What would you do if your toilet was leaking?

AnxiousOCDMum · 2025-03-13T22:17:15+00:00

So I’ll start by saying I suffer with severe and dehabiltating ocd that centres around germs and contamination. One of my compulsions is to check around the toilet after each use to make sure it’s not leaked. With boys & a dh this can be v stressful since they sometimes miss the bowl! Anyway… 2 nights ago when checking I noticed our toilet in our main bathroom is leaking from the bottom at the front when flushed only. It’s not masses of water and I am guessing I would have caught it early. We have a plumber coming out tomorrow and my question is - AIBU to feel like I need to sanitise the entire bathroom / hallway / anywhere that comes into contact with plumber and toilet???? I’m talking retracing his steps and ensuring I mop / wipe everywhere / scrubbing the bath / tiles / walls / you name it. I really need some perspective so if you could please share how you would deal with the clean up I would be really grateful. I have made some progress in recent years with my ocd and I’m trying really, really hard not to spiral and catastrophise. Help.

CatherinedeBourgh · 13/03/2025 22:21

The most likely place for a leak from a toilet is the seal between the cistern and the bowl, in which case you are talking about clean water and there is no cleanliness impact.

If it was the seal between the bowl and the waste that is leaking, then that would be dirty water and would need proper cleaning.

CatherinedeBourgh · 13/03/2025 22:23

If it's a small leak it will have had no impact on the walls, only the toilet and the floor around it will need cleaning.

Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 22:23

CatherinedeBourgh · 13/03/2025 22:21

The most likely place for a leak from a toilet is the seal between the cistern and the bowl, in which case you are talking about clean water and there is no cleanliness impact.

If it was the seal between the bowl and the waste that is leaking, then that would be dirty water and would need proper cleaning.

Hi thank you for the reply. The cistern is behind the tiles and so basically I have no way of knowing where it’s coming from until
tomorrow when the plumber checks. I am hoping it’s clean water but if it is waste water…. What process would you undertake to clean?

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User5274959 · 13/03/2025 22:23

No I definitely wouldn't do what you suggest re. cleaning. That sounds very disproportionate.

Assuming it was clean water I would just mop up any spillage or visible dirt and not give it a second thought.

User5274959 · 13/03/2025 22:25

If it was waste water I would probably just do the same to be honest. I might mop the bathroom itself with some dettol or similar but I wouldn't be doing walls etc or anywhere beyond the bathroom.

WonkyDonkeyWonkeyDonkey · 13/03/2025 22:25

I recently did have a leaky toilet. I steam mopped afterwards. That was it.

Cynic17 · 13/03/2025 22:25

I wouldn't do anything, apart from let the plumber fix it. Then clean as normal whenever the next weekly clean is due. There's absolutely zero risk, OP.

Darkclothes · 13/03/2025 22:33

wipe everywhere / scrubbing the bath / tiles / walls / you name it.

This is your illness talking OP! Do you honestly think a small leak from the base of the toilet, somehow ended up all over the walls, inside the bath and tiles???

Please speak to your GP/mental health team about getting additional support ASAP. Although you might have made some progress, you clearly need much more help to put things into perspective.

WonderingWanda · 13/03/2025 22:35

I think mopping the bathroom floor with some disinfectant will be sufficient enough.

Mondy · 13/03/2025 22:48

Ours has been slightly leaking for a year. We clean it every day with toilet paper and an antibac wipe on the floor. We are all still alive.

It's on the list of things to get sorted...

bridgetreilly · 13/03/2025 23:10

Mine is leaking at the moment and the plumber is coming on Monday. Currently I have towels on the floor to soak up the water, changed every day. When he has been I will mop the floor.

PinkD87 · 13/03/2025 23:20

I have OCD so believe me I understand and I would want to do the same as you. However, because it’s not me in the situation, I can use my logical brain. Which says, clean the bathroom floor and that’s all you need to do. Xx

Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 23:41

Mondy · 13/03/2025 22:48

Ours has been slightly leaking for a year. We clean it every day with toilet paper and an antibac wipe on the floor. We are all still alive.

It's on the list of things to get sorted...

I really appreciate you sharing this - this is the sort of thing I need to hear and accept. Thank you! Hope you can get it sorted soon 😊

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Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 23:42

bridgetreilly · 13/03/2025 23:10

Mine is leaking at the moment and the plumber is coming on Monday. Currently I have towels on the floor to soak up the water, changed every day. When he has been I will mop the floor.

Out of interest.. would you still use this bathroom to bathe? And after you mop up with towels etc do you feel like you need to have a shower? Hope it gets sorted for you on Monday 🤞🏽

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Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 23:44

PinkD87 · 13/03/2025 23:20

I have OCD so believe me I understand and I would want to do the same as you. However, because it’s not me in the situation, I can use my logical brain. Which says, clean the bathroom floor and that’s all you need to do. Xx

Ahh it’s so hard isn’t it. Would you not feel like you needed to clean the toilet etc? I’m assuming he’s going to have to remove it and check underneath it but obviously I might be thinking the worse….

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Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 23:47

Darkclothes · 13/03/2025 22:33

wipe everywhere / scrubbing the bath / tiles / walls / you name it.

This is your illness talking OP! Do you honestly think a small leak from the base of the toilet, somehow ended up all over the walls, inside the bath and tiles???

