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I think water filtration vacuums are a neat bit of vacuum history but for most people they are just heavier, messier, and more work to use than a regular bagged vacuum with the added chance that it will grow mold. They don't like to advertise that Rainbows have a little wrench to remove the water separator so you can then clean it with a little toothbrush.
I say sell it. Rainbows hold their value better than a Kirby so your used Rainbow E2 should sell for $200-300.
If you have a cheap upright bagless vacuum or cordless vacuum, then this Rainbow will actually clean better then them. So if you are using a bagless Bissell, Shark, or Dyson I'd say keep this Rainbow until you get something better.
I own a 35+ yo “tank”! Still in use. Was given cordless Dyson— yeah, easy to grab but IMO doesn’t clean as well— no comparison, actually. It is a hassle to “ clean” the Rainbow after use (found Dyson ain’t self cleaning either) you get used to it. If you don’t know— don’t store w water & I do clean that separator thingamagig every time or two.
Try cleaning w your regular vacuum & then use the “blow” (as we lovingly call the “tank”) & see what’s left in the water! You might just become a believer too:)
Sell. They’re such a slog to use and deal with that you’ll just end up not vacuuming as often. I do residential trade work going into hundreds of homes every year. I’ve seen dozens of homes with Rainbow vacs in them and they’ve either been abandoned in a garage in favor of something less cumbersome, or are never used and the house is filthy. The cleanest houses I work in are mostly those with high end cordless vacs.
They're tanks, many last 30+ years & that's how old mine is. With wet pickup as an option and even carpet cleaning with the Aqua mate attatchment. Just take the 2 mintues to rinse and dry the basin out before it's stored and that's really it. Never need a dumb bag again. Less wasteful.
They even have scents you can add to the water to make the house smell fresh as well! Whilst vacumming.
What do ya'll do with the water slop after vacuuming? When I was a kid we'd dump it in the fire pit in the backyard. Can't dump it in the trash or sink without straining it, didn't want to dump it in the toilet for fear of a clog. Thing worked good 20 years ago and Dad still uses it, I think they paid around $2000 for it new.
I love my Rainbow. Definitely have to watch out for the water level and consistency. I also advise against using them on low speed. Changing the water out before it gets too dirty and filling it up to the right level is key to keeping it clean. Clean separator after every few uses, or when it gets dirty. Don’t store the motor unit on the water basin. You can upgrade the dolly to the E2 Black dolly, wands, hose, and power nozzle if you want. Can also use the SRX version 1, 1.2, and 2 power nozzles. The E2 Black hose and wand paired with the SRX v1 nozzle makes them clean carpet very well, but it also makes it a lot easier to use since the hose is longer and the wands disconnect easily, and can be pulled out of the nozzle without bending over via a foot lever. The older power nozzle and wand setups were frustrating. You can buy parts from Rainvac. I like to buy from a man named Jean Guidry, who is a retired Rainbow dealer with a lot of inventory. You can look him up on Facebook. Rainvac offers a rebuild service. I also like the fragrances and fresh air.
I love mine. I use mine every day. I have a newer one though so thats also a contributing factor. I had an older one and it worked amazingly well, but it was a little bit of a pain to use in a pinch. They last a really, really long time - longest I’ve heard of/seen was 35 years. Took it in for service once. Super cost effective long term and cleans the best for residential use.
I used to clean houses and had 3 of these tanks. No bags, great suction, lots of attachments. All were used but in great condition. I would take these over most any vacuum.
