How to turn housework into a workout

Is your home cluttered and in need of a good cleaning? Turn the effort into a calorie-burning workout!

Sprucing up your house might not be your idea of fun but it can be a great way to get in some extra exercise. Here's what to know and how to do it.

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 (10 minutes): 37 calories
Vacuuming (10 minutes): 37 calories
Ironing (20 minutes): 50 calories
Mopping (20 minutes): 42 calories
Making beds (10 minutes): 23 calories
Washing dishes (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.”