Zit Seng's Blog

A Singaporean's technology and lifestyle blog

$3000 Vacuum Cleaner

170520092921I could never have imagined buying a $3000 vacuum cleaner. But we just did over the weekend. It is awfully expensive, but after seeing what it does, I think many people would be convinced they need one like it. I suppose their marketing strategy is really effective. They make you feel really bad about not having one, so that you need to buy one right away. They are certainly pretty good at helping to guide you along toward the “buy” decision.

This is the Rainbow vacuum cleaner manufactured by Rexair LLC. It employs a water bath filtration system, or in other words, it uses water to collect dust, instead of the dust bag used by most regular vacuum cleaner. This is certainly not the first water system that I’ve seen or used. But this Rainbow system is surprisingly effective at picking up dirt.

The “problem” with dust bag that they try to tell you is:

  1. Some dust particles are small enough to get through the dust bag. (That’s why the exhaust air filter gets dirty…)
  2. The dust bag gets clogged, reducing the effectiveness of the vacuum power. Hence the vacuum cleaner needs a large oversized powerful motor.
  3. Imagine if bits of food, or other perishable things, get sucked into the dust bag. They rot in the dust bag, and air is continuously sucked through the dust bag, through the rotting rubbish, and exhausted back into the room. What a health hazard.

So, hence, how perfect a water based system is. No dust bag, nothing to get clogged. Water is changed every time.

Their demonstration focuses a lot on the amount of dust that is picked up by the vacuum, and how much of that could potentially be exhausted back into the environment by regular dust bag vacuum cleaners.

I’m sure regular vacuum cleaners are not as bad as they picture them to be. But definitely their arguments make some sense, no denying that.

170520092922Yes, this picture sure looks gross. That’s the amount of dirt collected from just merely vacuuming up ONE piece of carpet/rug. Yeah, we’ve not washed it before, but it has been vacuumed from time to time (with our regular vacuum cleaner). That’s just the dust from one piece of carpet/rug picked up by the Rainbow vacuum cleaner.

Now, you can perhaps appreciate why, after observing one demonstration, that you’d feel so uneasy about the amount of dirt in your house, and guilty about not having such a vacuum cleaner.

I think the “magic” of the system’s ability to extract out dirt comes from the Power Nozzle, which consist of a high speed rotating brush that kind of “beats” the carpet (or cushion, bed, mattress, etc), reaching into the fabric to dig out the dust, then sucking it into the vacuum. The rest of its accessories and functions are not unlike regular vacuum cleaners. Water bath filtration certainly has its advantages over dust bags too.

The big question is, is it worth $3000? I cannot imagine the cost of manufacturing the product would come anywhere close to even one-fifth of that price. They claim technical superiority of their motor system, but well the question again is whether it’s worth $3000?

If the Rainbow vacuum cleaner can last 15 years (it comes with 8 years warranty), the $3000 works out to be just $17 a month. It sounds like a worthy investment for you and your children’s health.

I would love to hear some input about other competing water based vacuum systems.

43 thoughts on “$3000 Vacuum Cleaner

  1. Wow, that’s $2,047.06 US. I have a vacuum with 4 removable and cleanable filters, and a carpet shampooing system and both of those together are still under $1,000US. Unfortunately the proof is in the ability to live up to the claims. If it truly has a life of 15 years, and works just as well the last month as the first, and get’s the tiny tiny particles up, and never needs any bags or anything, it just might be worth it…

  2. My family has one too, and my mother bought it wayyyyyyy back in ’94. And now it has just lost most of its suction power recently in ’09, so it did last 15 years.

  3. Rainbow have a pretty amazing reputation in the US. These vacuum cleaners are made by Rexair LLC, founded in 1929 in Troy, Michigan. They designed the first ever bagless vacuum cleaner and there is only one Rainbow product on the market at the moment – the Rainbow cleaning system itself. The “Rainbow vacuum cleaning system

  4. I bought a similar brand with 10 years guarantee, its a multi purpose machine that can remove dustmites, puify your air and vacuum your house. Personally, i feel its worth it and no regrets
    about the price. I am not rich but health could not be bought either. So its a good investment. Its water based system with no filters. whichmeans no maintanence cost at all after you buy the machine. At first, i was sceptical however after the demo, im pretty sure i need one. Btw, dust mites are present all year round, it gets worst when the house is closed and the indoor humidity and temperatures are high(Singapore). The dried dust mite feces becomes airborne when someone walks over a rug, sits down in a chair, or shakes the bed clothes, making allergic person’s symptoms worse.

