Washing behind your ears

[shazzabell]

Why are we told as kids to wash behind our ears, when no one even looks there?!

[Morrisonker]

:-P it's a way of encouraging kids to wash well and all over.

[Bottom]

because if you don't they smell if not washed?

[magicdice]

urgh...

washing isn't about people not seeing dirt, it's about being clean and hygienic. and not smelling.

[ezapf]

It is to keep a future significant other from getting a nose full of mushrooms and moss when nibbling on your ear.

[flaming]

Ah, at the moment no-one looks there!  Esapf's post gets it right.  For kids, apart from the whiffiness, there's the possibility of skin disorders, parasites even. It's only a bit of trouble to avoid a potential cart-load full.