How household chores can help you lose weight

Washing the car is also one of the most effective jobs, with one hour burning 314 calories - the same as 45 minutes of boxing.

Scrubbing the floors for an hour burns around 259 calories (a slice of pizza), cleaning the bathroom burns 256 calories (a blueberry muffin) and cleaning the windows burns 231 calories (a doughnut).

An hour of these three chores are also the equivalent of 15 minutes of running, 20 minutes of spinning and 25 minutes of circuit training, respectively.