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Original poster

Do I have OCD?

109 replies

ToyStory20000008 · 06/07/2026 12:23

I grew up in a house that was only cleaned when people came to visit. This would happen about 4 times a year so we were all drafted in and it was very stressful. My sister has reacted to this by never cleaning her house and never inviting anyone round. I on the other hand like to have a house that if someone knocked on the door, they could walk in and I would not be embarrassed.
Family are now saying I have OCD and it is not healthy to live in such a clean house.

So I am setting out here what I aim to do and how often so you lovely people can tell me who you think is right.

Daily
keep kitchen and bathrooms clear of mess and tidy, wiping down kitchen surfaces after each meal
Hoover small entry hall to stop muck being walked in
Keep rest of house as tidy as possible

Every 1 to 2 weeks
Clean bathrooms
Hoover whole house
Dust whole house
Change and wash bedding and towels

Less often
Clean windows
clear our a cupboard
declutter
skirting boards

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Mimilamore · 07/07/2026 20:25

Completely normal to keep on top of things and as long as you can do it without feeling stressed, carry on. I do the same so nothing becomes too much to do and it all functions well.

Mistymaglets · 07/07/2026 20:11

ToyStory20000008 · 07/07/2026 19:13

Back when this site was all fields people used to have a sense of humour. Now people take offence if a post is worded slightly badly. I ponder how these people get through life dealing with the imperfect people all around them stumbling through life making tiny errors.

There's no humour in OCD.

You asked a question about having a serious mental illness and you got serious answers.

BlueMum16 · 07/07/2026 19:54

ToyStory20000008 · 07/07/2026 19:13

Back when this site was all fields people used to have a sense of humour. Now people take offence if a post is worded slightly badly. I ponder how these people get through life dealing with the imperfect people all around them stumbling through life making tiny errors.

Because you are making light of a serious mental health condition. It's not a joke.

Original poster
ToyStory20000008 · 07/07/2026 19:13

Back when this site was all fields people used to have a sense of humour. Now people take offence if a post is worded slightly badly. I ponder how these people get through life dealing with the imperfect people all around them stumbling through life making tiny errors.

OP posts:
BlueMum16 · 07/07/2026 19:10

ToyStory20000008 · 06/07/2026 12:55

I DO NOT BELIEVE I HAVE OCD.

Hope that helps any confusion.

So why start a thread asking DO I HAVE OCD?

CombatBarbie · 07/07/2026 19:07

KilkennyCats · 07/07/2026 18:32

No, it doesn’t help. Nothing in that suggests a predisposition to a serious mental illness.
Bless you that you imagine you’ve figured it out…

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Fml, if her family are calling her OCD because they live in squalor, shes asking for validation or normalisation.

BouncingBeats · 07/07/2026 18:47

I don't know, do you feel like something terribly bad will happen if you don't clean, like an accident or death?
I have OCD, it's not about cleaning

KilkennyCats · 07/07/2026 18:32

CombatBarbie · 07/07/2026 18:20

She grew up in a messy home and now likes a clean one, not really hard to figure out. If she wasnt taught how to clean or see it regularly then her question is valid! HTH

Show quote history

No, it doesn’t help. Nothing in that suggests a predisposition to a serious mental illness.
Bless you that you imagine you’ve figured it out…

CombatBarbie · 07/07/2026 18:20

KilkennyCats · 07/07/2026 17:46

What reason is that, then?

Show quote history

She grew up in a messy home and now likes a clean one, not really hard to figure out. If she wasnt taught how to clean or see it regularly then her question is valid! HTH

Atleastitsnotsunstroke · 07/07/2026 17:57

That is a 100% normal level of cleaning and one that I follow more or less as part of my do the bare minimum mindset.

Any less than that, carpets look bad and makes asthma worse.

KilkennyCats · 07/07/2026 17:46

CombatBarbie · 07/07/2026 17:27

The Op has a valid reason as to why she may have OCD, get a grip.

Op your routine sounds very normal!!! Its your family/friends, they are probably embarrassed that their own homes are squalor.

Show quote history

What reason is that, then?

