We’ve all spent way too much time at home now as we wait for the third national lockdown to end, as we’re all looking for ways to burn calories.

It’s hard to exercise when the gyms and pools are all closed and not all of us have a house full of equipment like runners and ellipticals. We might also not feel comfortable going out into the street to run. So how about killing two birds with one stone and keeping the house spotless while we exercise?

Fitness experts claim that a thorough spring cleaning can burn hundreds of calories.

Online health and fitness site vivotion.com has conducted research on how many calories can be burned doing regular household chores – and the results are impressive.

They looked at tasks such as washing the dishes, dusting, vacuuming and ironing, as well as more strenuous tasks such as scrubbing the tub and cleaning the windows, see how hard they can make us work.

The results also look at which household chores are best for working certain areas of your body.

Scrubbing the bath is best for toning arm and shoulder muscles, while ironing can strengthen your abs.

A spokesperson for vivation.com said: “Who would have thought that doing a spring cleaning at home could help with weight loss and tone up?

“Cleaning is one of those things that we do without thinking too much about how good it is for us.

“Take the bath cleanse, for example – a 15-minute scrub and you can burn up to 50 calories and tone your arm and shoulder muscles.

“Window cleaning is also a great job – and one of those jobs we all love to hate.

“Spend an hour around the house cleaning them and you’ll have sparkling windows and you’ll have burned 136 calories.”

Here is the complete list of the number of calories burned while cleaning

Cleaning tasks that burn calories

Scrub the bath: Removing soap scum from your bathtub with a little elbow grease for 15 minutes can burn up to 50 calories, which is the equivalent of 250 jumping jacks. This chore is great for toning arm and shoulder muscles.

Laundry: Factoring in loading and unloading the washing machine, hanging and storing clothes, doing laundry can burn around 70 calories in an hour, which many will be glad to hear is the same than doing 70 sit-ups.

Window cleaning: If your windows have seen better days, spend an hour cleaning them and burn 136 calories while you’re at it. It’s the same as jogging for 15 minutes.

Washing up: Scrubbing dishes can burn an impressive 180 calories over a week if you spend 15 minutes doing it every day. This is equivalent to swimming for just under 30 minutes.

Vacuuming: A good cleaning of your carpets can burn 90 calories in half an hour, which is equivalent to 15 minutes of kickboxing. Depending on the size of your home, vacuuming can get you closer to the daily recommendation of 10,000 steps.

Sprinkling: Something as simple as dusting can burn 25 calories in 15 minutes.

Ironing: If you spend three hours a week getting wrinkles out of your clothes, you can burn 264 calories.

Standing still for long periods, burns calories and also works your abdominal muscles. Be sure to press evenly and switch arms so the two work out evenly.

To make the beds : Changing the bedding for a family of four can burn 52 calories in 30 minutes, the equivalent of walking one kilometer.

Wash and sweep: Mopping floors for 30 minutes can burn 96 calories, which is equivalent to 15 minutes on the treadmill.

Mowing: Cutting grass with an ordinary lawn mower can burn 150 calories per hour.

Gardening: 30 minutes of pottery in the garden can burn around 200 calories, which is the equivalent of riding a bike for four miles regularly. Digging works your shoulders and abs, so it’s great for an all-around workout.

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