Housework takes an average of five and a half years per lifetime

BUSY parents are spending more than 27,000 hours – they will never get back – just running around looking after their families.

Shopping is the main culprit, with the average carer spending more than 4,000 hours doing the weekly food shop and quick stops for bits.

Housework is also eats into time, taking up an average five and a half years per lifetime.

milk&more dreamed up the survey, with spokesperson Andrew Kendall saying: “In total mums spend 35 hours 51 minutes a week doing chores and if they were paid the minimum wage for their efforts it would amount to £218.88 a week or £199,180 in additional income over their lifetime. If they were paid the national average wage it would be £360 a week, or £346,960 over their life time.”