Updated on March 29, 2024.
Is your home cluttered and in need of a good cleaning? Turn the chaos into calorie burning!
Sprucing up your house might not be your idea of fun but it can be a great way to get in some extra exercise. There is a reason they call it housework. Here's how to get a workout while cleaning house.
How many calories can I burn?
How many calories you burn can vary depending on your sex, age, weight and how much effort you exert while cleaning house. Fitness expert Mike Clark says that the average person can burn 100 to 300 calories per hour of housework.
The calories can add up quickly
While individual chores might not seem like much work, if you do several chores over a period of time you can burn a significant number of calories. Clark offers estimates on how many calories you can burn performing these common housework chores.
Sweeping for 10 minutes = 37 calories
Vacuuming for 10 minutes = 37 calories
Ironing for 20 minutes = 50 calories
Mopping for 20 minutes = 42 calories
Making beds for 10 minutes = 23 calories
Washing dishes for 10 minutes = 26 calories
All of these chores combined = 215 calories
Pump it up
It is simple math, really. The more energy you put out, the more calories you burn. Trainer Chris Gomes says, “The more challenging the activity, and the higher the intensity, the greater the physical benefit. To reap the maximum benefit from domestic duties such as house cleaning, work at a brisk pace to ensure maximum calorie burn.”
