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.
