Are you overwhelmed with housework in the absence of house help? Do you miss working out at the gym? If you are keeping your home clean and germ-free, then you are already doing a lot of exercise. In this article, we tell you how regular household chores will help you remain fit and keep your house neat and clean.
1) Tidying Up
For a clean home, the first thing you need to do is tidy up. It’s a good idea to bend or squat when you pick up toys, books, papers, clothes, etc. from the floor, sofas or bed. Squatting is a great exercise for the whole body.
2) Cleaning Up
The World Health Organisation advises that all high-touch surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected daily. This include tables, chairs, door handles, cabinet handles, etc. When a sick person coughs or sneezes, germs in the droplets can travel up to 3 feet and land on nearby surfaces. To clean these, you can use a regular household detergent and water. To disinfect surfaces, you can use a suitable disinfectant, like a bleach-based (sodium hypochlorite) product such as Domex Floor Cleaner, which kills germs. Always first test on a small hidden area and rinse to check compatibility.
When you do all this cleaning and disinfecting, your body also gets a strenuous workout. For instance, from moving furniture around when sweeping and mopping, to removing dirt and dust from the nooks and crannies is good exercise. If you want to add a level of difficulty, then mop squatting down rather than standing up.
3) Washing Utensils
Germs can spread through droplets from the mouth and nose. So, it is better for everyone at home to have separate utensils and crockery like dishes, cups, bowls, spoons, etc. With separate vessels for all, you will have enough utensils to clean thoroughly. To clean utensils, you have to stand and use both your arms and your shoulders. Standing helps burn calories more than sitting on the couch and watching TV. Also, scrubbing dishes will give your arms and shoulders a nice workout.
4) Washing Clothes
It’s important to wash your clothes regularly and thoroughly to prevent germ build-up and keep infections at bay. Even if you have a washing machine at home, there may be some clothes you prefer to hand-wash to prevent the colour from bleeding or because they are delicate. You can wash these clothes on the bathroom floor, sitting on your haunches. If you prefer washing them in the basin, then standing for that duration is also good exercise. In either case, along with your arms and shoulders, your lower body too gets some exercise.
See? Doing household chores can actually be a great workout for times when you can’t step out of your home.