suckolux
Well-known member
We can blame Hazel!
Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners
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Impressive!
Impressive how many of us here seem to have a serious OCD or at least: How many seem to show the apparent symptoms, yet feeling ok. Must I be considered sick for not having a spic-&-span living room that seems so devoid of any living soul as can be seen in the pictures? Frankly no.
In surroundings as were shown or in company of a person like the sad office clerk described in one of the postings, I would rather keep calm and wait for the first opportunity to leave with a friendly, yet very plausible excuse.
Almost ashamed to admit: No, my house is just normal. Cleaning occurs once it is due, no earlier. (No I am not ashamed at all.)
But here is my real OCD problem: Some friend seems to suffer from OCD in a very unhealthy way. Short story: Bladder cancer, artificial bladder, has suffered from a brain stroke. So some medical issues might occur, once the seals are not set right.
BUT: Instead of learning how to secure said fittings right to avoid any mishap, he keeps sprinkling soapy sprays and cleaners all over the place (over so-called "nasty" spots where he believes, spills might have happened, even if they have not). (Read: urine is evil, soap will save me= Soap is God, Urine is Devil - not in any religious sense, but his behavior is like this).
Clearly a psychological frameset, he has not yet come to terms with his new life (no wonder, who are we to say that might be easy).
The dangerous factor is: ALL surfaces are slippery with soap and detergents, ANYTHING is wet and soapy. With his limp right leg, this produces a severe danger, he is prone to accidents anytime.
What can I do as someone whose words keep being unheard (a normal occurrance with OCD as I have learned). I fear him breaking his leg (at least) or getting some electrical shock because everything is so wet there.
Impressive how many of us here seem to have a serious OCD or at least: How many seem to show the apparent symptoms, yet feeling ok. Must I be considered sick for not having a spic-&-span living room that seems so devoid of any living soul as can be seen in the pictures? Frankly no.
In surroundings as were shown or in company of a person like the sad office clerk described in one of the postings, I would rather keep calm and wait for the first opportunity to leave with a friendly, yet very plausible excuse.
Almost ashamed to admit: No, my house is just normal. Cleaning occurs once it is due, no earlier. (No I am not ashamed at all.)
But here is my real OCD problem: Some friend seems to suffer from OCD in a very unhealthy way. Short story: Bladder cancer, artificial bladder, has suffered from a brain stroke. So some medical issues might occur, once the seals are not set right.
BUT: Instead of learning how to secure said fittings right to avoid any mishap, he keeps sprinkling soapy sprays and cleaners all over the place (over so-called "nasty" spots where he believes, spills might have happened, even if they have not). (Read: urine is evil, soap will save me= Soap is God, Urine is Devil - not in any religious sense, but his behavior is like this).
Clearly a psychological frameset, he has not yet come to terms with his new life (no wonder, who are we to say that might be easy).
The dangerous factor is: ALL surfaces are slippery with soap and detergents, ANYTHING is wet and soapy. With his limp right leg, this produces a severe danger, he is prone to accidents anytime.
What can I do as someone whose words keep being unheard (a normal occurrance with OCD as I have learned). I fear him breaking his leg (at least) or getting some electrical shock because everything is so wet there.
alright, here is one incident:
I once told him not to pack the washer chockablock, 9 kg are not ok for a 6 kg machine, there needs to be some room for tumbling. Moreover: As spinning did not occur due to severe unbalance, he cannot put a dripping wet load into the dryer, that will not work, not in hours to go.
Answer: "Oh goodness, not clean, that is ok - yet even if not clean, it is all hygienic due to the soap having saturated all" - so clearly, soap and detergents are some kind of a magical spell to him, banning all evil monsters (like a dog having sniffed his bag or such, a thing we all would not even think about).
Again: What to do?
I once told him not to pack the washer chockablock, 9 kg are not ok for a 6 kg machine, there needs to be some room for tumbling. Moreover: As spinning did not occur due to severe unbalance, he cannot put a dripping wet load into the dryer, that will not work, not in hours to go.
Answer: "Oh goodness, not clean, that is ok - yet even if not clean, it is all hygienic due to the soap having saturated all" - so clearly, soap and detergents are some kind of a magical spell to him, banning all evil monsters (like a dog having sniffed his bag or such, a thing we all would not even think about).
Again: What to do?
