What is your favorite Rainbow copy?

[eluxca]

The Rotho website is one of the best I've seen, especially for a water filtration vacuum as they tend to be cryptic. I like the ease of dirty water disposal and clean up of the filters. Thanks for sharing

 

[williamr1248]

What is your favorite Rainbow copy?

John,
I think Tania and I were looking at that machine when she was down and we visited Cleary's. I was thinking it was around $1400.00.
I may have to go back and take a look. I don't think the machine I looked at had the power nozzle.
I do remember the filter worked more like the one on my H2o vac. I don't think it has a separator. They do have a nice web site. I am sure they gave us some material about the machine.
Rob

 

[vac_whisperer]

I saw an infomercial on TV for a cheap-looking rainbow -type vacuum. They also had a stand at our annual homeshow last year. It looked really cheap. (almost as cheap as a "garry". ) I think it was called a "hurricane" or something.

VW

 

[mark40511]

I have a Rainbow two speed bought brand new in 2006. I've used it quite a bit the first couple of years. I still use it SOME. The entire machine and the hepa filter still look brand new. Based on some folks saying that the dust just skips over the water and that they don't filter well always confused me......If that were the case, I would think as many times as I've used it the filter would be nasty, but it still white and even smells new.

I always wondered about the other water filter vacuums. Did they copy Rainbow?

I saw a Thermax once in a thrift store. It was HUGE.

 

[williamr1248]

What is your favorite Rainbow copy?

Mark,
I am with you. I don't understand why I keep hearing the same thing about the Rainbow. Check out the picture of my 18 year old machine on thread 11577. I have used mine to clean and scrub the porch and basement floors and the exhaust and the bottom are still clean as the day I bought the machine. We have a family friend who bought one of the first Rainbows with the hepa filter and it has had a lot of abuse and the hepa filter is still clean.
I think the secret is to remove and rinse out the basin after use and don't pick up certain types of things like plaster dust and fireplace ash (which I would not use ANY good vacuum to pick up. I do ALWAYS dump the water and replace after about 30-40 minutes use.
I just like never having a dust blower in the house and no nasty saving filth in the closet.
A friend of mine had a vacuum store and you would not believe what condition customers would bring Rainbow and other brands in for service. You had to see it to believe it!
Rob

 

[joshdonnell]

rainbow

rob, mark a lot of the dust does not get trapped in the water. thats why the have to relay one the hepa filter . just like any other vacuum

 

[mark40511]

Josh

Obviously we don't have to rely on the hepa filter since it's still clean and new looking after 4 years. Did you skip over what we both said?

Sorry......didn't mean to hijack this thread talking about Rainbow

 

[joshdonnell]

rainbow

yes i saw what said . doesn't matter if you have a hepa filter its not sealed

 

[mark40511]

The Rainbow exhaust comes STRAIGHT through the hepa filter hard.......If the dirt I was vacuuming was going out the back surely the hepa would have some dirt on it......NO?

 

[williamr1248]

what is your favorite Rainbow copy?

Josh,
I was noticing just the other day that while so many of my newer cleaners have lots of gaskets, my Rexair has 2 heavy pressure clamps to attach the motor unit to the basin and mine has no trace of any dust after 18 years of use. I cannot say about any of my other vacuums. Even my canisters that claim to be sealed will have traces of dust in the bag compartment and around the exhaust.
The main reason I have enjoyed the Rainbow is when I turn it on there is no smelly odor and when I dump and rinse the basin I am not saving dirt and filth in the closet and I don't have to buy replacement bags and filters.
The Rainbow is not for everyone. It takes a little more time to get out and put away compared to an upright but I enjoy not having the dust and smell every time I vacuum. Some of my newer vacuums even have charcoal filters to try and capture the odor for the bags. An upright will not work for my situation because I have carpet,wood floors,stairs and furniture that I need to clean under and around.
I got one of my newer machines out today that is a sealed hepa system and the first thing when you turn it on is a nasty dusty odor. Everybody likes something different and has different needs for their homes so you have to go with what works for you. No one best vacuum for everyone.
.

 

[williamr1248]

What is your favorite Rainbow copy?

Josh,
Just wanted to add that I do not seem to have smell or dust leaking from my Filter Queen either but I do not like having to empty the bin. My parents always used an Air-Way. The Air-Way along with the Rexair were the only vacuums that were recommended when I was small by allergy doctors. I will say MOST of the time I don't notice any smell from my Dysons,unless the bin was not emptied after every use and I hated to mess with the dry flying dust when I had to empty the bin.

 

[joshdonnell]

rainbow

i have used a miele and put my nose to the exhaust no dusty smell . even a kenmore no oder . kirby yes and i don't see the big deal about storing the dust in the vacuum in the closet big woop. just saying . i have asked about rainbows from local vacuum stores . they don't like rainbow because how bad the are . i like rainbow but there not the best

 

[mark40511]

Most vacuum shops are probably getting Rainbows that were disrespected

I would venture to say that most people who have Rainbows probably don't dump the water when they should, thus, most see dirty nasty messes inside them when it's time to open them up.............I could be totally wrong here.........BUT, I've used my Rainbow A LOT (especially the first two years)........If there was dried vacuum sludge inside my machine........certainly it would have some sort of smell...I mean, think about it............Wet vacuumed dirt that's dried on the inside.....?............Bottom line, if the water is changed every 20 min's or so....I don't think the inside of the Rainbow will be covered in crud.

