As you know, we’re kind of obssessed about vacuum cleaners. Two vacuums that are quite different from anything else we’ve reviewed are the Sirena and Rainbow vacuums, which use water filtration to purify the air. So in this post, we’ll do a head to head of the Sirena vacuum vs Rainbow vacuum, and try to help you decide which water vacuum is better for you.
How water vacuums work
Water vacuums are really unique. Where normal vacuums use a filter to remove the dust particles from the air they’re sucking in, water vacuums use a tank of water.
Regular filters can sometimes result in the dust being released back into the air either when the vacuum is operating or when you go to clean the filter.
Water filters are more efficient at trapping the dirt – as the air is forced through the water tank, the dirt and dust gets suspended in the water and it becomes much harder for it to escape. This is partly because water encourages the dust to coagulate and weighs it down, so it’s not as likely to get thrown back into the air.
Sirena Vacuum: what’s so special?
Sirena makes just one or two vacuum cleaners, and they’re so specialized because they’re pretty damn good at what they do. A 2-speed, 1200 watt motor powers the machine with plenty of suction.
As you read above, the Sirena uses a water filtration system to purify the air as you vacuum – this actually results in your house smelling a lot nicer than it did when you started to vacuum! You can do this by adding a few drops of fragrant oils into the water canister before vacuuming.
When the air blows out through the exhaust after passing through the water, it will pick up some vaporized fragrance and you’ll sense that fresh, steam-cleaned smell.
The canister is transparent so you’ll actually see the water swirling around as the air is forced through it. You’ll also be able to see all the dirt and dust collecting inside the water.
Once you’re done, you just empty the water, clean the canister, and you’re good to go again.
Using water also means that there is far less likelihood of any clogs. Regular vacuums can easily get clogged if too much dust accumulates in the filters.
In addition to the water filter, there is a secondary HEPA filter too which is like a failsafe that picks up anything that gets left behind.
Another really neat feature of the Sirena is that it’s a wet and dry vacuum. You can pick up dry things and even suck up water – so if you need to clean any wet messes(vomit or accidents, for example), the Sirena will not only clean it up but it will also help eliminate the bad odors.
You can also use the Sirena vacuum as a vaporizer by adding some essential oils to the water, and you can reverse the motor to quickly fill up an air bed.
Tools that come with the Sirena
- Electric hose: this motorized hose gives you a bit more cleaning power and accuracy
- Wet hose: use this hose to clean up wet messes
- Dusting brush: this bristled tool helps clean delicate objects like lampshades and curtains
- Crevice tool: this narrow-mouthed, long tool helps get into hard to reach places
- Upholstery tool: use this for cleaning chairs, sofas, and drapes – the bristles are designed especially for this use
- Floor brush: use this for cleaning hardwood floors and tiles. The gentle brushes will polish floors and pick up dirt as it glides across the surface
Rainbow Model E2: What’s the big deal?
The Rainbow Model E2 is another very efficient water vacuum. It cleans beautifully, is designed very well, and is not prohibitively expensive.
Like the Sirena, the Rainbow is equipped with a water filter that traps dirt and dust far more effectively than a regular filter would. On top of the water filter, there is a secondary HEPA filter which makes sure really nothings gets through the exhaust.
The motor is fairly powerful – and is (almost) aptly named the Hurricane. The powerful suction helps dig out dirt from even the deepest carpet fibers.
The nozzle and brush assembly is quite effective at picking up dirt and there is a swivel that lets you easily rotate the brush to get into little nooks and crannies.
It’s also quite easy to use, as there are LED headlights to help you see if you missed anything and the tools are really easy to connect and disconnect.
Additionally, the Rainbow does pretty much everything the Sirena can do as extra features: you can use it to inflate objects(an entire air bed can be filled up within minutes), you can use it as an air purifier, and you can use it to suck up water, too.
The Rainbow also comes with a lot more handy attachments and tools than the Sirena does – there’s a dedicated pet hair tool, and a dedicated handheld tool that is ideal for cleaning stairs.
Verdict
It seems that both the Sirena and the Rainbow are in a close head-to-head here. Both are pretty much the same vacuum, and I think it boils down to price and brand loyalty more than anything else. Some people have a particular brand they prefer over others(like Apple vs PC), and that may be the driving factor for your purchasing decision.
Like Riccar, these are US based companies that used to primarily sell through exclusive dealers but are now slowly available on marketplaces like Amazon. As such, to get them repaired, you’ll need to go to a dedicated service center.
At the end of the day, I think the Rainbow just slightly edges out the Sirena because of the extra attachments and the ability to turn into a carpet shampooer as well. If you’re going to spend so much money on a vacuum, you want to get one that has the most features packed into it as possible.