I've spent a lot of time testing gadgets, but the rainbow e series e2 vacuum cleaner is one of those rare machines that actually lives up to the hype decades after it first came out. If you've ever walked into a house that smells incredibly fresh—not like "fake lemon spray" fresh, but actually clean—there's a good chance a Rainbow was involved. It's not your average vacuum. It doesn't have a bag, and it doesn't rely on those plastic canisters that puff out a cloud of dust every time you empty them. Instead, it uses a big bowl of water to trap dirt, and honestly, once you see what it pulls out of your carpets, you might never go back to a "normal" vacuum again.
The Whole Water Filtration Thing
The core idea behind the rainbow e series e2 vacuum cleaner is pretty simple but effective: "Wet dust can't fly." Most vacuums use a bag or a filter to catch dirt, but tiny particles usually find a way to leak back out into the air. With the E2, the air is sucked into a reservoir of water. The water traps the dust, hair, and dander, while clean, washed air is exhausted back into the room.
It's both gross and incredibly satisfying to dump the water basin after a cleaning session. You'll see a literal "mud" at the bottom of the bowl. It's a bit of a wake-up call to realize that all that stuff was sitting in your rug where you walk or where your kids play. Because the dirt is trapped in water, there's no dusty smell when you turn it on. In fact, many people use the E2 as an air purifier. You can just let it run on its low setting in the corner of the room to scrub the air.
What Makes the E2 Special?
If you're looking at older Rainbows, the E Series E2 was a massive jump forward for the brand. Before this model, they didn't have HEPA filters as a backup. While the water does about 95% of the work, the E2 includes a HEPA filter to catch the microscopic stuff that might escape the water bath. This makes it a top-tier choice for anyone dealing with nasty allergies or asthma.
Another thing I love about this specific version is the two-speed motor. The high speed is for your heavy-duty vacuuming—getting the deep-down grit out of the carpet. The low speed is whisper-quiet. It's perfect for circulating air or if you just want to do some light dusting without feeling like you're standing next to a jet engine.
Living with an E2 Day-to-Day
Let's be real for a second: the rainbow e series e2 vacuum cleaner isn't for everyone. It's not a "grab and go" tool for a two-minute cleanup. If you spill some cereal in the kitchen, you're probably not going to pull this out. Why? Because you have to fill it with water every time you use it.
You take the basin to the sink, fill it to the mark, and then clip the heavy motor unit on top. When you're done, you have to dump that dirty water out, rinse the basin, and let it dry. If you leave the dirty water sitting in the machine for a few days, it will start to smell like a swamp. Trust me, you only make that mistake once.
But for a "deep clean" day—usually a Saturday morning for me—it's unbeatable. It's a "buy it for life" kind of tool. Most of the parts are heavy-duty, and the motor is built to run for decades if you take care of it.
The Power Nozzle and Attachments
The "business end" of the rainbow e series e2 vacuum cleaner is usually the PN-2 power nozzle. It's a beast on carpets. It has its own motor and a brush roll that really agitates the carpet fibers. One thing you'll notice is that the suction doesn't drop as the machine gets "full." In a bagged vacuum, as the bag fills up, the airflow dies down. Since the Rainbow just uses water, the airflow stays consistent from the first minute to the last.
Then there are the attachments. You get the floor tool for hardwoods (which is great because it doesn't scratch), the upholstery tool, and the crevice tool. But my favorite is the dusting brush. Because the suction is so strong and the air is being washed, you can actually dust your baseboards, blinds, and even ceiling fans without just pushing the dust around.
The "Scent" Factor
Here's a little pro tip if you own one of these: fragrances. You can buy these small bottles of concentrated oils from Rainbow (or generic ones online). You drop a few capfuls into the water basin before you start. As you vacuum, the machine acts like a giant diffuser. You can make your whole house smell like eucalyptus, vanilla, or even "fresh linen" while you're getting the chores done. It's a small thing, but it makes the task of vacuuming feel a lot less like a chore and more like a spa day for your house.
Maintenance and Longevity
People often ask if it's worth the price, especially since these aren't cheap. But when you realize that people are still using rainbow e series e2 vacuum cleaner units they bought in the early 2000s, the math starts to make sense. You aren't buying a new $200 vacuum every three years because the motor burned out or the plastic clip snapped off.
Maintenance is pretty straightforward. You need to keep the "separator" clean—that's the little spinning part inside the water basin. If it gets clogged with hair or gunk, the machine won't work as well. You just unscrew it, give it a quick scrub with the little brush they provide, and you're good to go. The HEPA filter also needs replacing every couple of years, but that's about it.
Buying New vs. Refurbished
Since Rexair (the company that makes them) has moved on to newer models like the SRX, you can find some incredible deals on refurbished rainbow e series e2 vacuum cleaner units. Honestly, a refurbished E2 is often a better deal than a brand-new "big box store" vacuum. There are plenty of specialized shops that strip these down, put in a new HEPA filter, clean the motor, and sell them for a fraction of the original price.
If you do buy used, just check the cord for any frays and make sure the power nozzle spins freely. These machines are built so simply that there's not much that can go wrong that a basic repair shop can't fix.
Is It Right for You?
So, who is this for? If you live in a small apartment and don't have much storage space, the rainbow e series e2 vacuum cleaner might be overkill. It's bulky and takes up some real estate in the closet.
But if you have a house with pets, kids, or someone with allergies, it's a game-changer. It's for the person who wants their floors to be actually clean, not just "visually" clean. It's for the person who is tired of the "vacuum smell" and wants a machine that will probably outlive their car. It's a bit of an investment in time and effort, but the results you get from that water-based filtration are honestly hard to beat.
At the end of the day, the E2 is a classic for a reason. It's heavy, it's powerful, and it works differently than anything else on the market. If you don't mind the "dumping the water" routine, it's easily one of the best cleaning tools you'll ever own.