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
I am loathed to admit that in the absence of anything else to watch, I have seen this TV show. The people on it get no sympathy from me, and with good reason too. I had a neighbour in recent years, a woman much younger than me, who claimed to be a sufferer of OCD, and together with her husband who had was registered as her so-called carer, spent virtually every minute of every day inside her flat or loitering outside of it.
The welfare system paid for them to live, eat, sleep, and to keep a car each on the road. I say it was the welfare system, it was also supplemented by the cash-in-hand the fellow used to do as and when the fancy took him. Her OCD was not cleaning in this instance, heaven knows I wish it was, given the state of the front of their property, but more to do with rituals and hoarding. If anything she was more like the people on the TV show who they go in to 'help'.
However, I moved into her neighbourhood as a retired man, with failing physical health, and a desire to enjoy my latter years. What I objected to with this woman was the constant discussions she insisted on holding about how ill she was, how terrible life had been to her, and how dreadful her existence was. It would seem that she had driven away practically everyone in her life, something she could not see (or did not want to see), saying instead that people did not want to associate with someone who was mentally unwell, blaming her OCD as the milestone around her neck which folks did not want to be attached to.
I have had more than my share of dealing with mental illness in my life, through close family members, and quite frankly I was not prepared to worry about that of someone who I didn't know and -outside of the usual consideration which one was brought up to have for fellow human beings- I really didn't give two hoots about her. This did not stop her, as I mentioned before, in wanting to burden me with her own misery. I might have held more sympathy were she not so downright selfish and unwilling to do a thing for anyone else.
Sadly, the same selfishness is apparent in those on the TV show. That man who owns a gym and then shouts at his patrons to clean the equipment down; frankly, he deserves no customers if he treats them in such a disgusting fashion. That large young girl who marches round in heels, swabbing surfaces; what time does she find to do the eating which got her that figure, when one adds up how long she spends cleaning + time needed to look after three children + apply all that slap to her face day in, day out? I would like her to do a swab of her make-up bag to show her what nasties are lurking there. The mother & daughter make my blood boil as the insecurities of the mother have made the daughter what she is.
What I do not see is how these germs are such a threat to them, yet in their quest to be 'germ free' they are obliviously exposing themselves to all sorts of dangers in life as a matter of course, indeed in one episode the large girl can be seen riding in the back of a car without a seat belt on; in another she wears the most absurd stiletto heeled shoes to do her cleaning.
In a time where people with life-limiting physical illnesses are being tested and sent back to work, you can perhaps see why it enrages me to see people who can work are allowed to stay at home & fester on benefits, rather than try to overcome their issues.
The welfare system paid for them to live, eat, sleep, and to keep a car each on the road. I say it was the welfare system, it was also supplemented by the cash-in-hand the fellow used to do as and when the fancy took him. Her OCD was not cleaning in this instance, heaven knows I wish it was, given the state of the front of their property, but more to do with rituals and hoarding. If anything she was more like the people on the TV show who they go in to 'help'.
However, I moved into her neighbourhood as a retired man, with failing physical health, and a desire to enjoy my latter years. What I objected to with this woman was the constant discussions she insisted on holding about how ill she was, how terrible life had been to her, and how dreadful her existence was. It would seem that she had driven away practically everyone in her life, something she could not see (or did not want to see), saying instead that people did not want to associate with someone who was mentally unwell, blaming her OCD as the milestone around her neck which folks did not want to be attached to.
I have had more than my share of dealing with mental illness in my life, through close family members, and quite frankly I was not prepared to worry about that of someone who I didn't know and -outside of the usual consideration which one was brought up to have for fellow human beings- I really didn't give two hoots about her. This did not stop her, as I mentioned before, in wanting to burden me with her own misery. I might have held more sympathy were she not so downright selfish and unwilling to do a thing for anyone else.
Sadly, the same selfishness is apparent in those on the TV show. That man who owns a gym and then shouts at his patrons to clean the equipment down; frankly, he deserves no customers if he treats them in such a disgusting fashion. That large young girl who marches round in heels, swabbing surfaces; what time does she find to do the eating which got her that figure, when one adds up how long she spends cleaning + time needed to look after three children + apply all that slap to her face day in, day out? I would like her to do a swab of her make-up bag to show her what nasties are lurking there. The mother & daughter make my blood boil as the insecurities of the mother have made the daughter what she is.
What I do not see is how these germs are such a threat to them, yet in their quest to be 'germ free' they are obliviously exposing themselves to all sorts of dangers in life as a matter of course, indeed in one episode the large girl can be seen riding in the back of a car without a seat belt on; in another she wears the most absurd stiletto heeled shoes to do her cleaning.
