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Messy kids, a chip-munching spouse, sleet-splattered windows – it’s cleaning time again!

If only there’re some redeeming virtues to household chores. But, wait, there is – like any other physical activity the housework you do can help you burn calories.

You just need to remember the number 50,261.

Yes, according to a study carried out by researchers in Britain, that’s the average number of calories burned off each year simply by doing household chores, the Daily Mail reported in London on Tuesday.

“To prevent weight gain, most adults need to expend around 400 calories a day in physical activity, which is equivalent to around two hours of dusting and cleaning or 82 minutes of vacuuming and mopping,” Dr Gary O’Donovan said.

In fact, the researchers have found that walking more than 22 miles a year while cleaning our homes is the equivalent of strolling the distance across the English Channel or completing 89 laps of an Olympic running track. Moreover, keeping the house tidy annually burns the same number of calories found in 603 glasses of wine, 192 bars of chocolate, 369 cans of fizzy drink, 146 cheeseburgers or 394 packs of crisps.

The study of 3,000 Britons also found that housework gives people more of a workout than spending an hour a week at the gym.

Domestic chores were found to provide the same amount of exercise as spending 57 hours running at 8.5 miles an hour, or cycling 477 miles.

Almost two-thirds of those polled said they cleaned more thoroughly to try to get some exercise, while 94 per cent said they worked up a sweat while doing the chores and half could feel their muscles burning afterwards.

Surprisingly, 44 per cent were willing to confess they also danced while cleaning to alleviate the boredom. — PTI

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