What counts as light house work?

Me personally I don't count most housework (day to day stuff), but about once a month I do a deep clean where I move EVERYTHING to sweep/mop/vacuum (I also sweep, mop, and then steam all my hard floors when I do this clean) and then I count that as light house work and only count 50%-75% of the time I actually spent.

I count "light house work" as anything that makes me sweat lightly. If I'm not slightly warm/sweaty at the end of it (i.e. if it's just a single load of laundry or dishes), then I don't bother counting it. If I'm doing some major bathroom scrubbing, gardening, mopping, etc., then yeah, it counts.

I bumped my activity level up a notch to account for any normal house work. I only counted it as exercise if it was intense, above and beyond the call of duty type cleaning that involved moving furniture around.

Hi, I'm new here, and I was wondering what sort of housework would count as "light housework". Seeing as I have a messy house, I thought I could kill two birds with one stone here.

didnt read any responses.
dont log housework or cleaning.

you're welcome.

Running up some stairs to change a light bulb in a little rain.

If you are using the lowest possible starting calorie level (I use 1200) I would count it but if you already account for regular activity then don't count it. I would think if you sweat while doing it then you can consider it an exercise.

I don't really count housework as exercise... I agree that if you are shampooing carpets, moving furniture, something really out of the ordinary for you and you break a sweat, then you can log it if you want! But, if you are a believer in eating back your exercise calories, I don't think logging light housework is going to help you in your weight loss journey! That being said, everyone is different! Different things work for different people... find what is right for you and run with it! There is no wrong way, as long as you're maintaining healthy habits!!!

I log any out of the ordinary housework that I do, or housework that I put extra effort into. This includes laundry dance parties.

note to self. log housework it bugs the mfp exercise logging police.

I eat 1756 calories a day, and don't eat back any exercise calories. When I did, the only thing I logged was exercise, nothing else. Gardening, yard work, housework etc. was just a bonus

If you look in the exercise database. You will see that it burns as many calories as walking 2.0 mph. I would count light housecleaning if it was something you don't usually do -- even if you don't work up a sweat.

If you are working up a good sweat, I would log it as Heavy housework.

Even cooking is listed in the database. It burns calories to be on your feet and moving/bending/reaching/chopping. If it is not something that you normally do regularly and have been doing... I would count that, too!

Fishing is another one of those that is listed in the database. Some would not think that this burns calories if you are sitting in a boat or standing on the shore.

If you don't know how to find these in the database. Click on the Exercise tab and you will see under it -- the tab for database.

For me, light housecleaning would mean laundry, dishes, etc. I personally don't log light housecleaning because it is part of my normal day to day life activity. I do log any cleaning that makes me sweat.

(Remember that any of the posts that you read and don't like or don't make sense to you, just ignore... ).

Good luck to you!

I think this was the first response I saw that actually addressed the question. Most the others were just rude.

Thanks to all the people that actually answered the question. As for the people who didn't, I've just gotten out of a very long period of depression, where all I would do is sleep and eat. I can barely do anything now, so to me, any movement is exercise and should be treated as such.

I am sorry there were people that rude... as long as you are moving I would say that is great! I used to log housework as well when I was counting my exercise calories...I don't any longer as I use a spreadsheet that takes it into account. If you have an HRM I would definitely log it!

I only count Mopping a sweeping...

Light exercise intensity
Light activity feels easy. Here are clues that your exercise intensity is at a light level:
You have no noticeable changes in your breathing pattern.
You don't break a sweat (unless it's very hot or humid).
You can easily carry on a full conversation or even sing.

Moderate exercise intensity
Moderate activity feels somewhat hard. Here are clues that your exercise intensity is at a moderate level:
Your breathing quickens, but you're not out of breath.
You develop a light sweat after about 10 minutes of activity.
You can carry on a conversation, but you can't sing.

Vigorous exercise intensity
Vigorous activity feels challenging. Here are clues that your exercise intensity is at a vigorous level:
Your breathing is deep and rapid.
You develop a sweat after a few minutes of activity.
You can't say more than a few words without pausing for breath.


I don't think it's cheating or stupid to use housework as exercise. Just because some people eat their exercise cals, doesn't mean everyone does. Sometimes I try not to because I'm not sure how well the calories burned calculators work.

Using housework may not work for people who need high intensity work outs to have a good calorie burn but if someon is not very active to begin with, I think any movement helps.