This is not a vacuum cleaner you can just get through the house with in a few quick strokes - it takes some time to move the canister from place to place and to change out the water in the pan - but it is great for thorough cleaning of nearly any surface. Wet messes in carpet can be cleaned up easily by dissolving them in warm water, which does not harm the vacuum since the filter itself is a swirling pot of water. The powerhead requires some maintenance - the rotating brush can get tangled by long hair, causing it to slow down or grind slightly - but the vacuum as a whole has done well for me for many years with no issues. Ease of Maintenance This vacuum can be cleaned out with just a toothbrush (and some scissors to cut any long hair that gets tangled), and if you keep it clean, very little other maintenance will be required. Versatility The wet/dry capabilities of this vacuum make it ideal for a wide variety of messes that most vacuums can't handle due to their filter configurations.

Chasmosaurus

USA

Ok, let me explain. When I was a teenager my parents had a Rainbow vacuum. It worked well and my parents liked it but I was always the one who had to empty out the water canister. That is the nastiest idea anyone has had for a vacuum! That water looks disgusting after it is full of dirt and hair and little bits of whatever else you get off of the floor and God forbid someone forget to empty it out as soon as they are done. It makes the stinkiest pool of filth by the time someone realizes it still has water in it. I give it a satisfactory rating because it does function well. It will suck up just about anything (my parents have recently gotten another one since they liked the old one so much) but the nasty water is a deal breaker for me. I prefer the dry canister on my Dyson any day.

LacyYorkBeck

USA

We got our rainbow about 16-17 years ago, its awesome till this day. It is bagless, you can put pretty smelling stuff in it. It has a sprayer, 2 power heads (big and small). You can do floors and hardwood floors. You can do walls, ceilings, rugs, furniture, anything you can think of. There is no dust in the air. My husband uses it more than I do. We had to buy a new canister over the years but this was due to us leaving it outside with water in it and it cracked.

tresbiendara

South Saint Paul, MN

My mom originally lended me her rainbow because she didn't use it anymore. I have ended up keeping it. It's a really good vacuum & cleans really well. I don't really care for all the pieces it takes to operate it or the water needing to be emptied when done but otherwise it's a nice vacuum. I like it better than any other filter system I've had. My husband also used to sell them so he loves it too. My mom used it for yrs until she purchased a new vacuum. It also allows you to clean your air just by running it. We did this the other day when something in the oven started getting smokey. I think it helps with our allergies too. I can imagine it would be helpful for a household with pets. I love that it has different attachments for different type floors since we have wood and carpet. Also like the fact that you can take off & just use the hose part. Makes it easier to reach the ceilings & hard to reach places

Lpeacock

Atlanta, GA

My husband was doubtful about a Rainbow vaccum helping with his allergies.  He is now a believer.  It is pricey, but well worth the investment.  It's amazing how much dirt it picks up.  Usually when I vacuum you can see the dust particles in the air (especially by the windows), but NOT with the Rainbow.  It's amazing not to see the particicles floating in the air!  The machine is a must for anyone with pets! 

bairhunter

Chillicothe, OH

I've used my Rainbow SE PN2 for years and love it. I will never own another type vacuum. It's powerful and has no nasty bag filter odor. It has a powerful suction and beater brush head that is easy to manuver.

TamiXWP

New Caney, TX