Now we all know that losing weight doesn't have to be hard work. In fact, housewives in the 1950s ate more saturated fat than us but managed to stay slim without doing a lot of exercise.

So what was their secret? Doing the housework that’s right doing the housework!

Doing chores like washing clothes without the aid of a washing machine meant that they burnt nearly twice the number of calories in their day-to-day routine compared with women now.

And we can do the same by burning serious calories during a marathon cleaning session. In fact, many household chores burn just as many calories as workouts do. Like playing with the kids for an hour and mopping the floor for 30 mins can burn up to 500 calories?

Alongside brisk walking, other activities that would count include cycling or swimming at a leisurely pace, dancing, gardening and vacuuming combined with other housework. And there are loads of other ways to burn fat without even trying.

Moderate exercise can prevent cancer too as scientists at the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) say just 45 minutes of moderate exercise a day could stop 5,500 cases of breast cancer developing in Britain annually. And exercising doesn't have to mean sweating away in a gym every day.

Here are a few jobs that work major muscle groups, and help burn calories when completed.

Cleaning the Floors

Notice how this household chore does not specify sweeping, vacuuming or mopping; that's because they are both categorized as one chore on this list for the sake of a better workout. According to an article by Shine, you can burn up to 240 calories per hour just by sweeping and mopping your floors. This is also an effective workout for both your upper and lower body, but it primarily focuses on your biceps and shoulder muscles. A study found that pushing a mop across the floor and wringing it out in a bucket over the space for an hour can burn off 238 calories (that's two small glasses of wine or a chocolate bar!).

When it comes to vacuuming the work out for those biceps and triceps increases especially when you vacuum your entire house because of the pushing and pulling it entails. You can work even more muscles by tightening your abdominals for every time you push the vacuum cleaner forward. Always remember to switch hands occasionally to evenly workout both of your arms. Move furniture aside and vacuum in this commonly skipped areas to get an even better workout.

Scrubbing the Bathtub and tiles

This is seen as the most vigorous indoor cleaning activity and is known to be the least favourite chore, but at least we can take comfort in knowing that one hour of bathroom scrubbing will burn off slightly more than a McDonald’s hamburger. And it is a great way to work out your bicep and tricep muscles in the arms and tones the shoulders as 30 minutes burns up to 200 calories. Particularly stubborn stains will guarantee you work up a sweat.

Washing the Windows Livestrong puts it lower on the exertion scale, and suggests window-washing burns less than two cookies per hour (197 calories per hour). However cleaning windows for 30 minutes burns, the same number of calories used in 20 minutes of power yoga (about one-third the length of a typical power yoga class). Obviously, the size and position of your windows has a big part to play in determining how effective this workout will be.

Ironing

Ironing is considered as the bottom of the chore list. However, it is a full upper-body workout so you may as well think of ironing as weight training for the upper body. At 151 calories per hour, ironing more than doubles the caloric burn of sitting and watching TV. You should stand up straight at the ironing board and press down firmly. Remember to switch hands occasionally so that you don't overdevelop one arm.

Carrying the Shopping bags When carried for 30 minutes can burn 190 calories and maybe more if the bags are particularly heavy. But make sure that the weight is distributed evenly on each hand, or swap back and forth at regular intervals. As carrying too much weight on one side won't just overdevelop those muscles, but it could injure your spine. And if you carry the groceries upstairs for an hour this will jump the rate up to 493. Every now and then, rest the bags on the floor and then bend your knees before lifting them again. This simulates free weights at the gym.

Mowing the Lawn

This is one chore that you can really give you a full body workout. Depending on the size of your lawn, you can burn nearly 500 calories with a regular mowing job on your backyard and front yard. This household chore can effectively workout your forearms, trapezoids, back and most of your leg muscles. Now, if you have those types of lawnmowers that you can ride on, like a tractor, you're not burning any calories at all. For the best workout, you should be using a manual-reel mower.

Painting

Okay, so maybe painting your house isn't a common household chore, but painting anything, from a room to a fence, can be. Climbing up and down a ladder, along with brush strokes from side-to-side, while really swaying your hips, and up-and-down motions while bending down into squats can workout almost every muscle in your body. It’s no surprise that painting can burn 288 calories per hour. Remember to alternate hands when one arm gets tired and to evenly workout both arms. Wallpapering is an energetic activity too, applying the paste and reaching up to put the paper on the walls works the upper body.

Washing the Car

The entire process of washing your car will not only save you some money from having to go to a carwash, it will also help you burn calories. The entire process of rinsing, scrubbing, drying and waxing can be used for exercises that work out your back, leg and arm muscles. Always make sure to alternate hands, and don't try to cut corners or else you'll end up with less of a workout and a car that isn't fully clean. If you want to get more of a workout from this household chore try scrubbing your wheels and vacuuming the inside of your car. For every hour of car washing, you'll burn 343 calories.

Baking You can pre-burn a few cookies-worth of calories while preparing them. The caloric burn level of baking varies widely depending on how much effort you put into kneading and rolling (168 to 348 calories). However, keep in mind that each classic Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie has 108 calories, so plan on some strenuous baking if you plan to indulge in a plateful.

Light cleaning

Livestrong lists the following light, basic chores at the same caloric burn rate, which is equal to about one ounce of almonds: dusting, clearing dishes, taking out the trash, feeding animals, and changing the sheets.

Dusting for (30 minutes burns about 50 calories). Making beds for 30 minutes burns 130 calories, the same number you'd use if you jogged on a treadmill or on flat terrain for 15 minutes. With loading the dishwasher for 30 minutes burns 105 calories, this is less than the 160 calories burned when washing them by hand so it’s a good idea to pass on the dishwasher if you really want to workout.

Tips for Burning Calories with Household Chores:

1. The more effort you exert, the more calories you will burn.
2. With each, repetitive movement, try to squeeze and isolate any muscles used. For example, when you push the vacuum cleaner, squeeze with your triceps, and then tighten your biceps when you pull the vacuum cleaner back.
3. Tighten your abdominals repeatedly while doing any of the chores on this list to strengthen your core.
4. Don't rush through your household chores. Be thorough and don't cut corners to maximize your workout.
5. Adding some music to your household chores is just as effective as listening to music while working out. Music can also help motivate you and can help you set a pace for how fast you're completing these household chores.
6. If you've been setting aside your chores to make time for a workout, try skipping your workout completely to do a bundle of household chores instead.