Smarter Health: How Many Calories Do You Burn on Housework?

[HeatherNYC]

I have to say, it is time for me to clean my apartment. It's been way too long - even the dusbtbunnies have dust on them. Though my abode isn't huge, it takes just a few hours to get it sparkling again...but it's getting motivated to do it that is the problem - same problem I have for exercising.

Then I had a light bulb moment - turn my housework into exercise! I wondered how many calories I would burn doing certain household chores. Check this out:

Doing dishes: 160 calories for every 30 minutes you scrub that dried-on mac-and-cheese goop.

Scrubbing floor: For every half-hour, you burn 200 calories. Be sure to switch arms to tone both arms.

Vacuuming: An hour of sucking up little particles can burn 180 calories. Bend your knees and do lunges to work arms and legs.

Gardening: If you spend 60 minute weeding and tending to those plants, you can burn up to 250 calories - just be sure to sit properly and lift with your legs if you are carrying anything heavy.

Remember to turn on some fast tunes to keep yourself going and try to infuse little bits of real exercise in there too. As you are doing dishes, raise up onto your tiptoes 20 times to work calf muscles or do some squats with that laundry basket. When you scrub that bathtub, reach and pull the nasty grime, flexing your arm muscles.

Before you know it, you will have a clean house and burned some calories!

What housework do you feel gives you a little workout?

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[momma-flynn]

I garden every day for 30-45 minutes & use a push mower to cut the grass.

[amyjane22]

Scrubbing floors, scrubbing everything in the bathroom, working in the garden. I also try to do my housework quickly so I can bring my heart rate up to get more of a "workout". 

[tinkerxbell]

One thing I miss about having a bigger house and wood floors was that I used to crank up the music and dance while I mopped the floor.. With a smaller apartment and carpet, its hard to do that with a smaller space and a vacuum :(

[MixedCooke]

yep I do that too!  When I do a quick mop, I put disinfecting wipes on the floor and put my feet on it and skate around the house! 

[Kainalu55]

i guess i should start doing some housework! lol  Burning calories IS a motivation.  Cleaning the bath tub gives my arms a workout!

[Mrs.Pool2Be]

I would have to say doing laundry and then taking it outside to hang up.

[mrswillie]

I actually use a push mower to get exercise.  We have a riding mower but I like to change up my exercise routine.

[powow65]

with gardening & sweeping, i do hit the calories to go!

[othermom]

Vacuming, folding clothes, dusting, and sweeping are all a good little work out

[charlene_kyle]

 Laundry. I have 14 stairs to go down to my washer and dryer and then 14 back up to the main floor and then another 14 to the second floor to put it all away.