How to Clean a School Bus

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Things You'll Need

  • Water hose

  • Rubber gloves

  • Trash bags

  • Scraper

  • Broom

  • Dustpan

  • Commercial strength anti-bacterial spray cleaner

  • Window cleaner

  • Paper towels

  • Commercial strength anti-bacterial floor cleaner

  • Bucket

  • Mop

  • 1/4 cup dish detergent

  • Sponge

Clean windows are essential to safe bus operation.

School buses do not only transfer children to and from school and activities; they transfer all of the germs that the children take with them. Keeping a school bus clean and as germ-free as possible is crucial to help prevent the transmission of communicable diseases. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "some germs and bacteria can live two hours or longer" on some surfaces, so frequent cleaning of a bus is necessary. Have all of your supplies together before you begin cleaning to prevent interruption.

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Step 1

Park the bus near a water source with a hose. Put your rubber gloves on.

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Step 2

Walk through the bus picking up loose trash as you go and put it in a trash bag.

Step 3

Scrape any gum or candy loose that is stuck to seats or floor. Let the stuck items fall to the floor, you will get these up when you sweep.

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Step 4

Use your broom to sweep the dirt and small trash items into your dustpan and dispose in the trash bag.

Step 5

Spray all surfaces with commercial strength anti-bacterial cleaner. Allow the cleaner to stay on the surfaces while you clean the windows. Be sure to spray seats, walls and handrails.

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Step 6

Clean the windows according to the directions on the window cleaner you are using. Wipe all of the surfaces where you sprayed the anti-bacterial cleaner with paper towels. Place any used paper towels in the trash bag.

Step 7

Lower the windows to allow airflow. Mix the floor cleaner in the bucket according to the directions on the bottle. Mop the floor of the bus. Raise the bus windows after the floor is dry.

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Step 8

Close the door tightly when you leave the bus.

Step 9

Empty any leftover mop water taking care to dispose of it per manufacturer instructions.

Step 10

Pour detergent in the bucket and fill the bucket with water. Use the mop to clean the out side of the bus. Rinse the bus with water.

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Step 11

Soak the sponge in the bucket and use it to clean the wheels and tires. Rinse the wheels.

Step 12

Clean the outside of the windows and mirrors according to the directions on the window cleaner.

Tip

Wash small sections at a time and rinse as you go to prevent soap streaks on the exterior of the bus.

Warning

Do not mop the bus with the windows closed. Some floor cleaners can affect breathing or cause eye irritation. If you experience any breathing problems or eye irritation, leave the bus and seek help if the symptoms do not go away or continue to get worse.

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