How Many Calories Do Household Tasks Burn?

How Chores Help You Burn Calories

Finding time for the gym can be tricky. Yet, chores can burn calories without you realising it. We teamed up with trainer John Watson to see if tasks like vacuuming and cleaning can burn calories effectively. 

Cleaning and organising

Cleaning the house burns calories and works your muscles.

• Vacuuming: It burns 180-200 calories an hour. Moving continuously becomes aerobic exercise if done quickly.

• Sweeping: This burns approximately 150 calories per hour.

• Mopping: This burns around 170 calories. All require constant movement, bending, and stretching, working the arms and legs.

Gardening

Gardening is great for burning calories. Plus, it offers fresh air and vitamin D.

• Mowing the Lawn: This burns 250-350 calories an hour. It's a full-body workout.

• Gardening tasks: weeding, planting, and digging burn 200-300 calories. These tasks involve squatting, bending, and lifting. They use core muscles. They improve flexibility and stability.

Cooking and dishwashing

Cooking and dishwashing may not be intense, but they still burn calories.

• Cooking: Chopping, stirring, and moving in the kitchen burns 100-150 calories an hour.

• Washing Dishes: This burns 75-100 calories per hour and involves repetitive arm movements.

Doing the laundry

Laundry can be a workout, especially when carrying baskets, sorting, and hanging clothes.

• Carrying Laundry: Depending on the load, this burns 100-200 calories an hour.

• Ironing: Burns 75-100 calories an hour, requiring standing and arm movements.

DIY Tasks

DIY projects are excellent for staying active.

• Painting: Burns 250-300 calories an hour, involving reaching and stretching.

• Moving Furniture: This can burn up to 400 calories an hour, requiring strength.

Maximising Calorie Burn

To burn more calories with chores, consider these tips:

• Increase Intensity: Move vigorously. For example, vacuum harder or walk briskly with the laundry.

• Add Music: Play your favourite songs. This makes chores more fun and encourages faster movement.

• Multi-task: Combine chores with exercise. Do calf raises while washing dishes or squats while microwaving food.