    Its very good for people with sinus problems, allergies and asthma. If any one of you are interested, i can help you pass the contacts of the salesman who did the demo to me.
    Most salesman uses aggressive tactics to sell, this one is not and very sincere. ferraninoz@gmailcom

    1. Hi,

      I am quite keen to know more about this vacuum cleaner that you have bought. My rainbow broke down recently (after 10 years) and now need to find a replacement as my daughter has bad skin allergy and asthma too. I was looking for any other brand that offers similiar functions as the Rainbow and hopefully cheaper too. I would appreciate if you can give me the contact details.

      Best regards.

  5. My sister bought this vacuum year ago and I thought it was a huge rip-off, then we borrowed it as our central had broken down and we needed to keep dust down in the house (my Father had breathing problems). To make a long story short, we havent given it back and she comes over to borrow it back. It really keeps the dust down and you dont have to worry about changing the bag as you just pour out the water. One word of warning though, empty the water after every use, dont let it sit as it will go really stinky! Great machine, worth the money!

  6. Hi i need your help. Do u have any rainbow dealers’ number in singapore? my rainbow wheel parts just disintegrated after years of use. I find it difficult to find them for after sale service because they don’t have a shop?
    please provide me agent’s number? thank you ….

  7. I think this is a good product too. But do you know what? My agent stole my number from my friend! And because of this, I think I am going to make a police report because that agent, pleaded with my friend to have her friends contact no but she didnt give, so while my friend went to the toilet, they snatched the phone and copy down the contact no! It is super disgusting at the way they do sales. The product no doubt is super good, but I think the way they do sales really tarnish their company’s reputation. I am going to make a police report because the agent said they didnt do that and my friend can be a witness that they did that.

  8. I just don’t think water filtration vacuum cleaner is such a high-tech product which costs SGD $3000.

    Have you guys ever searched around on Internet to find out other alternative suppliers? I did, I found lots of suppliers out there. It’s just that there are not many in Singapore

  9. I just got a demo done this morning. Was impressed and all and was really interested to buy it… until at the end of the demo, I was told that the price is S$3K++. Everything was good until this part — when we told the salesperson that we need time to think about it. Then she went on to bring us on a guilty trip eg, for the sake of your child, etc. It was sooo irritating, I felt like kicking her out! After more than an hour coaxing, she insisted to leave a brand new unit at our place… she said it’s because she needs to report back to her company, etc. and she even made my husband sign the document and assured us that if we don’t want it we can return it. We only did it because we wanted her out from our house so that we can have our much delayed lunch (and my kid is getting cranky from hunger and it was nearing her nap time!) So, I guess we are going to have another “battle” if we tell her next that we really don’t want the product… sigh!

    1. Hi Kumi,

      I am curious, may I know what happened when you told the agent that you really don’t want the product despite of having the document signed?

      Thank you in advance.

  10. They just came a did a demo at my place today.. N they left a brownish stain on my bedsheet.
    When confronted, they act blur and indicated that it was not their fault n that the stain can be washed off.
    I’ve heard of the system before & thought it would be good for my family, but the attitude of these sales ppl really puts me off.
    It’s like it’ll cost their lives if they are not able to sell the products.
    I’m trying to get in touch in anyone in their company that can resolve my problem, can anyone email me the agent’s contact? Thanks.

    This is a cleaning system, that’ll leave stains.. coupled with bad sales attitude. Why would we buy, even if the system is really good for us?

  11. Hi Amy,

    I’m so sorry to hear your sad story. Well sometimes it’s the salesmen attidute because of one culprit pls don’t blame the rest

    I’m here to help you out. you can reach the Rainbow Singapore at mktg@rainbowsystem.com.sg or you can browse the website for further information

    Thanks and regards,
    Ravi
    8288 7003

  12. I would like to buy some Rainbow vacuum cleaner model D4S. spares in Singapore. Can you help me where to find the service center. Regards.

