks you what your favorites are-and gives you some of them.I find using the Rainbow really doesn't take any longer than other vacuums.I find with my usage I don't need to clean the separator after each use.Just check it-if dirty-then clean it-takes only a minute.The Hyla I got from the Rainbow dealer was choked with long dog hair-cleaned it out-the machine works-but not as nice a quality as the Rainbow.The powernozzle hose handle is cracked.The quality of the plastic in the Hyla isn't as good as the Rainbow.

 

[nycwriter]

One day ...

I timed how long it took me to put my Fantom away from the minute I turned it off until I shut the door to the closet where it is stored: 20 seconds.

Compared to Mark's four and a half minutes -- that's a four minute and ten second savings.

That doesn't sound like much, but if you use your vacuum three times a week like I do, that savings adds up over the course of a year to nearly TWELVE HOURS.

That's nearly an entire waking day of your life every year fussing with a water pan.

And even on a daily level, any New Yorker can tell you what a difference four and a half minutes makes. It means the difference between catching or not catching that subway train, which means the difference between catching or not catching that transfer out out to JFK, which means the difference between missing or not missing your $1500 non-refundable, non-transferable flight to that meeting in LA you will miss that COULD have meant a multi-million dollar Hollywood deal.

If only you weren't pissing around with a vacuum water pan.

 

[mark40511]

Good point NYCwriter

but I'd for me those hours can be deducted for merely not having to dust of vacuum as often. I think the chore I hate most is dusting but I'm a clean freak and hate disorder.

 

[mark40511]

I left out the word "say"

 

[williamr1248]

Using My Rainbow

Hey NYCwriter,
I thought we had this settled. You have to STAY AWAY from a Rainbow but if you must, PLEASE let me train you on set up and storage. My friend Mark takes WAY too long with his machine. Mark does take excellent care of his things-I have to admit he made a good point. If you take 20 seconds with the Fantom and I can train you to take only 30 seconds with a Rainbow-you will save the other 10 seconds on the dusting and cleaning up the after mess of emptying the dirty dust from a bin.
Just remember "Wet dust can't fly" What a fun thread! I do know they don't have time to waste in NYC. New York, a great place to live and even better to visit! !

 

[luxman107]

That is a cool looking machine ..

 

[cleaningbuff]

new Rainbow

I have the NEW black rainbow, and I LOVE it! I leave it running on low speed daily, 7 days a week. I use the scents that I get from Rainbow my house always smells great and the level of dust is much reduced. Plus it helps to humidify the air.

I have a cat and a dog and I know that I am removing the hair and stuff because I see it when I empty it. I also have the 4 quart basin which i use for cleaning, I use the 2 quart for purifying the air.

 

[mark40511]

I've thought about

leaving mine on 24/7, but I never have as of yet because I seem to get pretty much most the dust when I do a good cleaning. I did leave it on for a few days on low speed once, but the water stayed pretty clear, so I figured why bother (other than the good smell). I have found that My nose becomes accustomed to whatever scent after a while and I can no longer smell it anyway. My main problem in my home is not dust, but cat hair from my two cats

Rob - I don't take way too long. (LOL)

For example. Underneath the Rainbow (when you're done) that seal that intake area where it meets the basin has a seal on it. I wipe that off and the intake area before putting it away because it has dirt on it. It isn't necessary, but it BUGS me, so I clean it off. Takes 15 seconds. I also take the separator off and clean it in the grooves every single time even though it may not need it. Why? Because that's the main reason (other than not changing water if it's too dirty) that the fans on the rainbow can get dirty. Over time, those separator grooves will get dirt in them and if you keep them clean, the fans will stay clean.

 

[williamr1248]

Using the Rainbow

Robert,
I did the same thing. I have the basin that came with the machine and I bought an extra one from Ken Bashford JUST for air cleaning. It does make such a difference in the house dust after a few months use.
It dawned on me that when I used one of my regular machines-no matter how great it was cleaning the carpets or how strong the suction-it was thowing dust back into the air to settle on the blinds,furniture and table tops. I was CREATING the endless cyle of cleaning and redistrubuting the dust back over everything again.

