By Staff
Did you know that cleaning is a great exercise? It can burn more than 200 calories an hour and can workout almost every part of your body. Not too bad, especially since spring is the time of year to really deep clean your house. Before you dread picking up that broom, look at the positives spring cleaning has to offer.
Take the stairs
Stairs are proven to be one of the best ways to shape your legs and get your heart pumping. Try switching between levels of your home as you complete small tasks rather than cleaning one level at a time. Vacuum the stairs to add a little weight lifting to your cleaning.
Hand clean the floors
There are so many floor cleaning products out there that it's hard to choose which one to use. They also have some new nifty mops that clean your floors in no time, but don't take the easy way out. Get down and dirty and mop your floors the old fashioned way. A scrub brush and some soapy water never hurt anything. Plus, it's more effective at cleaning your floors because you can get to the hard to reach places that a mop can't. It's also a great way to work out your arms and back.
Listen to music
Upbeat tunes will put you in a better mode and will increase the rate at which you clean, giving you a great cardiovascular workout.
Enjoy the outdoors
There are a lot of high calorie burning activities right out your front door. Everything from cleaning the gutters and gardening to mowing the lawn helps fight fat. Since it's early spring, try cleaning your outside windows or preping your yard for the summer. Rake the old leaves, pick up sticks or get your flower garden ready for the blooming buds.
Most importantly, don't give up
Spring cleaning may never seem to end, but don't stop early because it's too hard or there's too much to do. Push yourself to get the job done. You will not only have a sparkling clean home when you're done, but you'll feel better about yourself and that you got a great workout in the process. Moderate exercise can help you live a longer, healthier life.