Women With Clean Houses Have Better Bodies

on July 27, 2010 at 1:13 PM

House Cleaning I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but according to a recent study, if you want to have a fit body, you're gonna have to get a little dirty.

I'm talkin' dusting, mopping, vacuuming, and scrubbing the toilets. And maybe throw in some sweeping for good measure. That's right, I'm talking about house cleaning.

Time recently reported that, according to new research by physical activity expert NiCole Keith at Indiana University, the better-kept the home, the more exercise an individual gets.

The long-term study, which started in 2000, involved 998 African Americans between the ages of 49 and 65 located in St. Louis, Missouri. While Keith's study was based on physical activity levels in older, urban African American adults, the results likely translate to every ethnicity.

I think there's something to this, because I have a friend who cannot sit still when she's home -- she's always sweeping, or wiping, or just generally tidying up. And yep, she's got a great figure.

Just 30 minutes can make a big difference for your health and your house!

Mopping floors burns 112 calories in 30 minutes (according to Fitness Magazine)
Scrubbing the bath burns 200 calories in 30 minutes*
Making beds burns 130 calories in 30 minutes*
Cleaning windows burns 125 calories in 30 minutes*
Vacuuming burns 90 calories in 30 minutes*
Dusting burns 50 calories in 30 minutes*

(*according to FitDay)

I'm a vacuuming gal myself, but I may take up mopping soon, too!

What's your fave calorie-busting household chore?

Image via Foxtongue/Flickr

Filed Under: body image, healthy habits, exercise

Comments (9)

RanaAurora

on Jul 27, 2010 at 1:15 PM

I'd love to spend more time cleaning. Unfortunately a lot of household chores require the specific movements (bending and standing repeatedly, even a little bit) that aggravate my injuries. I try to make stuff as fun as possible though, turn on loud music and try to dance and whatnot. Burns even more than way AND makes it fun. :)

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KTMOM

on Jul 27, 2010 at 2:28 PM

I think that this is just common sense. Any activity is going to keep us more fit, and lets face it, vacuuming and dusting and scrubbing makes me break a sweat every time!

kelli0585

on Jul 27, 2010 at 3:16 PM

I can believe it. I feel like I have to clean the kitchen every night in order for it to remain presentable. Having both hardwood and tile floors, I'm CONSTANTLY sweeping the high traffic areas.

My "mind game" I like to play when I'm cleaning downstairs: I try to clean the whole area in one fluid motion. No stopping to think for more than 3 seconds. Just clean, clean, clean until it's done. I like to see how long it takes me.

I know that sounds crazy. But maybe not, if I'm burning those calories! Bonus points for schlepping the kiddo in a sling the whole time!

athenax3

on Jul 27, 2010 at 4:45 PM

I have to keep a clean house, we're a large family, if I let it go for even a day without at least some tidying, it looks like a hurricane went through it, and messes make me panicky and moody- the sight of an untouched mess will literally keep me awake at night, lol, I think I'm wound a bit too tightly sometimes, but I've never learned quite how to stop the manic need to straighten a shelf or organize the pillows, I even do it at friends houses, lol...

on Jul 27, 2010 at 11:15 PM

athenax3:

I completely understand. In my family, we have 4 adults over the age of 23 and a baby living in one house. I will go so far to state that 4 too-busy-to-clean adults is way worse than 4 kids any day when it comes to messiness.

I've noticed that when the house is messy, the general mood of everyone is awfully negative. We get really nervous around the inevitable clutter and tend to get along much better when the house is clean. Which is why I've taken it upon myself to clean up every night, regardless of who made the mess.

OoShannonoO

on Jul 28, 2010 at 2:47 PM

Thats good! Thats all I do with 4 kids and a man

squish

on Jul 29, 2010 at 4:33 PM

I think I may just print this out. Thanks for posting this.

dejamanu

on Jul 31, 2010 at 4:23 PM

ARTICLES LIKE THESE TRULY MOTIVATE ME TO CLEAN IMMEDIATELY. SO SEE YOU LATER!

Nonmember comment from jt

on Sep 10, 2010 at 2:40 PM

I have a fit body because I am outside "playing" (hiking, running, swimming, etc) with my kids and NOT home cleaning the house :) This way we are together, appreciating the beautiful community in which we live, and getting exercise. The laundry can wait!