# Things that you OCD about **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2021, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534 "2021-11-17T22:56:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/21 "2021-11-18T15:42:05Z")
Arranging groceries on the conveyor belt: from heaviest first to lightest. Fragile things (bread, a donut in a bag, a bunch of parsley) in the back. Will get in car, circle around the block and go back and check garage door is closed. I wash my hands several times a day, even at home, even if it’s a quick rinse, I need to ‘feel’ the germs washing off, going down the drain. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/22 "2021-11-18T15:45:03Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > The just laundered kitchen towels have to go under the ones that are already in the drawer so they’re used equally. Same with bath towels, face cloths, underwear, and plates. Yep. Oddly, enough, tho, silverware doesn’t get the same treatment. ---
**Author:** ![PozhanPop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pozhanpop/32/8022_2.png) [@PozhanPop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PozhanPop)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/23 "2021-11-18T16:10:32Z")
Crooked picture frames drive me insane. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/24 "2021-11-18T16:21:34Z")
We all have odd little “I need it just so” habits. I’m the same way with picture frames, for instance. I have a procedure for double checking that the oven’s off. When playing poker, I always align my chips so that the markings on the edges are lined up. I do have to point out though - and maybe this is one of my quirky habits - that literally not one thing written in this thread so far is OCD. OCD is a legitimate psychological disorder that significantly impacts one’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/25 "2021-11-18T16:25:46Z")
Reads @TRC4941’s list… Well, yes, these are things that all normal humans do. > [@TRC4941](#): > > When the potato chips left in the bag are too small (I’m talking whole chips, not crumbs) the bag gets tossed in the garbage. Ye gods! Are you mad? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/26 "2021-11-18T17:04:07Z")
The crumbs are a delight on their own no matter if chips, cheez its or a bag of cookies. Pretzel bags too though they tend to a salty overload. I rotate the glassware and dishes, newly washed ones go in the back or on the bottom. Cant abide empties or recyclables sitting on the counter, take it to the bin! ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/27 "2021-11-18T17:52:11Z")
I was just at a medical clinic, there were local artists paintings on the wall, crooked! I straightened them😀 ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/28 "2021-11-18T18:22:02Z")
> [@chela](#): > > I rotate the glassware and dishes, newly washed ones go in the back or on the bottom. I do that too. And I also do it with laundry. Freshly laundered garments go in the bottom of the drawer or back of the closet. That way I don’t just keep wearing the same couple of outfits over and over. Also, silverware must all match. I’ve got a couple of different sets of everyday spoons/forks/knives with different patterns on the handles. When I’m eating a meal I have to make sure my spoon, fork, and knife all come from the same set so the handles all match. If I’m out for a walk and find a recyclable can or bottle on the ground, I have to take it home and put it in my recycling. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/29 "2021-11-18T19:12:15Z")
I have some large square dinner plates that have big pictures of roosters on them. These plates must be stacked with the roosters all lined up in the same direction before they are put away in the cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/30 "2021-11-18T21:22:34Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > Arranging groceries on the conveyor belt: from heaviest first to lightest. Fragile things (bread, a donut in a bag, a bunch of parsley) in the back. Yep. And a quick lesson to a bagger (if there is one) is often part of the grocery shopping trip. Square the bag dammit. Crushable stuff on top. Eggs are actually safer on the bottom unless you tend to knock the bag around. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/31 "2021-11-18T21:26:39Z")
Most things I own are in some combination of alphabetical and chronological order, with subcategories. Books are broken down by genre and organized by author, CDs are in alphabetical order by artist then chronological within each artist. And the CDs are all turned the right way up in their cases. Water bottles in my fridge all have the label pointing the same way. I also tend to record stuff rather arbitrarily in spreadsheets…my Excel document indexing every Frank Zappa track, date of recording and source album, is quite a thing to behold. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/32 "2021-11-19T16:46:16Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > Checking my purse every time I pick it up to make sure that I am carrying: > > 1. Cell phone > 2. Wallet > 3. Reading glasses > 4. Car keys > > It has gotten so that I know if one of the above things are missing just by the weight of my purse. Male version: All keys - right pocket (trouser pockets unless otherwise specified) Change purse, mask (you forgot mask, @teela_brown !) - left pocket Wallet - right cargo pocket Phone - left cargo pocket Reading glasses - (summer) - hoodie pouch or right cargo pocket; (winter) - jacket pocket Tissues - wherever (hey, I’m not weird!) On bad days I also can have a bit of that Christopher Robin thing about the cracks in the pavement/sidewalk. (But the fear of bears? - that’s just irrational). j ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/33 "2021-11-19T19:25:12Z")
When I quit smoking, one of the things that took the longest to get past was checking my shirt pocket for my smokes before I left the house. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/34 "2021-11-19T19:44:22Z")
Oh God - you have it wrong!!! The wallet goes in the _ **left** _ pocket along with the phone!!! I count steps when walking - not all the time, but sometimes I see a shop up ahead I want to go into, or a park bench, or - whatever - and I will make a mental note “that’s about 120 steps away” and I’m pretty good by now. And the wife has _ **no idea** _ about stacking the dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/35 "2021-11-19T20:01:44Z")
I count stairs… ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/36 "2021-11-19T21:07:02Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > I count steps when walking… I count pedal strokes/estimate distance when cycling; but I think that’s fairly common; going up hills, it’s a way to take your mind off the pain. j ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/37 "2021-11-20T12:51:05Z")
My keys are either in my left front pocket or the ignition of my car. Don’t lock the house so don’t even have to open up the house with them. Wallet is either in my back right pocket or in my hands. I find little habits like this make life easier. I’m 60 yo and have never misplaced my keys or wallet. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/38 "2021-11-20T16:24:23Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > And the wife has _ **no idea** _ about stacking the dishwasher. Oh, don’t get me started! I do rearrange the dishwasher after she’s been in it but I have learned to keep my mouth shut about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/39 "2021-11-20T18:05:15Z")
I maintain various spreadsheets, but my Books Read one contains the most detail. Title, author, date started, date ended. number of pages, days spent reading, average pages per day. mmm ---
**Author:** ![PozhanPop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pozhanpop/32/8022_2.png) [@PozhanPop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PozhanPop)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-you-ocd-about/954534/40 "2021-11-20T18:51:01Z")
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