Spring Cleaning For Your Home and Your Body

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By Rachel Derry
Staff Writer LIFamilies

Spring is a time of rebirth and a time of inspiration. There's a reason why it's called "Spring Cleaning," because the fresh start outdoors makes us want to bring that experience inside with us! Looking for a little extra incentive to start your spring off right this year? What about looking at your "spring cleaning overhaul" as the true workout it is!

Start on the lighter side. Reorganize and rearrange your closets. For some this will be nice, lite work; making sure everything is back on its hanger, shoes are pairs and arranges, and all of your clothes are arranged by season and color. For others, this may be a complete overhaul; carting out Tupperware tubes of seasonal items, trash-bagging unwanted clothes to donate to those in need, or building new organizational shelving units. The smaller the task the less you'll burn, but even the lightest option burns are 85 calories for the task.

Next, make sure to vacuum clean all of your carpeted surfaces and beyond. Depending on the size of your home, vacuuming can be a real workout. Make sure to clip on your pedometer to get credit for all of your extra steps, and burn upwards of 120 calories per 30 minutes of vacuuming!
When you're done vacuuming, it's time to mop down the tile, laminate, and hardwood surfaces in your home. Sure, you're not putting in as many steps and you're not lugging around the heavy vacuum anymore, but you're still burning about 150 calories an hour. What about the floors that really need a little tough love? When you get down on your hands and knees to scrub a dirty floor you're racking up tons of extra calories burnt. An extra 30 minutes of elbow grease used on your floor averages about another 187 calories burned.

Once you're done, I'm sure you'll be ready to let a little extra sunshine in. Sure, we've all heard the old, hired help joke of, "I don't do windows." Getting a streak free shine throughout your home isn't the most pleasant experience, but it's certainly worth the 320 calories an hour that you can burn. You'll definitely be whistling, "Here Comes the Sun," while practicing your Karate Kid 'Wax On, Wax Off," technique!

Since you're working on an in-home overhaul, why not go all the way? Why not paint your bedroom that fresh and bright lavender that you've been dreaming of? Perhaps your kitchen can use a make-over with a barely-there pale mint green? With all of the furniture that needs moving, you can be sure to burn up to 400 calories an hour. Add an extra 320 calories an hour for your paint job, and you've burnt more calories today than you usually do in your morning workout!

Long Island Health, Fitness & Beauty Articles > Spring Cleaning For Your Home and Your Body