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Thread Number: 22693
Help me buy a vacuum- rainbow |
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| Post# 253590 , Reply# 1 10/23/2013 at 06:51 (3,830 days old) by ncovert (Grove City, PA) | ||
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1) Yes, but you must clean the separator because Kitty Litter will get stuck in it. 2) I don't believe so. 3) Don't know. 4) Don't know. | ||
Post# 253594 , Reply# 2 10/23/2013 at 07:22 (3,830 days old) by countryguy  (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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Vacyume,
Welcome! I also have 2 cats and the same Rainbow that you are looking to purchase. I also bought mine on Ebay as the cost was a lot less. I've had mine for just over a year now. My cats do not track a lot of cat litter around the house as I clean all around the litter boxes on a daily basis using a bag type vacuum so I don't have a problem using the Rainbow for everywhere else in the house. If you use a clumping cat litter then you know that sucking up a small handful of cat litter with a Rainbow is going to make a congealed like ball in the water pan. I've done it and it is a little messy to clean the pan. Gary | ||
| Post# 253599 , Reply# 4 10/23/2013 at 07:30 (3,830 days old) by vacyume () | ||
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Thanks countryguy Gary! I do use clumping, the bin litter at petco. So besides being a mess to clean out of the basin, will it build a thin venire of concrete inside the unit housing and motor? | ||
| Post# 253601 , Reply# 5 10/23/2013 at 08:18 (3,830 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
You must use Rainbow fragrances in the pan. Other fragrances CAN cause the pan to shatter (seen it many times). The original warranty isn't to the consumer, Rexair only provides a warranty to the Registered Distributor who buys the Rainbow from Rexair for resale. Unless you spend the $2400 to buy it from an authorized distributor, you will have no warranty.
The separator is a part on the bottom of the motor unit that needs to be removed and cleaned after each use. The pan must be stored separately from the unit. You must change the water about every two room of cleaning in order to prevent dirt from going through the motor. The real problem with used Rainbows is this: the customer is pressured in their home to buy the $2400 machine, even if it is unwise for them to go into debt over a vacuum cleaner (virtually all Rainbows are sold on monthly payments). The salesman takes the old vacuum as a trade in and the Rainbow is used hard by the owners for about six months until they get tired of the water hassle. Then they buy a bagless upright from Wal-Mart. But, they also loan out their Rainbow. So when you buy a used Rainbow from eBay, you can really be making a mistake, or not, depending upon something YOU cannot ascertain. How it's been cared for. Even if it looks good on the outside, doesn't mean it's clean on the inside. Instead, buy one 'reconditioned' from a reputable Vac Shop that includes a warranty. If anything goes wrong right away, you still have their warranty. Fromm eBay, YOU are stuck with all costs. I used to own an authorized Rainbow Service Center and have rebuilt and sold (with 5 year warranties) thousands of reconditioned Rainbows over the years. I sold my shop to my best friend when Tacony built the Museum for my vac collection. Evan still sells Rainbows at fair prices with warranties to this day. | ||
| Post# 253604 , Reply# 7 10/23/2013 at 08:39 (3,830 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
I've never used a Rainbow, though my Dad did own a Neptune for a while which is a sort of UK equivilant. But from what I can gather from this thread, the Rainbow:
- is very heavy, possibly excessively heavy - has to be emptied after cleaning just 2 rooms - has parts which get dirty that need to be dismantled and washed after each use - is awkward to store and cannot be stored in 1 piece - is very expensive So, what is the point in this cleaner? Seems to me like a whole lot of time, effort and money when one could purchase a similar performing machine that is lighter, easier to store, easier to maintain and cheaper? | ||
| Post# 253605 , Reply# 8 10/23/2013 at 08:48 (3,830 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
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| Post# 253624 , Reply# 10 10/23/2013 at 12:25 (3,830 days old) by dustin (Jackson, MI) | ||
I will start by saying that I have never actually used a Rainbow, but I do have 2 cats, and use clumping litter. I would guess they tend to knock about a teaspoon out of the litter box a day, and I wouldn't think it would be an issue if you vacuum daily, or maybe put a rug under the litterbox that can be shaken outside. I would also imagine you could put some of your fragrance on a cotton ball and either tie with string or tape somewhere near the exhaust. If you wanted to stick with the same scent, you could probably just put a couple drops on the hepa filter.
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| Post# 253653 , Reply# 13 10/23/2013 at 16:36 (3,829 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY) | ||
Since this is my favorite vacuum
I will add my thoughts.
