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How you can burn more calories cleaning than running 5K…

Did you know you can burn over 600 calories by simply spring cleaning for 2 hours? Let’s show you how…

Did you know 20 minutes of each spring cleaning task can burn so many calories?

  • Hoovering – 86 calories burned in 20 minutes
  • Bathroom cleaning – 100 calories burned in 20 minutes
  • Mopping – 107 calories burned in 20 minutes
  • Window cleaning – 115 calories burned in 20 minutes
  • Dusting – 194 calories burned in 40 minutes

On average, it’s possible to burn 602 calories with two hours of dusting, mopping, cleaning the bathroom, hoovering and window cleaning, compared with just 374 calories lost whilst running a 5K run! (1)

Are there any other fitness hacks I can do to stay active?

Another small tip to stay active during this time is the classic ‘Walk & Talk’, whenever someone calls you on the phone, walk & talk, make it a habit to walk around your garden, house or apartment when on the phone, never sit down and get cosy. Always stay active!

Even better than walking, why not take the stairs? If you’re looking for an easy way to add more activity into your day, take the stairs. Stair climbing burns more calories per minute than jogging, according to the NHS. (2)

“Research shows that regularly walking up stairs is good for strong bones, cardiovascular fitness and weight management. It’s also a safe, low-impact exercise that requires no equipment.”


1 – https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a681439/autumn-cleaning-blitz-could-burn-600-calories/

2 – https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/free-fitness-ideas/



Katie Jerome

Katie Jerome

Writer and expert

Katie graduated from the University of Manchester in 2018 with a BSc in Marketing. Since leaving university, Katie enjoys discovering new recipes and making healthy food at home. As a follower of the exante 5:2 plan, Katie, who works in the Social & Content team knows first-hand the importance of a balanced lifestyle to reach an end goal.