How many calories can you burn while doing housework?

No one really likes doing housework, but now you can take comfort in the fact that cleaning and doing chores doubles up as a mini workout.

While the results can't compare to a full-on gym session, it's still nice to know that an hour of mopping the floor burns as many calories as a 30-minute jog.

And it's definitely better than just vegetating on the sofa, which burns you zero calories. Go on and volunteer to do the following household chores.

Calorie calculations are from Calorielab, and based on a 55kg woman.

1. Mopping the floor

After 15 minutes of mopping the floor, you'll burn 34 calories.

After one hour of mopping the floor, you'll burn 138 calories.

2. Washing the dishes

After 15 minutes of washing dishes, you'll burn 18 calories.

After one hour of washing dishes, you'll burn 72 calories.

3. Vacuuming

After 15 minutes of vacuuming, you'll burn 34 calories.

After one hour of vacuuming, you'll burn 138 calories.

4. Doing laundry

After 15 minutes of doing laundry, you'll burn 14 calories.

After one hour of doing laundry, you'll burn 55 calories.

5. Ironing clothes

After 15 minutes of ironing, you'll burn 18 calories.

After one hour of ironing, you'll burn 72 calories.

6. Packing and walking around

After 15 minutes of putting away things, you'll burn 28 calories.

After one hour of putting away things, you'll burn 110 calories.

7. Gardening

After 15 minutes of gardening, you'll burn 41 calories.

After one hour of gardening, you'll burn 165 calories.

8. Bathing the dog

After 15 minutes of bathing the dog (or another pet), you'll burn 34 calories.

After one hour of bathing the dog (or another pet), you'll burn 138 calories.

9. Scrubbing the floor

After 15 minutes of scrubbing the floor on your hands and knees, you'll burn 39 calories.

After one hour of scrubbing the floor on your hands and knees, you'll burn 154 calories.

This article was first published in Shape.