Secret benefits to the most common household chores

Here's the secret benefits to the most common household chores:

Scrubbing the bath

Removing soap scum from your tub with a bit of added elbow grease for 15 minutes can burn up to 100 calories, which is the same as thirty jumping squats. This chore is great for toning arms and shoulder muscles.

Laundry

Factoring in loading and unloading the washing machine, hanging up the clothes and putting them away, doing the laundry can burn 78 calories in an hour, which is the same as doing 100 sit-ups.

Washing up

Scrubbing away at the dishes can burn an impressive 560 calories over a week if you spend 15 minutes doing it every night. This equates to swimming 2,500 metres. Even loading the dishwasher can burn 105 calories every 30 minutes.

Vacuuming

Giving your carpets a good clean can burn 90 calories in half an hour, which is the same as 15 minutes of kickboxing. Depending on the size of your house, vacuuming can get you nearer to the daily recommendation 10,000 steps.

Dusting

Something as easy as doing the dusting can burn 25 calories in 15 minutes, the same as two minutes of planking. 

Ironing

If you spend three hours over a week getting the creases out of your clothes you can burn 420 calories, the same as a Zumba class. Standing still for long periods of time burns calories and works your core muscles too. Make sure to press down evenly and switch arms so both get an even workout.

Making beds

Changing the linen of a family of four's beds can burn 65 calories in 15 minutes, the same as a mile-long power walk.

Mopping and sweeping

Cleaning the floors for 30 minutes can burn 145 calories, which is equivalent to 15 minutes on the treadmill.

Cleaning windows

If your windows have seen better days it's time to spend an hour cleaning them - and burn 334 calories while you're at it, the same as 40 push-ups.

Mowing

Cutting the grass with a regular push mower can burn 325 calories per hour, or if you prefer you can do 20 minutes of HIIT.

Gardening

Thirty minutes of pottering in the garden can burn 213 calories, which is same as 45 minutes of cycling on flat terrain. Digging works your shoulder and abdominal muscles, so it's great for an all round work out.