Wet dirt can't fly???

[kirbysthebest]

If wet dirt can't fly why do they have a HEPA filter?

From a previous post:

Non-wettable dust like talcum, fireplace ash, plaster dust will slip through the bath and quickly escape. This is why Rainbow added an afterfilter on their machines to catch the dust that got away.

 

[marcusprit]

Probably microscopic particles will slip through too.

Nice machine but seems too much faffing about for me.

I prefer a Riccar Brilliance or even a Kirby myself. Will filter just as well and clean a bit better.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Probably the reason other water filter machines say "Wet Dirt Can't Fly" is because Rainbow has "Wet Dust Can't Fly" trademarked, but if one is speaking of a Rainbow then it's "Wet Dust Can't Fly".

 

[marcusprit]

Harley how does the Rainbow compare in performance to a Riccar or Kirby?

I like the latest powerhead with the edge cleaning brushes.

 

[dysonman1]

One would have to compare the performance of a Rainbow to another canister vacuum, not an upright. Kirby isn't convenient to use with attachments, and you certainly can't wash your kitchen floor with a Riccar. The Rainbow will shampoo the carpet (and not just rub bubbles into it like 'dry foam' methods). The Rainbow will unclog drains and pick up spills. The Rainbow has a motorized mini power brush for stairs and pet hair. The Rainbow's high quality attachments are easy and dare I say, fun to use. Sure, taking fifteen seconds to fill the water pan before use might be a chore to some. Emptying the basin may take a moment (I've always emptied it into the commode and never had a clog, ever) but all the dirt is out of your house - not in your closet. Best of all, the Rainbow doesn't stink like last month's dirt - and you have no expense for consumables. Rainbow's HEPA neutralizer is washable.

My Rainbow has been running on air wash mode since October, in my bedroom, continuously. I use distilled water in it and have to refill it daily as it adds moisture and humidity to the dry heated air in my home. When I want to vacuum, I attach the hose, switch to high speed, and clean. The fifteen foot electric hose means I never move the cleaner once it's in a room. The hose is long enough to allow me to clean everything on as well as above the floor.

They are certainly not for everyone, and I do have several 'bagged' type cleaners as well as the wonderful Hoover Air Cordless for quick cleaning jobs.

 

[marcusprit]

Ok how would it compare to a Riccar Immaculate? Was just wondering if it could come close to a Kirby for dust pick up on carpet?

It does sound good as you describe it. I couldn't afford a new one and i've not seen any used Rainbows on ebay in Europe.

 

[marcusprit]

Actually after Toms description if I can find a used one on eBay in Europe I might go for it!

The only thing that concerns me is if something goes wrong with the electrics it will likely be very expensive to fix.[this post was last edited: 3/11/2015-12:27]

 

[gsheen]

a Rainbow is the only water filtration vacuum I would ever use. Its the only one I have ever seen that works.

 

[dysonman1]

A Rainbow is an extraordinarily well made machine, including the motor. The newest Rainbow doesn't use carbon brushes, which is why mine runs 24/7 in my bedroom to wash the air. Rexair (the manufacturer of the Rainbow) makes their own motor, it has an 8 year warranty. If you put the machine away with the water pan NOT latched onto the machine (I put it under the kitchen sink), you'll be fine.
My Rainbow never gets put away, always running extremely quietly on air wash speed. Rexair makes a germicide to go into the water, with alcohol and triethylene glycol as its main ingredients. With a capful in the water basin, the air returning to the room will be not only dust free, but bacteria free as well.

This is my 1939 Rainbow, along with my brand new one. Both have 100% suction, 100% of the time.

 

[marcusprit]

Good to know. No carbon dust either.

Are the electrics in the hose wand and floorhead reliable too? This is a potential failure on most cylinders/cannisters I find.

Anyway I'll keep looking on eBay to see if one becomes available.

Thanks Tom.

 

[kirbyduh]

Rainbow

Rainbows are great, high quality machines. They are the only type of vacuum that you can turn on after years and years, and still smell fresh and clean. My Rexair Model C does not even smell dusty in use. In my opinion, the sheer quantity of older rainbows on eBay, and the high price they fetch are evident of their quality. Everyone I know who has a Rainbow loves it, even if they do have to fill up the basin with water and empty it afterward. 


 


I will not, however, that the new black power nozzles clean much better than the ones on the other E series machines. While those powerbeads are not as bad as some people make them out to be, they do choke off airflow somewhat. They always manages to get plenty of filth out of the rugs despite this. 