In a time where people with life-limiting physical illnesses are being tested and sent back to work, you can perhaps see why it enrages me to see people who can work are allowed to stay at home & fester on benefits, rather than try to overcome their issues.
sebo_fan
Well-known member
My mum's best friend is a mother to the daughter who has OCD. The girl has a sister who will have nothing to do with her and I have to stand a neutral ground as my mum's best friend gets continually landed with jobs to do and at 65 years of age, she shouldn't be doing half of the things for her OCD daughter.
Initially it was M.E condition that the daughter had and course with the British health service not recognising M.E, nothing could be done. The daughter has had all the tests including a bizarre "Vega" test where a strand of hair is taken and analysed. The M.E condition isn't hereditary as far as I know but no one in the family has had M.E before aside from a previous aunt who displayed similar conditions but was put down to anxiety, mental health issues for many years.
Well, now that the M.E has died down a little, the daughter has developed OCD because she was worried about how the general public would treat her on the condition that she hasn't had schooling since 15 years old of age when the M.E started.
This girl gets benefits but she does things for herself "when she can," but then gets tired etc. Because no one in the system would recognise her illness, she had to stay at home until her mid 20s with her parents. She eventually moved into a flat of her own, but assisted by her mother who runs after her and checks up on her daily.
Meanwhile the OCD began to come into play after she was beginning to get independent. Her OCD condition doesn't allow her to touch dirty things and as such every appliance, every furniture fixture she gets has to be brand new, sanitised and new. I was completely shocked when she wanted a dog as a companion! I mean, if any animal is clinically clean, it would be a cat! But as far as I can observe, the girl concerned wants something to control and mould. Fair enough, the dog has filled a gap for companionship - but on account that the dog is licking its paws and literally bringing dirt into the home, the girl refuses to recognise this.
Recently her parents bought her an Air Ram Gtech, I did give them the opine that a bagged vacuum would be better, but oh no, the daughter wanted something completely new and didn't want a Dyson because it was bagless and the dust would fly everywhere. They previously bought her an Electrolux bagged upright (not the Powerlite but the one before) but it was too heavy for her to push. Oh how I smiled when the Air Ram broke because she didn't empty it and apart from other problems that surfaces, the parents have spent nearly £1000 on appliances in the last two years.
I can completely understand someone with OCD but when they take the piss and expect a parent to make meals three times a day, do the washing, walk the dog and do everything a carer does (which the system won't pay for, despite the health problems) and yet is able to contain and accomodate the dog, bells are ringing in my head!
Initially it was M.E condition that the daughter had and course with the British health service not recognising M.E, nothing could be done. The daughter has had all the tests including a bizarre "Vega" test where a strand of hair is taken and analysed. The M.E condition isn't hereditary as far as I know but no one in the family has had M.E before aside from a previous aunt who displayed similar conditions but was put down to anxiety, mental health issues for many years.
Well, now that the M.E has died down a little, the daughter has developed OCD because she was worried about how the general public would treat her on the condition that she hasn't had schooling since 15 years old of age when the M.E started.
This girl gets benefits but she does things for herself "when she can," but then gets tired etc. Because no one in the system would recognise her illness, she had to stay at home until her mid 20s with her parents. She eventually moved into a flat of her own, but assisted by her mother who runs after her and checks up on her daily.
Meanwhile the OCD began to come into play after she was beginning to get independent. Her OCD condition doesn't allow her to touch dirty things and as such every appliance, every furniture fixture she gets has to be brand new, sanitised and new. I was completely shocked when she wanted a dog as a companion! I mean, if any animal is clinically clean, it would be a cat! But as far as I can observe, the girl concerned wants something to control and mould. Fair enough, the dog has filled a gap for companionship - but on account that the dog is licking its paws and literally bringing dirt into the home, the girl refuses to recognise this.
Recently her parents bought her an Air Ram Gtech, I did give them the opine that a bagged vacuum would be better, but oh no, the daughter wanted something completely new and didn't want a Dyson because it was bagless and the dust would fly everywhere. They previously bought her an Electrolux bagged upright (not the Powerlite but the one before) but it was too heavy for her to push. Oh how I smiled when the Air Ram broke because she didn't empty it and apart from other problems that surfaces, the parents have spent nearly £1000 on appliances in the last two years.
