You need to keep your house clean, and for most people, hiring a maid is not in the budget. However, tasks like vacuuming, mopping, and doing laundry can lead to back pain. For the most part, the problem is not the chore itself; it is the incorrect body mechanics that people use when they perform the chore.

For things like mopping and vacuuming, the big mistake is bending at the waist and using your arms and shoulders to move the vacuum or mop across the area. Instead, you want to make sure that you stand up straight when you are doing these chores. Don’t lean into the chore and move your arms so much to cover the area, step forward and bend at the knees to get the work done.

For laundry, the big problem is the way that you carry the basket full of clothes. Many people will bend over at the waist to pick things up. Instead, you want to bend at the knees when you lift.

Further, don’t hold the basket out away from your body. Any time you are carrying a load, you want to keep it close to your chest.