Bicycle Mechanics - Cleaning around the bottom bracket

hi there - I have a Lemond road bike that has a Shimano R600 compact double crank set. I have been riding this bike on some unpaved stretches and it's gotten pretty dirty with sand/dirt all over the frame and drivetrain.

I have been cleaning the frame and drive train using a hose and an old toothbrush. However, I have not yet cleaned the area near the bottom bracket, where the crank arm goes into the bearing. I have read in a repair guide that I should not use a water hose to spray near the bottom bracket to avoid forcing sand and grit into the sealed bearings.

However, I would like to clean out this are of my drivetrain. What are some recommended methods to safely remove the dirt and grit from this area?

Thanks in advance.

Best thing to clean a bike are baby butt wipes.

Slide a long rag between the two spaces and work it like you are shining your shoes.

Yep, above is the best I've done. As it's sealed, you don't need to worry too much about getting it sparkling.

Thanks for the tips. I will try this. Do you folks try and clean out the pieces of sand and grit that are sort of inside the bearing area or on the inside circumference of the bearing?