buttocks/rectal care

I thought it was cleanest to dirtiest. I was taught with pericare to clean the outer thighs and work your way to the middle. I would assume the back would be te same.

buttocks to rectal.

Is this a joke? What do you mean by "the rectal"? The orifice? If you're cleaning someone's butt, chances are you're gonna bet their orifice clean too; it's right in the middle of your cleaning action. And it's not that big.

Clean the cheeks first.

I agree, I was taught "clean to dirty."

However, can someone explain the rationale for this?

I've found that when the "cheeks" are cleaned first, then the rectum, that BM can be spread back over the area just cleaned, necessitating them to be cleaned again.

The "clean to dirty" is more in terms of washing the genital area first then working toward the orifice. Not as in what area is cleanest at the time or the most dirty. When it comes to buttocks to anal area..really both are "dirty". No matter if you go anal area first then buttocks or vise versa. As long as you aren't getting any BM into the upper lady partsl area (urethra in particular) I don't see doing one or the other more right/wrong. Cleaning BM should be front to back wiping.

It's usually cleanest to dirtiest so start with the cheeks then do the orifice.

Always do Clean to Dirty, with everything. Cheeks to orifice, thighs to gentials, etc etc.