I can completely understand someone with OCD but when they take the piss and expect a parent to make meals three times a day, do the washing, walk the dog and do everything a carer does (which the system won't pay for, despite the health problems) and yet is able to contain and accomodate the dog, bells are ringing in my head!
polkanut69
Well-known member
I detest cleaning. I'm not a slob or untidy, but one treat I allow myself is a cleaning lady every other week. I will do light touch ups in between though. I am fairly OCD about my laundry though.
tomvacuum10
Well-known member
I love that show but it really cracks me up when they call a dyson or a fax a Hoover...
<p style="text-align: justify;">"I detest cleaning. I'm not a slob or untidy, but one treat I allow myself is a cleaning lady every other week. I will do light touch ups in between though. I am fairly OCD about my laundry though."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That is something I could not do. As much as sometimes I want to just call a cleaner in and relax I couldn't let anybody else clean my house as nobody would meet my standards.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My house is by no means always clean and tidy, but when I do clean I go to town with it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That is something I could not do. As much as sometimes I want to just call a cleaner in and relax I couldn't let anybody else clean my house as nobody would meet my standards.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">My house is by no means always clean and tidy, but when I do clean I go to town with it.</p>
katieboo72
Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2013
- Messages
- 14
occasional OCD
I grew up in one of the most disorganized households. Hardly neat freaks, except when it came to floors. My mom was very particular about her floors.
I remember she had me clean the bathroom tile floor one time. I thought I'd done an okay job until she expressed her dissatisfaction with the dingy grout lines. I remember scrubbing that grout for a long time.
My mom was otherwise very lenient. But when she got stressed she would notice how dirty the floors were and would suddenly start a floor cleaning fit.
And here I am. I moved into my boyfriend's house, I live with three dogs, an adult male and a teenage boy. The teenage boy used to be in charge of sweeping the floors. That was a joke. I actually caught him moving a broom in the air from side to side, the broom never touching the floor, walking around the house, pretending to sweep so he could get his allowance.
I've now taken over the floor duties, (and other duties, like dishes, etc.) and they're looking a whole lot better. I'm turning into my mother.
And I have mild OCD but not the "neat" kind. So my house is in no way spotless. But my mom says that when I do clean, especially at her house, I'm so meticulous and thorough, I scare her.
I grew up in one of the most disorganized households. Hardly neat freaks, except when it came to floors. My mom was very particular about her floors.
I remember she had me clean the bathroom tile floor one time. I thought I'd done an okay job until she expressed her dissatisfaction with the dingy grout lines. I remember scrubbing that grout for a long time.
My mom was otherwise very lenient. But when she got stressed she would notice how dirty the floors were and would suddenly start a floor cleaning fit.
And here I am. I moved into my boyfriend's house, I live with three dogs, an adult male and a teenage boy. The teenage boy used to be in charge of sweeping the floors. That was a joke. I actually caught him moving a broom in the air from side to side, the broom never touching the floor, walking around the house, pretending to sweep so he could get his allowance.
I've now taken over the floor duties, (and other duties, like dishes, etc.) and they're looking a whole lot better. I'm turning into my mother.
And I have mild OCD but not the "neat" kind. So my house is in no way spotless. But my mom says that when I do clean, especially at her house, I'm so meticulous and thorough, I scare her.
nycwriter
Well-known member
Jamie ...
"That is something I could not do. As much as sometimes I want to just call a cleaner in and relax I couldn't let anybody else clean my house as nobody would meet my standards. My house is by no means always clean and tidy, but when I do clean I go to town with it."
You are me!
"That is something I could not do. As much as sometimes I want to just call a cleaner in and relax I couldn't let anybody else clean my house as nobody would meet my standards. My house is by no means always clean and tidy, but when I do clean I go to town with it."
You are me!
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
People with high standards
...are unlikely to be able to get domestic help in this country anyway, as there are so few people available to do it. To that end, all service providers are booked up working for people who's standards are potentially a lot lower.
I have a lady who comes in to me fortnightly, more so if she gets a cancellation, though with her parents and children to look after, her time is in very real demand. As a service provider, she is booked solid. She is superb in all that she does for me, I cannot fault her. She says her customer base is very varied from homes like my own where they are kept in order, to those where chaos reigns daily. She will work for anyone and everyone, subject to being able to fit them in, however, she refuses to carry on going to people who do not like the service level she adheres to. It may be a high standard, but there is always someone who would like more. In those instances she has no choice but to polity suggest they look elsewhere. With new customers queuing up from recommendation alone, she has no reason to even think about increasing her standards for anyone who does not like what she is doing.