 

[marcusprit]

Doesn't look like they sell many in Europe as none for sale on EBay. Lots in the US though.

 

[kirbymodel2c]

If....

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Your passing by one day Marcus you can try one of mine so you can see for yourself what there like.</span>


<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">Very few turn up in the UK as they just don't sell in big numbers. There's only 2 or 3 distributors in the whole of the UK.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">James

</span>


 

 

[marcusprit]

Thanks James there's a lot of your cleaners I'd like to try!

 

[ultralux88]

I know you get Hylas and the newer Big Power SE that uses a separator. And the Delphin. All of those work the same and are well made. The Hyla being my favorite non-Rainbow water vacuum.

 

[whirlpolf]

having used quite a bit of wet vacs

I might add some pros and cons (only from my own experience, not suitable for anyone else)

All of them are superior to any Dyson or Kirby what comes to "no dust smell"

Rainbow:
D series: Nice and compact, very silent and pleasant sound, although having rust issues on the central hex nut holding the fan blade (I wonder how that is taking it on the long run).
E series: Somewhat better on that, yet a shrieking ramp-up sound caused by this horrible reluctance motor, it makes my molar fillings fly out. I just hate it.

Hyla: Better cleaning performance (even though only slightly better than Rainbow. Sound ok.

Delphin: Highest cleaning performance, sound ok but terribly loud (due to the lack of foaming stuff inside).

DeLonghi: A joke what comes to water filtration vacs. Sound average to ok, filtration is a bubble bath of sludge, there is no circular action in it. The pre-filter is always wet.

Thomas wet/dry and steam vac: A joke. Wet action between average and forgettable, dry suction good but not any better than a standard vac. Steam cleaning plus suction: You are better of with a steam generator iron SANS suction. (Messy, not working, more action to the job than using a good professional mop set).

None of them clean carpets as good as the Kirby does, although Hyla and Delphin come close.
But all of them outdo Kirby and Dyson alike on "overhead jobs", corners, floors.
Workmanship: Best: Delphin
Second: Rainbow and Hyla.
Worst: DeLonghi

None of them will filter non-water-catchable stuff like oily substances or plaster dust. (Thus the back or post "washbasin" filters).
Some manufacturers suggest using scented oils to make an emulsion in the basin to catch the oily stuff (works well until you have to empty out the basin: This idea will make you dishwash it with liquid soap each time, so what is the time saving point here?)

All water based vacuums give me a better air to breathe than any other vac, most of them give me a headache of a daily empty out job, none of them can groom my fitted carpets well enough.
One gives me a grinding jaws movement almost until biting out my molars (Rainbow's E series, I love the design, but the sound gives me the creeps).

Note again: Just my 2 cts, nobody else's. May anybody decide for him/herself.

Buying factor (for me): None of them. Will stick to my Kirby-Nonkirby-selection along with small babies for quick pickups.

 

[bikerray]

As for dumping the water after use, I use a large funnel that has a micro mesh screen in it. I just put it in the garbage disposal then pour the water into the funnel and it strains out the grit and fiber and the water just goes down the drain. Take the micro mesh screen out and dump the filtered stuff in the garbage, rinse every thing out and I'm done.

As for other water base machines, I tried an H2O vac, it worked ok but was a pain in the tail to clean out and get all the lint and gunk out of all the baffles in the water chamber. You could never clean it like you can a Rainbow water basin.

I love my E series and just got a power nozzle for it. I usually use my canisters for above floor cleaning then use my Kirby for the carpet.

A lot of the more expensive vacuums Kirby, Electrolux, Rainbow or Rexair with proper care will last a lifetime. My Kirby C (1936) will still make the carpet vibrate, and my Rexair series A (1937) still does a great job cleaning. I am wondering though if the plastic body of my Rainbow E will still be like it is now in 50 years.

 

[mark40511]

Guys

This is my hepa filter after five years. I wanted to cut into it to see what it looked like. A lot of the pieces of filter were still snow white. I think this hepa still had a lot of life in it but since it had been so long I changed it. The water/separator keeps the hepa cleaner longer than any other machine I've ever seen with a hepa filter. I've seen hepa filters look worse than this after 3 months. Trust me, the Rainbow works GREAT. I'm glad I'm not on septic though. I've always dumped down the toilet..