Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
It's officially spring, which means it's time for two dreaded things: spring cleaning and bathing suit season. To make things a little more pleasant on both counts, here's a guide to the calories you'll burn doing typical household chores. Estimates are for a 140-pound person performing one hour of each activity.
Happy dusting, edging and cleaning out the garage!
INDOOR CHORES
Painting the bathroom: 320 calories
Refinishing furniture: 302 calories
Dusting: 149 calories
General house cleaning: 226 calories
Mopping floors: 286 calories
Rearranging furniture: 420 calories
Vacuuming: 158 calories
Washing windows: 286 calories
OUTDOOR CHORES
Gardening: 302 calories
Painting a fence: 286 calories
Waxing a car or boat: 286 calories
Mowing a lawn with a push mower: 286 calories
Edging the lawn: 222 calories
Hanging storm windows: 336 calories
Cleaning rain gutters: 336 calories
OTHER
Shopping for cleaning and home improvement supplies: 146 calories
Collecting recyclables: 402 calories
Cleaning out the garage: 191 calories
---
SOURCES:
- Calorie Control Council (www.caloriecontrol.org)
- The Home Depot
- www.caloriesperhour.com
- Life Clinic International (www.lifeclinic.com)
---
(c) 2005, Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.