Prior to engaging this lady's services, I did use a large franchise, having struggled to find a cleaner who was available. I paid considerably more for considerably less, but again they too were so, so busy that one was lucky to get anything, irrespective of price or quality. I did not see it as value for money, but certainly I was more than prepared to pay their fee as opposed to having nothing done at all.
...are unlikely to be able to get domestic help in this country anyway, as there are so few people available to do it. To that end, all service providers are booked up working for people who's standards are potentially a lot lower.
I have a lady who comes in to me fortnightly, more so if she gets a cancellation, though with her parents and children to look after, her time is in very real demand. As a service provider, she is booked solid. She is superb in all that she does for me, I cannot fault her. She says her customer base is very varied from homes like my own where they are kept in order, to those where chaos reigns daily. She will work for anyone and everyone, subject to being able to fit them in, however, she refuses to carry on going to people who do not like the service level she adheres to. It may be a high standard, but there is always someone who would like more. In those instances she has no choice but to polity suggest they look elsewhere. With new customers queuing up from recommendation alone, she has no reason to even think about increasing her standards for anyone who does not like what she is doing.
Prior to engaging this lady's services, I did use a large franchise, having struggled to find a cleaner who was available. I paid considerably more for considerably less, but again they too were so, so busy that one was lucky to get anything, irrespective of price or quality. I did not see it as value for money, but certainly I was more than prepared to pay their fee as opposed to having nothing done at all.
Indeed Benny, cleaners are in high demand at the moment, so if I did wish to procure one I would have a hard job doing so.
If you are able and not afraid of some manual labour, being a self-employed cleaner is not a bad job in terms of earning money.
Unfortunately I am too proud to do it (I admit), but for those who do I have nothing but respect.
If you are able and not afraid of some manual labour, being a self-employed cleaner is not a bad job in terms of earning money.
Unfortunately I am too proud to do it (I admit), but for those who do I have nothing but respect.
polkanut69
Well-known member
I've had my cleaning lady for nearly 7 years. I've never been dissatisfied once in all that time. I supply the chemicals, paper toweling, and vacuum. She does the rest. I resent the insinuation that just because I have a cleaning lady my standards are not as high compared to those who do their own housekeeping.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Jmurray
"Unfortunately I am too proud to do it (I admit), but for those who do I have nothing but respect"
I hope to God you didn't mean that to sound the way it came across. What has pride got to do with being willing to do an honest job of any description?
"Unfortunately I am too proud to do it (I admit), but for those who do I have nothing but respect"
I hope to God you didn't mean that to sound the way it came across. What has pride got to do with being willing to do an honest job of any description?
mark40511
Well-known member
when I was younger
My 1st cousin cleaned houses in an gated development in the mountains called Connestee Falls. There were a couple of months that she called and practically begged me to help her because the person who helped her was out of the country or something like that. I really DID NOT want to do it but I helped her.....I H A T E D it!
This is one reason why I would never hire someone to clean my house. It would be very rare to find someone to do it the way I would. When I helped clean these houses for 2 months, I cleaned decently, but nothing like I would have done had it been my own. I guess I just feel that's the same way anyone else would be when cleaning someone else's house.
I really don't enjoy cleaning at all. But I can't stand it if it's not done.
My 1st cousin cleaned houses in an gated development in the mountains called Connestee Falls. There were a couple of months that she called and practically begged me to help her because the person who helped her was out of the country or something like that. I really DID NOT want to do it but I helped her.....I H A T E D it!
This is one reason why I would never hire someone to clean my house. It would be very rare to find someone to do it the way I would. When I helped clean these houses for 2 months, I cleaned decently, but nothing like I would have done had it been my own. I guess I just feel that's the same way anyone else would be when cleaning someone else's house.
I really don't enjoy cleaning at all. But I can't stand it if it's not done.
suckolux
Well-known member
I could not deal with a cleaning person in my house either, their way of doing it, or someone, a stranger handling my stuff. My landlady has a cleaning lady, ages ago I did it for her mom, the lady is very nice, but , well, its not clean!
"<a name="start_22844.258852">I hope to God you didn't mean that to sound the way it came across. What has pride got to do with being willing to do an honest job of any description" </a>
That is true, and I apologise for any offense caused.
That is true, and I apologise for any offense caused.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Well you didn't offend me, rather you painted yourself as been work-shy.
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