My wife called earlier than expected, and I could tell she was up to something. She said to hurry home because there was something that had smooth cornering, slick contours, and plenty of power waiting for me in the garage. A description like that is likely to catch the attention of most any man, and it definitely caught mine. But I’ve been married long enough to not be fooled by such things. It wasn’t that I rushed home expecting to find a sports car, but I was curious nonetheless.

What I found when I arrived was an Electrolux Nimble upright vacuum cleaner. And I was thrilled. I had always wanted an Electrolux—not in the same way I covet a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, mind you—and now I had one. But it’s not even that I enjoy vacuuming. My theory is that if you’re going to do something you may as well look good doing it (please, no snide remarks about my wardrobe).

The engineers at Electrolux have managed to take the very thing that used to get Elvis Presley in trouble with parents and turned it into something that parents would not only approve of but actually desire. And that thing is swivel action.

The Test Drive

You know when someone builds your expectations so much about something that it’s almost always a disappointment? This was my concern. This was kind of like when everyone told me that The Bridges of Madison County would be both the longest and worst movie I had ever seen…no, wait, it really was the longest and worst movie I had ever seen. Let’s just skip the analogy.

The Nimble has everything and performed in every way I had hoped it would. The vacuum maneuvered around furniture and children with the greatest of ease. The wand and hose allowed me to reach even the highest of stairs without hauling up the entire unit.

But the best part was that it worked. The vacuum worked hard. Piles of sand left over from last week’s trip to Arches National Park? Sucked into oblivion. Cheerios and ramen noodles left over from the sleepover with the cousins? Not even a trace. Small Legos and loose change? They didn’t stand a chance.

But wait, there’s more. You also get:

• Powerful LED headlight (for vacuuming in the dark)
• Bagless (note to wife: this does not mean it doesn’t need to be emptied!)
• 5-year warranty (better than a 4-year, and way better than a 3-year warranty)
• Sealed HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air if you’re scoring at home)
• Telescopic Integrated Wand System (Enough said)
• 3-in-1 VersaTool and Dusting Brush (Mere words cannot describe)

The Verdict

Until there’s an app that will vacuum the floor for me, the Electrolux Nimble will be put to good use. And now, you have a chance to win one.

The Giveaway

Please do the following three things to be entered for a chance to win an Electrolux Nimble (ARV: $299):

• Like the Electrolux Vacuums and Small Appliances page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElectroluxVacuumsandSmallAppliances
• Like the Mom It Forward Facebook page: http://facebook.com/MomItForward
• Tweet the following:   GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 chance 2 win @Electrolux Nimble Upright Vacuum Cleaner (ARV $299) from #momitforward http://bit.ly/nCVjIn

When it comes to chores, what is your favorite cleaning gadget? What product makes cleaning more enjoyable?

The Fine Print

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday, August 28. See all terms and conditions here. This giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. Winners will be notified via email and announced in the Mom It Forward forum within 1 week of the giveaway end date. I was provided one Electrolux Nimble to review in compensation for this post. Photo courtesy of Flickr. 

Prize

Three lucky winners will receive one of the following. (See entry requirements below.)

• Grand prize: Dyson DC 31 (handheld)
• 1st place: Dyson DC 24 (upright)
• 2nd place: Dyson DC 23 (canister)

Entry Requirements

To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do four things (make sure you leave a separate comment for each of your entries).
Note: Entries that do not follow all of these requirements will not be considered.

1. Become a fan of the Mom It Forward Facebook page.
2. Join Mom It Forward Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar).
3. Follow @momitforward on Twitter.
4. Post these messages on Facebook and/or on Twitter and leave comments here, linking to your messages:

Check out these housework/cleaning nightmares & share your own: http://facebook.com/momitforward PLS RT

GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 a chance 2 win a #dyson vacuum cleaner (3 winners) http://bit.ly/7cqtk Ends Sunday! PLS RT

Extra Entries

You can earn up to five extra entries for this week’s giveaway. Leave an additional comment for each.

1. Share your best or worst housework experience on the Mom It Forward Facebook fan page.
2. Read the Summer of Service post this week and either share how you completed the challenge or leave one cleaning or organizing tip.
3. Nominate a mom to be featured in the “inspiring moms” section of the Mom It Forward blog.
4. Join the Mom It Forward Facebook group.
5. Post the “Mom Is a Verb” button on your blog. (See right-hand sidebar for button with code.)

The Fine Print

No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Dyson and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, September 6 at midnight PDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. Winners will be notified and will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the e-mail. If they do not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older.

1. Make time to clean or organize one area of your house/apartment each day this week no matter how big or small.
2. Put the days of the week on a different piece of paper and have your children draw a different day out of a hat. On the assigned day, help your child clean his or her room, teaching the skills needed to do it on their own.
3. Go through all the sock drawers in your house, matching up all the pairs and throwing out those without a match.
4. Have a family cleaning party. One example is to play songs like “Whistle while you work!” and see who can pick up the most things or get the most accomplished before the song ends.
5. Be a clean person by living according to your values. For example, be honest and fair in all of your dealings, be a person of integrity, etc.
6. Identify a friend or family who is sick, having a difficult time, or who could use a break. Stop by their house unannounced and do their dishes, empty their garbage, sweep and mop their floor, or clean the guest bathroom. If you know this person well and have access to their house, do it anonymously!
7. Take your children to a local park or cemetery and spend 15 minutes picking up the trash.
8. Call a local non-profit agency or church and make arrangements to help weed, pick up trash, or clean the facilities. If appropriate, take your children along to help.
9. The next time you are at a friends, family members, or in laws for dinner, offer to do all the dishes after the meal.
10. Have a laundry folding party as a family and play games as you fold and put away the clothes.

How Will You Give to Others This Week?

• What other ideas do you have for being squeaky clean this week?
• What are things that get in the way of cleaning for yourself, your family and friends, or your community?
• What are ways to overcome these challenges?
• How has being squeaky clean this week made a meaningful difference for you? For others?

Remember to enter this week’s giveaway where 3 lucky winners will get a Dyson vacuum cleaner!