I can tell the difference when we use another vacuum upstairs and there will be a fine layer of dust on the bed side chests the very next morning.
Not sure how long you have had your Rainbow but the longer you use it,you will notice the difference in the house dust if you switch to another type of machine.
I was a HARD sell on this concept.
Try this sometime: Empty one of the bagless machines as careful as you can and have your Rainbow running in the same room in the air cleaning mode. You will be amazed how much dust flys back in the air just from emptying the bin because the the dust is in the DRY state.
I use mine every morning on the low speed to clear the odors from cooking.
There just is never any odor from my machine and I can not say that about any other machine I have used even with the hepa and charcoal filters. It really helped my allergies over time.
Good luck with your machine.

 

[s31463221]

Rainbow SE

I have owned a LOT of vacuum cleaners in my life, but until recently I never owned a rainbow. About a week ago I bought a used SE model from eBay because I simply didn't want to spend out on a brand new one in case I decided it just wasn't for me. With that said, I took it home last night and cleaned the entire house with it. Keep in mind, on Saturday I had fully vacuumed every room with either an Electrolux Silverado or a Kirby G5 (both of which I think do a great job!)......to say the least I was SHOCKED when I went to dump the basin after I finished. I can see how the in-home demonstrations could completely shame you into buying a new one!!! Oh my goodness! I was completely floored at how filthy the water was and how much fuzz/debris was in the tank! It had even sucked up one of the baby's toys and I didn't realize it until I dumped it!

I agree with you all when you say the Rainbow system isn't for everyone, it does require a little extra work at the end, dumping/rinsing/drying the basin, cleaning the seperator, etc. but for those who don't mind that it is an AMAZING machine. I and my daughter both suffer tremendously from allergies and the first thing I noticed about it was that when I turned it on, there was no funky "smell" that I have noticed from other machines when I turn them on. I can put a brand new bag in my Silverado and when I turn it on, I still get an odor that eminates from it. I did NOT get that with the Rainbow and the house seemed to have a cleaner feel to it when I was finished! Most likely that "feeling" was simply that and not a reality, but I do believe that continued use of this Rainbow could help alleviate a lot of our allergy issues! Just my two cents worth, but I certainly do not regret my purchase!

 

[nycwriter]

Cats and the Rainbow ...

... I just saw a video on YouTube about what happens to the Rainbow after it picks up even a little bit of kitty litter.

CLAY.

Stuck inside the water pan like cement.

Apparently not *everything* your vacuum sucks up should go into water.

 

[williamr1248]

Using my Rainbow

NYCWrite,
I remember that YOUTUBE! That was so funny. Who in their right mind would pick up kitty litter in ANY nice machine? I cannot believe you would spend that kind of money and then pick up something like kitty litter?
I almost ruined one of my uprights years ago when trying to use the tools and pick up a very small amount of fire place ash. I had compleley cleaned out my fireplace with a wisk broom and was going to use the dusting brush to just finish up. Within seconds the motor started laboring and the bag burst. What a mess and the poor machine was never right again. Who would want nasty kitty litter in their vacuum?
Kitty litter is designed to pick and absorb moisture. Why would anyone think to try and add that to a vacuum bag,bin or in this case a water basin?

 

[mark40511]

Cats & a Rainbow

Yes! I know that video you're talking about.

I don't use clay cat litter. I use Feline pine (pine pellets). It's the best cat litter I have ever used. If I used clay litter I would be afraid to vacuum with a rainbow. Common sense would tell me now to vacuum up clay litter in a water filtration vacuum anyway, but this guy doesn't allow comments on his video

I have used the feline pine long before I had a rainbow because I have always heard that cats ingest some of it when they clean themselves because it sticks to their paws and it will swell in their system and could cause health problems. It made sense to me so I stopped using it - even though people have been successfully using it for a long time.

 

[mark40511]

Not - not now

 

[rainbowd4se1]

Rainbow is my ALL TIME FAVORITE!! The new ones really look great! I have an E2, but I really like the older ones better. I have a D4SE that I use around the house.

 

[williamr1248]

Using My Rainbow

Zach,
Not sure if Rainbow is favorite but I can sure say they last and last and helped my alergies.. I had my oldest Rexair out yesterday using it and it picked up a basin full of grit and sand that had been tracked in during the week. Not a hint of dusty odor or dust even under the top section of the motor.
They sure knew how to build the old Hoover's,Lux's,Air-Ways and Rexairs's.
I don't think we will see any of the cheap plastic vacs of today still working this good in 50 years. The motor is just so smooth and quiet.
I am always amazed at the design of the rug tool and how it concentrates the suction. The machine itself is very light and easy to carry.
I have noticed when you read the reports that customers put on the internet,you find many families who have owned a Rexair for decades and still getting excellent service.