Muddy knees - dirt getting ingrained!!!

[nodogz]

My kid loves being outdoors and refuses to wear trousers. All good except the muddy knees are not coming clean. Hopefully someone here has got an answer to keep knees skin coloured!

We soak them in the bath, every other night. Use a flannel and soap and have one of those Italian exfoliating clothes to really scrub but the dirt has become ingrained. He's now saying his legs are sore from the scrubbing.

How can we stop the dirt permanently staining him? I'm thinking vaseline on knees before school/sport? Or eye makeup remover? Or an oil cleanser? Or rubbing with lemon?

Obviously skins or trousers are out of the question and I'm loathe to use anything too harsh/more baths as he can suffer from eczema. Help!

As long as there’s no actual mud on them does it even matter? Poor boy getting scrubbed so hard it hurts

@VladsPants He's cleaning his legs himself, we're not holding him down!!!

It's just got to the stage that normal cleaning /wiping just isn't removing the mud. I don't want him to have mucky knees forever!

Actually, I've just re-read my post. It does sound like we're scrubbing him against his will!

The sore knees are most likely all the many scrapes and grazes. We're probably at peak muddiness until Easter. Thinking of taking him swimming everyday for a week to bleach out those knees!!

Do not rinse. Let the mud dry fully and then brush off with a dry brush as much as possible. Then wet the muddy area and rub a bar of Fels Naptha soap over it. Take an old toothbrush and scrub, really work the soap into the fibres. Throw into the wash as normal. This routine works for me as long as it hasn't already been washed/dried. Although it does lighten old stains.

I just resized your meant his actual knees not trouser knees. Sorry!

@bluebird3

I just resized your meant his actual knees not trouser knees. Sorry!

I thought it was a bit extreme! Poor lad!

@bluebird3

I just resized your meant his actual knees not trouser knees. Sorry!

“then throw into the wash as normal”

That did make me laugh, thank you, @bluebird3

@bluebird3

I just resized your meant his actual knees not trouser knees. Sorry!

🤣 was a great response though 🤣

My boys had mud stained knees when they were younger despite baths and showers. But I think the ingrained dirt has disappeared as they’ve got older, I’ve certainly not noticed them recently (and they still play footie).

I wouldn’t worry, as the skin sloughs away and new skin forms, it will go over time.

my builder fil gave me the tip to put on body lotion (he used mil finest ) before washing.
that got his dust and dirt covered hands clean very well.

works a treat on those grey knees and gardening hands as well.

Loads of moisturiser will help, but mud stained knees are a sign of a healthy outdoor child.

@bluebird3

Do not rinse. Let the mud dry fully and then brush off with a dry brush as much as possible. Then wet the muddy area and rub a bar of Fels Naptha soap over it. Take an old toothbrush and scrub, really work the soap into the fibres. Throw into the wash as normal. This routine works for me as long as it hasn't already been washed/dried. Although it does lighten old stains.

Don't mind me, just putting the kid in the washing machine!

At least one benefit of muddy human knees is not having to scrub trouser knees!

I've sent him to school with my dr pawpaw on his knees as a protective barrier and off to buy a tub of cheapo cream later especially for dirty knees!

Applying Atrixo hand cream before gardening or decorating makes it easier to clean up afterwards. It was recommended to me by a mechanic.

Grubby knees are the sign of a well spent childhood
You know he's clean, his clothes are clean, don't stress- he will grow out of it all too soon.

I remember having muddy knees! I imagine vaseline would help.

I have this with my eldest too! Will try more moisturiser as sometimes even though thoroughly cleaned he says it gets itchy ( ended up using my expensive exfoliator and overnight cream one evening ( which Tbf I never remember to use so probably a better use for it!)

Mid stained or tanned in the sun? My knees tan when I wear shorts a lot. Wouldn't fancy scrubbing that off!!

@averylongtimeago

Grubby knees are the sign of a well spent childhood You know he's clean, his clothes are clean, don't stress- he will grow out of it all too soon.

^ This