That all being said.........It is a PAIN the the .......to use.....It comes in handy for certain things for me though.

 

[joshdonnell]

rainbow

well i have a e series you like like to buy it for 250 just for the main unit

 

[kenkart]

While Rainbows...

Are not my favorite machine...the main problem with them is improper use, use enough water,clean the separator after each use..the newer ones you dont have to, empty them at least every 30 min,and most of all NEVER!!! vacuum ashes-soot-flour-cornstarch or anything greasy, and always set the machine off the pan after each use, most women are way too busy to do all this and that is the root of the problems,salesmen need to stress the proper care of the machine 10000 times more than they do!

 

[williamr1248]

What is your favorite Rainbow copy?

Hans,
You are right on it. I have been using my old Rainbow ONLY in the main part of the house for the last 6 months as a test. Yesterday I got my new Hoover Anniversay Upright out that uses a hepa bag. I also got my grandmother's Hoover Concept One out with a new Hoover bag. Today I noticed that the TV,end table and coffee table all had a nice fresh layer of dust on the top. When I use the Rainbow ONLY, there is just no dust on the table tops,blinds or tv. My Rainbow must be either removing more dust from the carpet or not exhausting as much as my other vacs. I have noticed that with my old Rainbow there is never any foul dusty smell and the room seems to smell fresh. The best part is not having to dust all the blinds on the windows!
Off the subject, but your chocolate cobbler was great and now it's gone!!!!We enjoyed every bite.
Rob

 

[mark40511]

I still haven't heard anyone give me or William an explanation as far as the "wet dust can't fly" argument.........

Based on what I have read in the past........that if a Rainbow is filled with clean water and one starts vacuuming, all of the dirt doesn't make it into the water basin and skips right over it.

That's fine and all.........But if this is the case with vacuuming dirt, then my hepa filter would have to be filthy by now, as the air comes right out of the back of the machine.

I'm not talking about vacuuming ashes or flour or corn starch. I've read on forums where folks will say Rainbows don't filter well and that's why they added a hepa filter...........

If the Hepa filter (as some say) is doing all of the filtering and the water is doing absolutely nothing.....Would that leave the hepa filter covered in complete sludge?

To me, that has to be some sort of proof that the water is doing a freaking great job......A snow white hepa filter after a few years..........Am I wrong?

 

[kirbyloverdan]

The Hepa Filter is

Washable and does not get muddy or wet . My new Rainbow e2Series 2 speed with the HEPA filter does a great job cleaning and filtering and I have owned it for two years and use it a few times a month and my filter is still snow white . As far as my favorite water vacuum "improvement" not copy to the Rainbow is the Pro Aqua which doesnt have a filter and just use`s a really good seperator that really forces all dust and dirt into the water .I like it better than my e2Series because I feel it is really well made and built in Germany as I am also a German Automobile owner/lover as well .

 

[pr-21]

Rainbow SE PE

I will stick to my SE PE Rainbow. I truly believe that wet dust cannot fly. My SE PE is like william1248's. The exhaust port has never had any dirt in it. With that said I do not pick up non wettable items with my Rainbow and I do clean the separator after each use and rinse the water pan and dry it. Those steps don't take more than 5 minutes tops. Sometimes I have had people mention how fresh my house smells. Each time this has happened I had just used my Rainbow. I also sometimes use the genuine scents, just because I like them. I would like Rexair to make a better power nozzle. I have 2 the old style and the one that came with the SE PE. I also have an E Series, which is stored in my garage, I do not like it near as well as the SE PE. Too bulky and I think the water basin is harder to clean....Just my thoughts

Maybe an interesting thread would be how far the vacuum industry has come to eliminate dust blow back over the years. I had a top of the line Eureka back in the 70's. It was a 2 speed automatic, but when you first started it up even though it used the F & G bags, there would be dust escaping the dust bag. With that said, it was one of the best vacuums made during that time. Obviously hepa type and hepa bags, along with sealed systems have made all of our homes much cleaner and less dusty. I bet that if I were able to afford a Rainbow back then, their would have been a much less dusty home....


Bud

 

[mark40511]

I called a few vacuum shops here in Lexington asking them if they knew of any PN that would fit the E 2 speed because I don't like the E series PN. They all said NO but what's even more strange is that they all told me that I would be crazy to get another PN because the Rainbow PN is so good. I even mentioned the Wessel Werk and one guy said those are so cheap......

I wasn't going to argue. They sounded kind of busy.

Anyway

Say your using the Rainbow PN and you go from Carpet to tile and there are some crumbs on the tile, you run the Rainbow PN over it and it doesn't really get all the crumbs or takes several passes to get them...........But the suction is GREAT on the Rainbow itself and the PN isn't clogged. So you get the Kenmore can and in the same scenario and the crumbs come right up easily and you can hear the strong suction from the PN when it's on a hard non-carpeted floor, yet you can't really hear that strong suction on the Rainbow PN on a hard floor. If I put the Rainbow hose down into the Kenmore PN and put it over the hard non-carpeted surface, you can hear the strong suction coming from under the PN.......

So I'm thinking.........If this has a somewhat hard time picking up the crumbs on a hard floor, how can it be deep cleaning. Something is funky with the design. I like the looks of the PN though and it sounds like it's really digging deep into the carpet when you're using it, but the suction is being choked somewhat by the design.