Please speak to your GP/mental health team about getting additional support ASAP. Although you might have made some progress, you clearly need much more help to put things into perspective.

Yes, my contamination ocd would have me think / believe that while he was removing the toilet to check what’s going on that he would splash the walls and leave a trail of germs everywhere. I would then think if I missed it I would spread these further through our home and potentially make everyone sick.

I did have therapy and made a bit of progress but it’s never gone away and I don’t think it ever will. I’m better in that had this happened when I was at my worse I genuinely would have had to go and stay with someone.

I have recognised that certain things can make me spiral and take 10 steps backs and I’m just really worried that this incident might do that 😔

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Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 23:49

WonkyDonkeyWonkeyDonkey · 13/03/2025 22:25

I recently did have a leaky toilet. I steam mopped afterwards. That was it.

Thank you.

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bridgetreilly · 14/03/2025 08:12

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 23:42

Out of interest.. would you still use this bathroom to bathe? And after you mop up with towels etc do you feel like you need to have a shower? Hope it gets sorted for you on Monday 🤞🏽

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I only have one bathroom, so yes. And no. I would wash my hands, not shower.

Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 14/03/2025 08:19

bridgetreilly · 14/03/2025 08:12

I only have one bathroom, so yes. And no. I would wash my hands, not shower.

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That is very helpful to know, thank you.

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BobShark · 14/03/2025 08:35

I think it’s not a question of being reasonable to clean so thoroughly but more that you feel so anxious about said cleaning.

caringcarer · 14/03/2025 08:38

Steam mop bathroom floor and maybe spray a bit of Dettol around. That's all you need to do. The water will not have touched the walls but I guess you'll have to clean them anyway.

Mondy · 14/03/2025 09:53

AnxiousOCDMum · 13/03/2025 23:41

I really appreciate you sharing this - this is the sort of thing I need to hear and accept. Thank you! Hope you can get it sorted soon 😊

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Glad that it helped!

That's not the only issue with our bathroom believe it or not! The hot tap on the sink makes a whistling sound (or it did until we tied a piece of string from the tap to a nail in the wall meaning that you can't use the hot tap on the sink) and the bath taps wobble and can only be used in shower mode. The toilet wobbles as well. Plus the walls are Artex. It needs a new bathroom really, but we're too tight to pay for one!

I'm a great believer that a few germs aren't a bad thing, they build up your immune system. I used to play in dirt as a child and eat crisps with dirty hands etc, I've got a really good immune system. I know someone who lived in a sterile house and never played outside; their immune system is rubbish. Don't forget that human beings have only really been 'clean' for about 60 years; before that lots of people had outside toilets with no sinks in them, had no hot water, and got a bath once a week in a tin bath. They're all in their 70s/80s/90s now and still going!

I know it's easy for me to say don't worry, but really please don't. My partner used to be like you, when I met her she would never have lived with a leaking toilet, now after 18 years living with me she doesn't care; it's just another item on the list of things to sort when you own an old house that's full of bodged DIY - a new roof on the extension and a new boiler were deemed more important than a knackered bathroom.

Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 14/03/2025 22:01

BobShark · 14/03/2025 08:35

I think it’s not a question of being reasonable to clean so thoroughly but more that you feel so anxious about said cleaning.

Yes, just sometimes it helps for me to put things into perspective as I will spiral and go very ott if I’m not careful!

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Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 14/03/2025 22:01

caringcarer · 14/03/2025 08:38

Steam mop bathroom floor and maybe spray a bit of Dettol around. That's all you need to do. The water will not have touched the walls but I guess you'll have to clean them anyway.

Thank you 😊

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Original poster

AnxiousOCDMum · 14/03/2025 22:02

Mondy · 14/03/2025 09:53

Glad that it helped!

That's not the only issue with our bathroom believe it or not! The hot tap on the sink makes a whistling sound (or it did until we tied a piece of string from the tap to a nail in the wall meaning that you can't use the hot tap on the sink) and the bath taps wobble and can only be used in shower mode. The toilet wobbles as well. Plus the walls are Artex. It needs a new bathroom really, but we're too tight to pay for one!

I'm a great believer that a few germs aren't a bad thing, they build up your immune system. I used to play in dirt as a child and eat crisps with dirty hands etc, I've got a really good immune system. I know someone who lived in a sterile house and never played outside; their immune system is rubbish. Don't forget that human beings have only really been 'clean' for about 60 years; before that lots of people had outside toilets with no sinks in them, had no hot water, and got a bath once a week in a tin bath. They're all in their 70s/80s/90s now and still going!

I know it's easy for me to say don't worry, but really please don't. My partner used to be like you, when I met her she would never have lived with a leaking toilet, now after 18 years living with me she doesn't care; it's just another item on the list of things to sort when you own an old house that's full of bodged DIY - a new roof on the extension and a new boiler were deemed more important than a knackered bathroom.

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Oddly, I do really value outdoor play for my kids and I’m not really worried about mud etc. it’s just things like toilets / drains that send me over the edge.. it used to be health anxiety related and then we had a mouse and it sent me on a massive spiral and I hyper fixated onto contamination 😔 I do hope that’ll it wear off over time 😊🙏🏽 thank you again for sharing x

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