How to Sanitize a School Bus

School buses are the easiest, most convenient ways children get to and from school daily — however, they’re also germ conduits. Since bacteria and viruses thrive in enclosed spaces, school buses provide the perfect environment to multiply. That’s why learning how to sanitize a school bus is essential if you manage children’s transport at your school.

Gather Necessary Supplies

When shopping for school bus cleaning products, buying items in bulk is the best way to approach your shopping to save money. Look for the right cleaning or cleansing agent and a disinfectant agent ideal for a bus. Ensure your list has:

• An alcohol-based cleaner: This helps kill the germs on the surfaces.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): This protects against germs and disinfectant chemicals when sanitizing.
• Hand sanitizer: Any school bus driver should use this to sanitize their hands before and after disinfecting the bus. 
• Disposable wipes: These help wipe off kids’ dirty hands or spot dirt and spills before sanitizing.

Prepare for Disinfecting

Sweep, vacuum or mop the school bus surfaces, chairs and floor to remove all loose dirt and mud before disinfecting. Wipe any spills as well, ensuring no visible dirt is left un-scrubbed in the windows, doors and handrails. Cleaning only removes the visible dirt, paving the way for disinfection.

Disinfect and Sanitize Key Focus Areas

Disinfecting an entire school bus can require substantial sanitizers or disinfectants, so you should focus only on key areas for optimal cleaning. These should include high-touch areas such as door handles, handrails, seat belts, the steering wheel and other high-contact surfaces. Wipe down heating and air conditioning vents with sanitizers to eliminate airborne germs gathered on those vents. 

Remember to wash your hands with soap and warm water or sanitize with hand sanitizer once you’ve disinfected the surfaces. This helps kill off any lingering germs.

Install Air Sanitization and Filtration Systems

Airborne germs can be stubborn and difficult to eliminate through a bus surface disinfection procedure. The best solution is to install air sanitization and filtration systems. An air sanitizing system sprinkles disinfectant through the vehicle’s airspace, killing any airborne germs that linger around. 

On the other hand, air filters help remove microorganisms from the air, making breathing safer and more comfortable. The best options are UV-C air filters that alter the DNA of microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing and spreading.

Rent a School Bus From BusRates as You Prepare to Disinfect Yours

Disinfecting a school bus can be a costly and time-intensive intervention. Waiting for all the cleaning supplies to arrive and installing the filtration systems can take days, but children must get their rides regardless. While you wait, submit a request for a quote from BusRates. Our team will help you secure a clean, safe school bus for your children until their bus is ready.