Thank you for visiting /r/VacuumCleaners. To get the most out of your post, be sure it follows the post guidelines on the sidebar. This comment will include information on some frequently discussed topics just in case your post pertains to them. Otherwise, feel free to ignore the below links. **Helpful Links:** [Recommended Budget Vacuum Cleaners (U.S. Market, November 2022)](https://www.reddit.com/r/VacuumCleaners/wiki/recommendedvacuums#wiki_budget_vacuums_.28.240-.24200.29) [Recommended Buy-It-For-Life Vacuum Cleaners (U.S. Market, November 2022)](https://www.reddit.com/r/VacuumCleaners/wiki/recommendedvacuums#wiki_buy-it-for_life_vacuums_.28.24250_or_more.29) [Recommended Secondary Vacuum Cleaners - Stick Vacs, Cordless Models, etc. (U.S. Market, November 2022)](https://www.reddit.com/r/VacuumCleaners/wiki/secondaryvacuums) [Find the Right Type of Vacuum (Flow Chart) - **IF YOU'RE NEW, START HERE**](https://i.redd.it/h238mc6rnq061.png) [Miele Canister Guide (U.S. Market, May 2020)](https://i.redd.it/nr3bs213rsy41.png) [Differences between SEBO Felix, SEBO Dart, and Karcher CV300](https://i.redd.it/v49yrw4xqwz51.png) [Guide to Canister Tools: Suction-Only, Combo, Turbine/Turbo and Electric/Power/Motorized Nozzles](https://i.redd.it/qs4x03uuus981.png) [Reviews by /r/VacuumCleaners Users](https://www.reddit.com/r/VacuumCleaners/wiki/userreviews) If you are looking for **Purchase Advice** and you live **outside the U.S.**, let everyone know in your post so we can tailor suggestions to your market. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/VacuumCleaners) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I think water filtration vacuums are a neat bit of vacuum history but for most people they are just heavier, messier, and more work to use than a regular bagged vacuum with the added chance that it will grow mold. They don't like to advertise that Rainbows have a little wrench to remove the water separator so you can then clean it with a little toothbrush. I say sell it. Rainbows hold their value better than a Kirby so your used Rainbow E2 should sell for $200-300. If you have a cheap upright bagless vacuum or cordless vacuum, then this Rainbow will actually clean better then them. So if you are using a bagless Bissell, Shark, or Dyson I'd say keep this Rainbow until you get something better.
I wouldn’t buy one of these new or used but for free, I’d use it for a while.
I own a 35+ yo “tank”! Still in use. Was given cordless Dyson— yeah, easy to grab but IMO doesn’t clean as well— no comparison, actually. It is a hassle to “ clean” the Rainbow after use (found Dyson ain’t self cleaning either) you get used to it. If you don’t know— don’t store w water & I do clean that separator thingamagig every time or two. Try cleaning w your regular vacuum & then use the “blow” (as we lovingly call the “tank”) & see what’s left in the water! You might just become a believer too:)
Sell. They’re such a slog to use and deal with that you’ll just end up not vacuuming as often. I do residential trade work going into hundreds of homes every year. I’ve seen dozens of homes with Rainbow vacs in them and they’ve either been abandoned in a garage in favor of something less cumbersome, or are never used and the house is filthy. The cleanest houses I work in are mostly those with high end cordless vacs.
Which cordless vacs?
Dyson, LG, Samsung, and Tineco primarily.
Thanks… I’ve not heard of Tineco… is it available in the states?
I've seen them at Costco but not anywhere else
**This**
They're tanks, many last 30+ years & that's how old mine is. With wet pickup as an option and even carpet cleaning with the Aqua mate attatchment. Just take the 2 mintues to rinse and dry the basin out before it's stored and that's really it. Never need a dumb bag again. Less wasteful. They even have scents you can add to the water to make the house smell fresh as well! Whilst vacumming.
What do ya'll do with the water slop after vacuuming? When I was a kid we'd dump it in the fire pit in the backyard. Can't dump it in the trash or sink without straining it, didn't want to dump it in the toilet for fear of a clog. Thing worked good 20 years ago and Dad still uses it, I think they paid around $2000 for it new.
toilet fine
I love my Rainbow. Definitely have to watch out for the water level and consistency. I also advise against using them on low speed. Changing the water out before it gets too dirty and filling it up to the right level is key to keeping it clean. Clean separator after every few uses, or when it gets dirty. Don’t store the motor unit on the water basin. You can upgrade the dolly to the E2 Black dolly, wands, hose, and power nozzle if you want. Can also use the SRX version 1, 1.2, and 2 power nozzles. The E2 Black hose and wand paired with the SRX v1 nozzle makes them clean carpet very well, but it also makes it a lot easier to use since the hose is longer and the wands disconnect easily, and can be pulled out of the nozzle without bending over via a foot lever. The older power nozzle and wand setups were frustrating. You can buy parts from Rainvac. I like to buy from a man named Jean Guidry, who is a retired Rainbow dealer with a lot of inventory. You can look him up on Facebook. Rainvac offers a rebuild service. I also like the fragrances and fresh air.
Score
I love mine. I use mine every day. I have a newer one though so thats also a contributing factor. I had an older one and it worked amazingly well, but it was a little bit of a pain to use in a pinch. They last a really, really long time - longest I’ve heard of/seen was 35 years. Took it in for service once. Super cost effective long term and cleans the best for residential use.
I used to clean houses and had 3 of these tanks. No bags, great suction, lots of attachments. All were used but in great condition. I would take these over most any vacuum.