  13. Hi,

    I bought a rainbow vacuum sometime in April and I was a fan of rainbow until a few days back. To cut the long story short, I found out that actually water-based vacuum cleaner cannot trap dustmites at all, they just get blow back into the air. No wonder I spent so many months trying to vacuum, vacuum and vacuum, my son dustmite allergy problem still can’t get solved.
    It’s a great blow to me. I may have to buy another vacuum cleaner to vacuum my mattress.

    Samantha w.

    1. Samantha,
      First of all, the correct usage of your Rainbow system is paramount coupled with the method of process being applied.The Rainbow is not aimed at the dustmites contrary to most believes. It is being used to clean the dustmite droppings and carcasses,these are the two triggers.

      The method you adopt to clean your mattress and its frequencies are vital. From what I undetstand

  14. Glad to know there are people interested to know more about their vacuum cleaner and how it works. Let me clear up some myths here. I was researching into this for some time and here are my conclusions:

    Essentially all vacuum cleaners need a place to store the dust it sucks up. So you have the usually bag type, and the bagless type which uses a container (which may or may not contain water). However, there are dust so small that they will not get trapped or settle in the bag or container. Hence most vacuum cleaner has a filter before it lets the air out. That piece of filter is the most important part of the vacuum cleaner; it make sure no dirty air got blown out.

    Really good vacuum cleaner will use HEPA filters. There are a few grades of HEPA filters but they are all very good, essentially nothing can escape from them. HEPA is not a commercial brand but a industry standard. The more common vacuum cleaner will just use some fibre-based filters. All filters need to be cleaned or changed periodically.

    So if you really want to be very clean, please get a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, whether they are the bag type or the bagless type.

    There are vacuum cleaners that do not need a filter. Those type usually use a centrifuge system to “spin” down the dust and trap them in a container (may or may not need water). They claim their centrifuges are so powerful that all dust, no matter how tiny, will be spun down. Unfortunately, that is not true. No centrifuge that powerful can be engineered into a household vacuum cleaner.

  15. I am very sad to notice alot of innocent people out there falling prey to many over zealous Rainbow salesman using all sorts of sales tactics. First of all, Rainbow is a very professional product. It requires a person with high integrity and knowledge to educate the masses on this magnificient product.
    There is a great difference between knowing the Rainbow well and understanding it well. But very sad to say,most Rainbow salesperson does not even understand their product. That is the reason confusions and unpleasant events unfold.
    In the event that you are considering to put your dollar and “sense” into Rainbow,you must see that it is and investment but NOT an expense . The Rainbow system has an “ROI” factor in it.
    The demo is vital,are you viewing an “selling” demo or an “educational” demo ? What you learnt in the demo is it an opinion or fact ? Alot of people does not understand that clean does not equals to hygiene. A normal vacuum solves the symptom (the dirt),but not the issue (hygience).
    But here again,there are some other water based vacuums out there,so what is the diff ?.I am in the business for the past thirteen years, I have the honour to work with a lung specialist who virtuall “prescribe” the Rainbow to most of his patients.
    My demos are geared towards educating and consultating,because I am a pro. I no need to pressure sell because I dont have to, through my educational demos, you are able to make a wise decision.
    Anyone that wants to know and understand more about the Rainbow system or need any assistance on all matters on Rainbow,I would be very please to help.

    1. Robert are u a rainbow salesperson? I need a demo on how to use mine properly n I need to buy some prdts. Pls send me your contact details tks

  16. Hi, would like to know how much does a new Rainbow cost? Understand that it costs $3k+, would appreciate if you can state the exact amount. Thanks

    1. it comes with a bed mattres beater. this is just a one month old. warranty is for one year. so you save $200. brand new is $3.4K plus.

  17. Hi all,
    If anyone interested to buy the rainbow cleaner.
    I am selling mine bought just a month ago for 3.7K comes with a wet mop worth $500/-
    I am planning to sell off at 3.4K anyone interested please mail me at roopaga@hotmail.com
    Excellent working condition, with 8 years warranty.
    Thanks.

