Absolutely cleaning your house is exercise. While you may not be in a gym pumping iron or running on a treadmill, but it is still exercise and requires you do to work and burn more energy than being sedentary. Cleaning the house is an example of moderate intensity activity the kind the NASM and health experts recommend that you perform daily to maximize health and fitness. Daily chores like cleaning your house, mowing the lawn, cleaning the car, shopping for food and other things are all examples of moderate exercise, which helps improve health and fitness.
Any type of movement leads to additional calories burned, so absolutely, housework is considered exercise. Just because you might not have sweat pants on or be wearing the latest sport shoe, it's still exercise. For instance, a 130 lb woman might burn an addition 200 calories engaged in moderate housework such as dusting, vacuuming, laundry, etc. If you venture outside that same woman will burn over 200 calories per hour gardening and in upwards of 275-330 calories shoveling snow. Now you probably won't develop muscle mass or experience a lot of cardiovascular benefit, but your efforts will be contributing to easier weight control and self-satisfaction.
Reclining with baby - 1.5 METS
Carpentry - sawing hardwood - 7.5 METS
Moving household furniture, carrying boxex - 6.0 METS
Carrying groceries upstairs - 7.5 METS
Serving food, setting table, implied walking or stand ing - 2.5 MET
Mowing lawn - 5 METS
I hope this helpful to you.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.