CombatBarbie · 07/07/2026 17:27

Darragon · 06/07/2026 12:25

This is very unreasonable, OCD is a debilitating MH condition not something to be thrown around about people with clean houses.

The Op has a valid reason as to why she may have OCD, get a grip.

Op your routine sounds very normal!!! Its your family/friends, they are probably embarrassed that their own homes are squalor.

Iris2020 · 07/07/2026 17:24

Your cleaning routine is completely normal. I think the question is are you making life super stressful for everyone else living in your house by jumping on them each time they leave a coat lying around or freak out if they have a biscuit on the sofa.

If you're not on their case all the time, then you're fine.

MeridaBrave · 07/07/2026 17:19

That’s a totally normal amount of cleaning.
Not OCD.

BakedPotatoBeansCheeseColeslaw · 07/07/2026 16:20

Sounds extremely normal to me!

Original poster
ToyStory20000008 · 06/07/2026 19:38

RegretfulVaper · 06/07/2026 12:54

Yes, it's crap being bombarded with opinions that contradict reality and it's easy to fall into doubting yourself. I hope this thread is reassuring despite some of the hostility.

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Thank you this post sums up how I am feeling.

OP posts:
TheRemainsOfTheDayCream · 06/07/2026 19:29

Your family need to educate themselves on what OCD actually is. It's not about being clean and tidy - it's about having a level of obsessive thoughts and compusions so bad that they have a severe impact on your life (bad enough to qualify as a disorder). My adult son has OCD: his room is a mess and he rarely washes. These issues are caused by his OCD and make perfect sense to him.

Allseeingallknowing · 06/07/2026 19:17

basiically · 06/07/2026 17:28

Cleaning a bathroom once every 1-2 week is not fine its grim.

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If you clean your basin/ bath and toilet daily it’s fine to do a more thorough clean once a week!

EmailsaysOOO · 06/07/2026 17:29

I think you have to ignore these people. Carry on as you are .. ( you could pop round to mine if you have any free time though. Sorry.)

basiically · 06/07/2026 17:28

RoseOliviaAu · 06/07/2026 17:26

Her cleaning schedule is fine.

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Cleaning a bathroom once every 1-2 week is not fine its grim.

RoseOliviaAu · 06/07/2026 17:26

Familyyy · 06/07/2026 17:23

You dont have OCD you have lazyness.
Sorry but i`ll say it how i read it, you clean up once every 2 weeks basically do the bere minimum in that time.
Im a single mum to 3 teens wft and even i clean up more than you.
Your bathroom must stink of piss if your only cleaning it once every fortnight.

Her cleaning schedule is fine.

RoseOliviaAu · 06/07/2026 17:25

Does it feel compulsive or obsessive? Do you feel something bad may happen if you don’t do it? Do you feel like you HAVE to do it and can’t stop yourself from doing it? Does it cause distress if you’re not allowed to do it? Do you think about doing it if you ever can’t do it and can’t stop thinking about it?

OCD is never about how much you clean… it’s about the obsessive compulsive nature of the behaviour.

Familyyy · 06/07/2026 17:23

You dont have OCD you have lazyness.
Sorry but i`ll say it how i read it, you clean up once every 2 weeks basically do the bere minimum in that time.
Im a single mum to 3 teens wft and even i clean up more than you.
Your bathroom must stink of piss if your only cleaning it once every fortnight.

basiically · 06/07/2026 17:12

ThisIsHowItStarts · 06/07/2026 13:18

I actually think cleaning the bathroom, changing bedsheets and hoovering every 1-2 weeks is more on the dirty side than the clean!

I agree thought it was just me that was thinking it.

basiically · 06/07/2026 17:07

Im a minimlist my home looks epmty to others.
I only have what i need and use.
I clean my bathroom daily, my kitchen work tops get wiped down daily dusting daily.
I dont have any clutter at all.
Wash bath towles after every use wash bedding every week.
I run a damp mop over my floors every 2 days.
Clean my windows monthly.

I was raised by a mess / clutter bug of a mother just filth.
I dont have ocd i just like cleeness and space.

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