  18. I got a demo yesterday. The sales lady refused to give me time to consider and said that I would not be able to get a $500 discount if I didn’t sign on the same day. What kind of policy is that? The price she quoted was $3500 before gst for the latest model complete set. Seeing that she perspired alot during and after the demo, I didn’t have the heart to tell her off immediately but managed to persuade her to leave after a long 45 minutes! She also insisted that I gave a few reference to get a free gift though I said i didn’t want it.
    I was quite impressed with the machine at first, especially with the ability to clean up mattress dustmites. However, this morning, I found a piece of new black cloth that the sales lady accidentally left behind. I recalled it was the same kind of fabric she used to cover the hose to show the amount of dirt collected from my furniture, etc. She also threw a few of them on the floor to show me the power of the vacuum suction which I thought was redundant and a waste of material. The black cloth went right into the water vessel for a purpose. I soaked the black cloth in a white basin for a minute and I discovered that the water turned slightly greyish. So that was the trick she used to bluff me that dustmites are grey in colour and the water had turned grey because a lot had been sucked from my mattress. I am so put off with the sales tactic that I am not going to buy it anymore. I am looking into Raycop for dustmites removal. So be cautious, consumers out there!

  19. I worked in a class 100~1000 cleanroom for a semiconductor manufacturing (A cleanroom is regularly tested and certified to have only certain amount of particle in the air per unit of volume. You even need to use a head cover, mask, gloves, and glass in order to work in a cleanroom so that you will not contaminate the room. Some class even require you to use oxigen tank). I never heard that they’re using a water base air cleaning system for a cleanroom. Most of the filter they use is HEPA or ULPA. For those who want to have a better filtration system, I suggest to use HEPA based vacuum cleaner. But, beware of fake HEPA as many common in the market now. The original HEPA filter is designed to filter out ultra tiny (nanosize) nuclear debris.

  20. i UPGRADED MINE SET TO A LaTER MODEL. mY OLD SET HAD BEEN USED FOR 4 YRS AND everything is in great condition. Wanted to trade in for $700 but tot give ppl a chance to try. So selling it off for $800 Neg.
    Call me @ 82684232 if keen…bought my sets at $3000 ++
    Cheers!

  21. Hi, I have a used Rainbow Vacuum cleaner for sale at just $400. Model: D4S. 20 years old, but with a trade-in value of at least $700 with the rainbow dealer, for a brand new Rainbow set. Please call me at 97592398 if interested? Thanks!

  22. I’ve had my Rainbow 2 speed model for five years & it does indeed have a hepa filter on it. But what’s interesting is that when I take the hepa filter OFF the machine to examine it on both sides, it’s still SNOW white & even still smells good! That’s pretty crazy I think! So the water much be doing something! I change the water about every 30 min’s though & clean the separator. I’m a super clean freak! If I drag my Rainbow out I can’t stop cleaning! It can be exhausting but it does a great job & they are super durable if taken care of. I do think they are over priced but ONLY because of the way they are SOLD. The manufacturer makes a great vacuum & that’s ALL they make so they put a lot of thought and technology into it, but everyone in the biz has to get their cut which makes the price astronomical…..However, it will last you years & to me does a fantastic job : D

  23. Hi all,

    I want to buy second hand ones which are still in good working condition with all default accessories. Cos I want to use in my offices in Singapore. Or if you are an agent and willing to forgo your huge commissions (50 or 70%?), then i can take new ones from you in bulk (maybe 5 – 6 sets) and you can satisfied your targets and/or discounts/rebates. Interested parties please email me at atitrainer@yahoo.com.

    Rdgs,
    Alvin.

    1. Alvin,
      If the agents forgo their comm btwn 50 to 70 % then whay do they live on their humble life ? Why do they want to come for the business for..? Not forgetting these people also like you needs to pay tax. If you think this is a gd bizness that they can afford to give you 50 to 70% why dont you go into the bizness to make that 50 to 70 % less. THANK YOU

  24. hi. i have one for almost 10 years and it works well…it has followed me to many countries when we get posted overseas….its only now that the wheels are a litle disintegrated and i have to find the replacements…

  25. Im looking for a second hand rainbow vacuum not more than 2 years old.
    Anybody interested to sell me please drop an email

    thanks.

  26. Had seen your webpage and indeed agreeable that unit was good except that over the years we have tried to call their technical team in for serving to our dissapointment. They either send in their sale personnel to obtain contacts for new orders and not having to really service our unit or there is this chinese specking lady whom will come by and try hard to clean unit and within seconds she is asking for contacts again. The job was never done.

    Henceforth, my last shot to contact them for parts replacement and servicing. If this is still not workable, i will really spend and devote all my time to warn others of this lousy afterservice job expectance from them.

    It could be very helpful of you if you come provide me the contact and thanks in advance

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