I too have two cats and I have had the 2 speed rainbow going on 7 or 8 years now. I purchased it brand new. Rob is right, it's NOT for everyone. It has to be used correctly and cared for and you won't have to change that hepa filter for a LONG time. I will ADMIT that there are a few times I just don't want to deal with getting it out..But there are other times I'm so glad I'm not without it. It just smells awesome when you use it and stays super clean if you use it properly over the years. It IS heavy, but not what I would call OVERLY heavy...Plus I have a one story house and berber carpet so it's easy to navigate around. If you have a two story house or thick carpet, that may be another story. I have successfully used essential oil in my Rainbow (Lemon) (orange) (Pine) (Eucalyptus), and none has ever damaged the basin. I like essential or better because there are no chemicals. I do not use clumping cat litter. I'm pretty sure that would make a mess inside the basin. Luckily, I use this cat litter called feline pine, which is pine pellets and it works great and is supposedly healthier for cats since they ingest some of the clumping litter when they clean themselves. It's best to use the sifting litter boxes with that though. I think it's cheaper to use and all you need to do is mix in the pine with the regular litter slowly over a week or so until they are used to it, until you're using nothing but the pine pellets. I think it helps better with litter box odor than the clumping. It really is a great vacuum and for me it's one of those things I just got used to and you sort of get in this groove of using it and putting it away properly. All in all the extra time getting it out and putting it away each time I use it probably adds five minutes that I wouldn't need if I were using a regular bagged vacuum. But the payoff to me is everything just feels so much cleaner and you don't have to vacuum quite as often....... My experience was that after I thoroughly cleaned everything, I didn't have to change the water every two rooms as you would at first. After a couple of really good go through's of my house, it seemed the water wasn't nearly as dirty. That may not be the case in other conditions....I've always been a vacuuming maniac so dirt doesn't have a chance here. | ||
| Post# 253658 , Reply# 14 10/23/2013 at 17:45 (3,829 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere) | ||
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Or U can go for a D4SE with AquaMate 3 Powerbrush; the AquaMate will scrub carpets & bare floors 
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| Post# 253663 , Reply# 16 10/23/2013 at 18:46 (3,829 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH) | ||
I agree with Rob
You can't go wrong with Ken Bashford. Truly a gentleman and an honest Rainbow Dealer. Once you buy a Rainbow from an authorized dealer, you will not be sorry. Check out Rainbowsystems.com. They have a website where you can order supplies from whichever dealer you want. Ken ships very quickly and he has a great office staff to help him as well.
PR-21 Bud Mattingly | ||
| Post# 253671 , Reply# 17 10/23/2013 at 20:22 (3,829 days old) by dustin (Jackson, MI) | ||
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That's the real beauty of a Rainbow-
As long as you are picking up "wettable" dirt (which cat litter is, since it soaks up the urine), nothing should ever get past the water basin (although large amounts of litter would probably just make a muddy mess in the basin). The two main things to avoid would be talc (baby powder), and fireplace ash. Those are "non wettable" and would then be sucked through the seperator and into the motor and hepa filter. The seperator keeps the water (and dirt) from being sucked through the motor. It is attached to the motor, and spins at high speed in the water as air is pulled through it. The spinning seperator churns the water, dissolving the dirt and keeping the suction path clear.
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| Post# 253694 , Reply# 20 10/23/2013 at 23:05 (3,829 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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The Sirena water filtration vacuum is very similar to the Rainbow but is available from a local vac shop and costs $895. Why pay $2400 for a water filtration vacuum, when you could get a Sirena? I love mine. And I have one of every model Rainbow ever made - I'd far rather spend less than nine hundred on a NEW Sirena than twenty four hundred on a new Rainbow. Either machine will get the rug sparking clean, both have a Separator and a washable HEPA filter, and both use high quality attachments, hoses, etc.
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| Post# 253696 , Reply# 21 10/23/2013 at 23:13 (3,829 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS) | ||
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| Post# 253697 , Reply# 22 10/23/2013 at 23:18 (3,829 days old) by vacyume () | ||
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I'll check it out, thanks! Also, Realized what the separator is, and even learned where its cleaning brush is stored. took a minute for all the pieces to connect. Got it! Thanks All! | ||
| Post# 253701 , Reply# 23 10/23/2013 at 23:23 (3,829 days old) by vacyume () | ||
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kirbyvertibles, do you use perfumes that have 80% alcohol volume, an Eau de Parfum? or Essential Oil? | ||
| Post# 253806 , Reply# 28 10/24/2013 at 16:39 (3,828 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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| Post# 253811 , Reply# 29 10/24/2013 at 16:43 (3,828 days old) by mark40511 (Lexington, KY) | ||
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As much as I like and trust Rexiar | ||
| Post# 253813 , Reply# 30 10/24/2013 at 16:47 (3,828 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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| Post# 253864 , Reply# 31 10/25/2013 at 02:31 (3,828 days old) by vacyume () | ||
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Another question! How often does rainbow change their model design? | ||
| Post# 253887 , Reply# 34 10/25/2013 at 08:31 (3,828 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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When Sirena was being designed, they were looking at the E2 Rainbow as their inspiration. The cord from the power nozzle to the hose handle clipped into a channel on the back of the single piece wand. Sirena uses a telescopic wand. The cord doesn't get caught on anything really. I like that the power nozzle can be completely removed and any attachment placed onto the wand at any point during your cleaning. The power nozzle will fit the hose handle, eliminating the wand, making it ideal for mattress cleaning or stair cleaning.
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| Post# 336326 , Reply# 38 10/27/2015 at 16:16 (3,095 days old) by vacyume () | ||
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I should add, I've owned this rainbow for about 2 years now. Was just thinking about y'all and how much I love my machine, thought it'd be nice to give an update. | ||
| Post# 336354 , Reply# 39 10/27/2015 at 19:22 (3,095 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere) | ||
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I love my Rainbow! I use a D4SE & a chrome dome every other day; NOT ONE speck of dirt in my house I cant wait to buy a Sirena | ||
| Post# 336420 , Reply# 40 10/28/2015 at 16:26 (3,094 days old) by Ctvacman (CT) | ||
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Don't store the basin on the machine it's not good for the motor. You can always run the unit without a hepa, you initially said you didn't like the idea of a hepa filter. | ||
| Post# 336518 , Reply# 43 10/29/2015 at 21:12 (3,093 days old) by vacyume () | ||
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Thanks for the info. I do let the basin and separator dry overnight in the bathroom, but now I'll just prop the basin on top instead of storing reassembled. Less work, woo! | ||
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